Letters: April 17

I was gobsmacked by the GOC’s behaviour last week. Like many others I pay my retention fee by direct debit, and, being ever aware of the headline news of the percentage of the profession ‘yet to register’, I duly posted my retention form back to the GOC about six weeks ago.

The retention fee was taken out of my bank account, and I even got a receipt for the money, followed shortly afterwards by a ‘Failure to register’ notice which made me feel a bit like a criminal – what happened to the polite reminder?

Surely, this must be a mistake I thought, so I phoned the GOC to be told that they had not had my retention form. I explained that this had been posted to them weeks ago, and that they had taken my money! I asked if I could download another form from the website and send it straight back to them – yes but you have to send a further £20 ‘late registration fee’. I duly did this, and sent a letter to the registrar as I felt this was inappropriate – I will not be getting my money back as it is an administrative charge, and the loss of my details in the post (I only have their word for this) is not their fault!