FAQs - Renewing Membership with the RCGP

 

Here are some questions that your fellow doctors asked about renewing membership.

 

I overpaid my subscription for 2010/11 and didn’t realize before now.  Can I have a refund?

We can amend/adjust subscriptions paid for 2010/11 membership up to 31 March 2011, but not after that date as accounts will be closed for audit.  Any adjustment after that would be made on a discretionary basis only (in exceptional circumstances) and must be requested in writing.

 

A member has left our practice and their subscription is set up from our account. What happens now?

If a direct debit is held against the practice account, on instruction we will remove it from the member’s record.  The practice must cancel the DD with the bank (and quote the RCGP reference number when you so doing).

 

Upon notification from the practice, the member concerned will be contacted by the College.

 

I cannot afford to make a single (lump sum) subscription payment – what can I do?

You can spread the cost of your subscription across the membership year by making quarterly instalment payments, which are due on or immediately after 1 April, 1 July, 1 October and 3 January.  A £5 discount is applied against your subscription rate for payment by DD instalments.

 

Can I pay my subscription in instalments by cheque or by credit/debit card?

No.  The College only offers an option to pay by Direct Debit instalments.

 

Can I pay by Direct Debit from an overseas account?

The College operates direct debits against suitable bank or building society accounts in the UK (Sterling) or the Republic of Ireland (Euro) only.  RI account holders can opt to make a single annual payment or pay by quarterly instalments (as in the UK).  UK and RI DD forms can be downloaded from the RCGP website.

 

Can I pay my subscription (or other fees) by American Express or Diners Club?

No.  The College only accepts credit/debit card payments held against Visa, Visa Debit, Mastercard or Maestro accounts.

 

PLEASE NOTE that fee payments using Visa Debit or other Debit cards held outside the UK are not accepted by our bank processors. In such instances, please forward a Sterling cheque/Bankers Draft made payable to 'Royal College of General Practitioners'.  

 

Why do I have to pay a higher amount if I choose to pay by cheque or credit/debit card as opposed to Direct Debit?

The amount due for payment by cheque or card is the actual amount required to meet your subscription fee.  The College can offer a discount for payment by direct debit - £10 for a single annual payment or £5 for instalments – due to the cost-effectiveness and efficiency of processing direct debit payments.

 

I had a reduced rate subscription last year and my circumstances haven’t changed - why have I been asked to pay a full rate fee this year?

All reduced rates are given for one membership year only.  Your renewal notice has been issued on the basis of the maximum fee that you might be liable to pay for the coming year and you will need to apply for any reduced rate that is appropriate to you from the list printed on the renewal notice.

 

I am going to stop full-time work soon and will go part-time?  What happens about my subscription fee?

Your subscription for the year commencing 1 April 2012 is not assessed according to whether you work full or part-time, but will be determined by your gross income from all professional services during the year ending 31 March 2011.  If you are not eligible for a reduced rate this year, however, reduced earnings may allow you to claim a lower rate for your membership renewal in April 2012.

 

I am working in another medical specialty – can I get a reduced fee or do I have to continue paying at the full rate?

If all or most of your professional work is outside of General Practice and you are a paid-up member of another royal college or faculty appropriate to your non-GP work and you receive all or the major part of your professional income from your non-GP work (and you would otherwise be due to pay a full rate subscription based on your gross income)  –  you are eligible for a 50% reduced rate as a “member of secondary affiliation”.

 

What happens while I am on long-term sick leave?

Your subscription can be reduced to the minimum level (quarter-rate) while you are not engaged in professional medical practice.  This rate is given for one membership year only, so you will need to apply for any appropriate reduced rate for your next membership renewal, depending on your circumstances at that time.

 

I am on / going on maternity leave – what do I pay?

A 75% reduction from full rate fees is usually applied for the membership renewal due on 1 April after the year in which all or most of maternity leave has been taken.

 

If your maternity leave has commenced by 1 April 2011, you can opt to pay your 2011/12 subscription at one-quarter of the full rate for maternity reasons.  However, you can have only one membership year at the maternity rate per period of maternity leave – this applies even if your maternity leave falls across part of 2 membership years, ie:  a further year at the quarter rate would be given for other reasons, eg:  continued temporary retirement for family reasons, low income.

 

I am taking a career break / unemployed – what happens about my membership?

Depending on when you stopped or are stopping work, the duration of your career break / unemployment, and any other relevant circumstances advised, a 75% reduced rate fee may be appropriate for your membership until such time as you return to work.

 

I am going to live and work overseas/emigrating from UK – how will this affect my membership and subscription?

If you will be resident and working abroad, either permanently or long-term, on 1 April in any year, your subscription will be due at the overseas rate (50% of the full rate).

 

You can opt to receive correspondence at an overseas mailing address or at a c/o address in the UK.  Publications (BJGP etc) would be sent to you overseas via surface mail and you could retain access to the e-BJGP and members’ area of the website.  You could join the College’s Overseas faculty – the faculty is administered by the RCGP International Department – email international@rcgp.org.uk – to look after the interests of members living outside of the UK and Ireland – further information is available via the website.

 

I am now living in the Channel Islands / on the Isle of Man – do I get a reduced rate subscription?

Members in the Channel Islands or on the Isle of Man pay a  maximum of 50% of the full rate in any year.

 

I am travelling abroad for the next year or so – can I “suspend” my membership for that time?  What happens when I want to rejoin at a later date?

Please contact the team for advice.

 

I am going to work as a volunteer overseas – how does this affect my membership and subscription rate?

This will depend on what you are doing, when you commence your voluntary work, where you are going, and for how long (duration).  If you are going to receive local/subsistence income only, ie:  minimal living expenses, and/or if you will be starting your voluntary work by 1 April (or soon thereafter) and you will be away from the UK for all/most of the 2011/12 membership year, the Honorary Treasurer will most likely agree to waive or very substantially reduce your subscription. This will be upon application only.

 

I am retiring completely from medical work – how will that affect my membership and subscription fees?

If you will be retired by 1 April 2011 (or within the first 4-6 weeks of the new membership year), your subscription can be reduced to one-quarter of the full rate.  You could continue to pay your subscription annually at the retired rate until such time as you have achieved 40 years of consecutive membership.  In this instance, you would become a Life member of the College on 1 April following the 40th anniversary of your admission to the RCGP and pay no subscription fees thereafter.

 

Alternatively, you could apply for Life membership on 1 April 2011 by making a final lump sum subscription payment equal to three times the Retired rate for 2011/12, ie:  3 x £118 (Retired rate).  Please note:  these figures are valid to 31 March 2012 and will change thereafter.

 

I am retiring from general practice but will be continuing with some professional medical work – how will that affect my subscription?

If you will be undertaking regular medical work, your subscription will still be assessed according to your gross earnings (we do not take account of income from any pensions you may receive) until such time as you retire completely, when the provisions for full retirement would take effect.

 

If I cancel BJGP, will you reduce my subscription fee?

No, BJGP is only one of many benefits of membership and cancelling it will not result in lower fees.