Beretta687
Super member
Got to renew my license again this year,have held one since 1972. My question is do the police take a cheque with the paper forms? I know I paid this way 5 years ago ago,and can’t see any other way really.
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the Daily hi thread
Shotgun certificate renewal.
- Thread starter Beretta687
- Start date
2506sendero
Member Extraordinaire
They CANNOT refuse to accept the paper applications, and if they tell you otherwise you can push your luck with it.
With regards to the payment, a lot of authorities do not accept payment by cheque now, but payment can be made over the phone by a debit (not credit) card.
You may well find that the actual payment part of the process turns out to be the fastest and most efficient part of the service.
With regards to the payment, a lot of authorities do not accept payment by cheque now, but payment can be made over the phone by a debit (not credit) card.
You may well find that the actual payment part of the process turns out to be the fastest and most efficient part of the service.
MikeyB
Member Extraordinaire
Yes, they do. I just renewed and prefer the paper form as it allows me to thoroughly check before I post. What a PITA it was. Particularly trying to get my GP to respond which, by the way, cost me an additional £150. Won’t be renewing again.
Nobodys Hero
Member Extraordinaire
Last time I renewed it was the only way that they would accept, whether that has changed since then in our area, I don't know.
Police Scotland still take Cheques, They give you the account name and also give yout online banking details on your renewal letter along with your PID number that is on your certs ( may only be in Scotland though).
Quote
Make cheques payable to the SCOTTISH POLICE AUTHORITY or contact us for details on how to make payment via your online banking.
We can pay it via this portal.
products.payments.service.gov.uk
Quote
Fees
Please do not send cash through the post.Make cheques payable to the SCOTTISH POLICE AUTHORITY or contact us for details on how to make payment via your online banking.
We can pay it via this portal.
Make a payment - Firearms and Explosives Licensing Payment
products.payments.service.gov.uk
I appreciate that this is a generational thing but I really preferred the online forms and the online payment. It just worked and was much better than the paper forms.
martini1215
Super member
One up here when Police Scotland first introduced it in 2016 was asked for £450 to do his SGC renewal medical report.
There was no 3rd party providers doing it at that time and he could not register with another GP.
martini1215
Super member
Well I suppose they have to enhance poor rates of pay one way or another.
Good grief I have heard of a few around the 200 mark but 450 is really taking it to another level.
Its also surprised me talking to various applicants at the errors the system has highlighted now medical records are being looked at historically.
And we as shooters are only a small percentage of medical customers so Joe Bloggs who doesn't own firearms,isnt an HGV driver or a taxi driver could go through life with incorrect entries on his/her medical records and some of those discrepancies are really big ones
Good grief I have heard of a few around the 200 mark but 450 is really taking it to another level.
Its also surprised me talking to various applicants at the errors the system has highlighted now medical records are being looked at historically.
And we as shooters are only a small percentage of medical customers so Joe Bloggs who doesn't own firearms,isnt an HGV driver or a taxi driver could go through life with incorrect entries on his/her medical records and some of those discrepancies are really big ones
PistolDan
Member Extraordinaire
Any doctor charging £450 is trying to put the applicant off.
I believe they are not allowed to refuse to sign the medical certificate on ethical grounds….so the ones against shooting sports try and price themselves out of the marketplace!!
I believe they are not allowed to refuse to sign the medical certificate on ethical grounds….so the ones against shooting sports try and price themselves out of the marketplace!!
PistolDan
Member Extraordinaire
On a happier note, my doc is ex-military and we’ve had several chats about shooting since my last renewal which he charged me £40 for the cert! 
WHich is why people should be asking to see their medical records so they can correct incorrect info.
My records said I smoked. I have never smoked but my parents did and i lived with them till I was 30 . so if I was smelling of smoke at an appointment they must have assumed I smoked. I spotted it at an appointment and asked them to remove it .
They can object to doing them https://www.bma.org.uk/advice-and-support/gp-practices/gp-service-provision/the-firearms-licensing-process#:~:text=GPs can refuse to engage,regard to the GMC guidance.
Refusal because of your beliefs
GPs can refuse to engage in the firearms certification process on grounds of conscientious objection because of religious or ethical beliefs. They must inform the police.Legal opinion is that a GP who refuses to engage on these grounds should have due regard to the GMC guidance. Although, this guidance is primarily written for the purposes of referral for procedures, treatments and interventions rather than the compilation of a medical report.
Some in Scotland object to doing , 6 out of them I seem to recall from a BASC Scotland report.
Asi posted above , there was no 3rd party providers so unless you could find and register with another GP then you were screwed.
Some brought it up with Police Scotland that GPS were objecting and they allowed one person to send the licensing their records and I would assume they had a FME * do the check.
They did it once and said they were not doing it again.
There was reports of another GP charging £350 a CERT ,so if you had SGC and an FAC it would be £700 for both . Even more if you had an AWC also if they were in Scotland.
If you lived in a rural area and had very few patients and charged high prices then people would have to pay it , That was before the 3rd party providers were allowed to do it .
My GP charged me £35 in 2017 , £50 in 2022 and its now £180 . It has changed hands since 2017 if I remember right hence the price rise.