RCGP membership is an annual subscription running for a minimum 12 month period from 1 April.
Renewal notices are sent to all members at least five weeks before the subscription period ends. The notice will advise:
- the amount of subscription due for the following year
- your chosen method of payment
- the date your payment is due / will be collected (if paying by direct debit).
To view RCGP’s current fees, go to membership fees.
Cancellation of membership
If you wish to resign your annual membership, you will need to complete a Membership Resignation Form which can be found in the Membership Resignation section below this policy.
Annual Payments
If membership is cancelled during the year after full payment is made, no refunds will be provided, unless you meet the criteria outlined in this policy.
If you do not wish to renew your membership at the end of the 12 month period, you are required to give us written notice of this at least one calendar month before the date on which your current membership expires.
Monthly and Quarterly Payments
If you pay by direct debit, we will automatically renew your membership unless you give us one calendar month written notice of your intention to cancel. If you cancel your direct debit payments midway through your membership year, you remain liable to pay us the remaining balance of your membership fee for that year, either by a one-off payment or by reinstating your direct debit. Any outstanding fees would also be payable before reinstating your membership.
If you have outstanding membership fees due to the RCGP, we reserve the right to lapse your membership and stop access to all membership benefits, including access to GP Self-test and the Trainee ePortfolio.
Refund eligibility
We will only refund your subscription:
- for an over payment, due to personal circumstances or income changing in the first 3 months of the subscription year. You must notify us within the first 3 months of the subscription year to be eligible, no refunds will be offer after the first 3 months.
- we agreed to the refund after an appeal.
- if you die and your estate requests a pro-rata subscription refund.
- you can show that the payment was made in error.
- if you are unable to work, due to ill health or hardship.
We will not refund, in part or full, annual membership fees you paid for the same year you cancelled your membership.
Exceptions
Refunds will also be made to members affected by the following:
- where a member’s personal circumstances change (eg maternity leave, career break, ill health) in the first 3 months, meaning a lower annual fee, but have already paid in advance for the higher annual fee. The refund due will be the difference between the fee paid. You must notify us within the first 3 months of the subscription year to be eligible, no refunds will be offer after the first 3 months.
- Where an Associate in Training (AiT) suspends their membership due to maternity/parental/adoption leave or out of programme.
Changes to circumstances
Members must inform us in writing of required changes to their circumstances at the time those changes take place. For example, please notify us if you take maternity or paternity leave, retire, stop work through unemployment or undertake unpaid work abroad. Refunds will not be given for retrospective changes to personal circumstances: for example, a member who has been retired for two years.
Appeals
If a member feels they have an extenuating circumstance that justifies an exception to the refund policy, then they may submit an appeal, in writing, to Honorary Treasurer membership@rcgp.org.uk.
All requests must be submitted in writing and include supporting documentation.
If you have any further questions about RCGP membership fee refunds, then please contact us on + 44 (0) 20 3188 7766 or email membership@rcgp.org.uk.