Blackmailed by my local doctor's surgery

[dudders]

Depending on what your giving reference to, for someone getting a job or flat or FAC/SGC... You cannot take financial reward from the person applying.

What part of that do you not understand?

A referee for a FAC/SGC applicant can't take payment for the service. But there's nothing illegal in my charging a company that requests a reference from me for a potential employee. It's the employer or landlord that's asking for it, NOT the applicant.

If you were legally allowed to pay/charge someone to be a referee, then what's the point? The 'background check' would be pointless - may aswell get Joe Blogs off the street and give him money to pretend to know you.

Joe Blogs has applied to work in your company. He's given you a list of previous employers, one of whom is me. You send me a form asking me to answer all your questions about Joe's suitability for the job. I've had a few of these, and although I've never dreamed of charging, I'm quite at liberty to say to you "that's fine, on payment by you of my fee of twenty squids. You're not getting my time fer nuthin, mate. This information is to your advantage as well as Joe's, and I don't owe you a favour." The fact of making a charge doesn't mean that the information I give you will be dishonest. You will probably refuse and that's fine by me - so will I.

As a referee it is also your legal responsibility to inform of any reason why they would be unsuitable. And you have a duty to report the person, if their state of mind/suitability changes over time.

As a referee, I have no legal responsibility at all, except to tell the truth (see above), otherwise I could be sued if it could be proved that I had lied about the applicant, who then turned out to be bad news for his employer or landlord. I have absolutely no duty to report after my initial reference if I realise they've changed for the worse. A doctor might have that duty, but you've already pointed out that a doctor is not a referee, so I'm happy to be let off that hook. That's his problem.

Going back to my first post on this, I only said that if I should ever get charged because the police have spoken to the doctor about my shotgun renewal, I will thereafter tell anyone who asks me for a reference that they will have to pay for it, or do without. So they'll do without. Fine by me. Not much to get excited about.

As you rightly say, let's hope it gets resolved, in such a way that everybody knows in advance what the costs are and that everybody pays the same fee for the same service. Today, the licence application makes clear that you may be required to have a medical report for which you may have to pay. Any further medical reports must be paid for by the police. It's only the business of the police asking the doctor for an initial opinion that's causing all this trouble. Can't be too difficult to sort out?

 

[Dry Rot]

I've kept out of this thread because I like a quiet life, but I do intend publishing the full story in due course.

I have had one complaint processed and will be taking matters further.

I do not like it when the police present me with a form saying it is "just a receipt" and ask me to sign it when I then discover it is actually my agreement to voluntarily surrender my guns for destruction. I inherited one of those guns from my grand father who was the chief inspector of Liverpool police and I know he wouldn't have liked it either. BTW, I did not sign!

My neighbour reported me to the police after an altercation over a planning matter. My guns were seized on the 30th September 2015. His building works now have an enforcement notice on them. I have twice asked one of the officers involved, in writing, if he knows my accuser socially. Both times I got no reply. I got the opportunity to ask the question again at a face to face interview with a police inspector, my MP, and this same officer. After several moments of embarassed silence, the inspector said, "I have instructed him (the second officer) not to answer that question". In a written reply from the chief inspector to my formal complaint with the same question, I was told, "There is no evidence".

If the possession of firearms requires the highest standards of behaviour, what standards should we expect from the police?

Since my experience (which is a minor incident in the general scheme of things), I have heard many similar stories and some professionals (gamekeepers, stalkers...and farmers too) who need their guns to earn a living are being harassed and persecuted for no other reason that I can see other than the fact that they own guns! It seems it is now policy to remove guns from society where ever possible -- and by whatever means. What next?

Just a reminder, this affair has now taken eleven months. I have held an open firearms certificate for 58 years and I have never been accused, let alone convicted, of any offence (excepting minor traffic offences, of course). The police have carried out a thorough check and I have been declared fit to possess my guns which they have promised to return as soon as my certificates have been renewed (they have expired in the interim).

"Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty".

 

[Dr. Alkathene]

https://basc.org.uk/blog/press-rele...erts-members-to-changes-in-licensing-process/

BASC is alerting members to changes in the way the police and GPs in England and Wales share information for the issue of firearm and shotgun certificates.

With immediate effect, the police will contact a GP to request medical information as soon as an application is received rather than once a certificate has been issued.

But the UK’s leading shooting organisation has reiterated its advice to members not to pay fees requested by GPs for responding to this initial police contact.

Such fees should only become payable by the applicant if police subsequently request further medical information as a result of the applicant declaring a relevant medical condition or if the GP indicates they have concerns relating to a relevant medical condition.

In addition to this change, the police have removed the pro-forma which GPs were requested to complete before returning to them.

Paul Dale, a member of BASC’s firearms team who has led on this issue for the association, said: “These welcome changes to the arrangements should improve the service being offered to applicants.

“It has now been made quite clear that GPs should only respond to the initial police letter if they have concerns about the applicant. The police request that any such response is forwarded within 21 days.

“GPs now have clear guidance in respect of a lack of response on their part which states that if they do not respond to this letter within 21 days it will be assumed they have no relevant information and therefore the application will be granted.”

BASC chairman Peter Glenser, a barrister specialising in firearms legislation, said: “This is common sense fine-tuning of the process. It should speed up applications while also helping GPs deal with their responsibilities more efficiently.

“It is important for public safety that the medical profession gets fully behind the process. It helps nobody if GPs and other medical bodies throw obstacles in the way of a legitimate process which had previously been agreed by all stakeholders.”

 

[puppet]

Sorry, but the above is not how it will happen. No fee, no report, no certificate

 

[roscoe erf]

Sorry, but the above is not how it will happen. No fee, no report, no certificate

wrong just got mine renewed no fee

 

[puppet]

You must have a kind GP or the bill is to follow

 

[roscoe erf]

You must have a kind GP or the bill is to follow

no idea never seen him

 

[puppet]

What about the blackouts, vision and temper tantrums then?







He cannot be that bad

 

[TechWise]

Does anyone have up to date information on the process in Scotland? I had a message from the GPS today asking me to call them back. I reckon they'll ask me to come in and pay a fee for my SGC renewal and FAC grant.
I don't want to turn up and pay the fee if the advice is not to pay.
I feel a phone call to BASC coming up...

 

[Joe S]

it had this happen to me a couple of months ago when applying for my shotgun licence the buggers cost me £46.50

 

[Dry Rot]

Does anyone have up to date information on the process in Scotland? I had a message from the GPS today asking me to call them back. I reckon they'll ask me to come in and pay a fee for my SGC renewal and FAC grant.
I don't want to turn up and pay the fee if the advice is not to pay.
I feel a phone call to BASC coming up...

See my post above. Plod has apparently carried out a full investigation into my suitability to possess weapons (rifles and shotgun) and after a meeting with the FAO, an inspector, and Dr Paul Monaghan MP, I was informed that I could apply for a renewal of my certificates which will be (quote) "fast tracked" ONLY taking 100 days instead of the usual five months! No invoice from my GP, nor any mention actually, even though I have seen her since.

The police firearms department here in the north is now completely out of control. Lies are their standard stock in trade and you cannot trust them. A decent local farmer and businessman was seen sighting in an AIR RIFLE. Armed response was called out, his premises were search, air rifle conviscated, police interview, etc, etc. yet they found nothing wrong. A freelance gamekeeper who relies on his guns for work had them seized 18 months ago while plod goes on a fishing expedition to try to discover some reason to seize them permanently. (His MP is now demanding an explanation). A highly respected local sheep farmer who sought police advice on how to deal with sheep worrying followed their advice to the letter -- his guns were promptly seized.....but returned several weeks later - "Sorry, it was all a mistake". In my case, guns seized for ten months, only then was I told what I had done wrong. Apparently "hostile behaviour" towards my neighbour. I told him exactly what I thought of him for committing planning fraud! And so it goes on. I am a retired agricultural professional, have held an open FAC for 58 years, and I have never been in trouble with the police in my life. Go figure. Do not trust them. If they invited you in for a chat, they are seeking to trip you up and get you to incriminate yourself.

 

[puntabrava]

Is there any update to all of this, my shotgun /firearm renewal went into the police a week ago, my doctors who I have seen three years ago for my hgv medical wrote today asking for £100

 

[solo]

Sounds like “cough or drop”

What you really need is a Basc member to tell you the current rule legality.

 

[Bobthebuilder]

Is there any update to all of this, my shotgun /firearm renewal went into the police a week ago, my doctors who I have seen three years ago for my hgv medical wrote today asking for £100

What for? All you need to do is give permission for police to access your medical records if they need to

 

[Farmer Fin]

Did mine before Christmas and the surgery charged me £35.
It’s not a legal requirement to disclose your history but the police make it clear they will not grant your renewal unless you do so.

 

[nick...]

I took my paperwork in back in October.not heard a word from police or doctors.should get licence back end of month all being well
nick...

 

[Lazy Sod]

Wtite a letter to your surgery saying that you hereby give your permission for your medical records to be shared with the police if they request them for the purpose of renewing your shotgun
and /or firearm certificates.

That way it's between the surgery and the police.

 

[Cowabunga]

Is there any update to all of this, my shotgun /firearm renewal went into the police a week ago, my doctors who I have seen three years ago for my hgv medical wrote today asking for £100

General Practitioners around here earn about £100 per working hour from the NHS. They have a damn cheek invoicing another £100 for two minutes work. It is pure greed.

 

[Happy hillbily]

Local secondary school got a bit arsy with truancy a few years ago, and my daughter had been off for a week with a bad cold or something. School wanted a doctor's note to say she was sick. Doctor hadn't actually seen her but wanted £27 for a note !
Neither Dr got his money or the school.got their note.

 

[puppet]

Local secondary school got a bit arsy with truancy a few years ago, and my daughter had been off for a week with a bad cold or something. School wanted a doctor's note to say she was sick. Doctor hadn't actually seen her but wanted £27 for a note !
Neither Dr got his money or the school.got their note.

I think the GP got the outcome they wanted and everyone ended up happy.