Power of Attorney

Walkermoon

Hello, I have had POA for health and finance drawn up by solicitor and was told to get them signed by the doctor. The doctor has had them for two months and I have chased continously and told the doctor will get round to it. Today I went to the surgery and was told there is a fee of £150 which has never been mentioned previously. They also want cash not a card payment.  Does this fee seem excessive? Also the fact they want cash seems like a nice little earner for the doctor.  Any advice please? Thank you 

Keep_pedalling

This presumably is for the certificate provider but that does not have to be a professional person it can be a friend or a neighbour providing that they are not an attorney or closely related to an attorney.

Doctors will charge as this is not part of their NHS work, and they can charge what they like. 

Flugelhorn

Definitely best to get someone else to do the task - doesn't need to be a professional but if you do get a doctor to it then, as mentioned above, remember it is not NHS work, requires indemnity and carries responsibility  - so the fee is probably reasonable. 
Not sure about the cash / card thing - we used to accept cheques into the practice for medicals / POAs  and then the relevant doctor was paid out of the practice accounts later 

user1977

Walkermoon said:

Also the fact they want cash seems like a nice little earner for the doctor.

Why would it be any less of an earner if they accepted payment by card? (other than whatever commission the bank charges). I wouldn't consider it standard for a GP practice to accept card payments anyway - are you saying they take cards for other things?

Keep_pedalling

user1977 said:

Walkermoon said:

Also the fact they want cash seems like a nice little earner for the doctor.

Why would it be any less of an earner if they accepted payment by card? (other than whatever commission the bank charges). I wouldn't consider it standard for a GP practice to accept card payments anyway - are you saying they take cards for other things?

I think any fee for this service is payable to the doctor personally rather than the practice.

Flugelhorn

It would be paid personally to the GP - sometimes it can go through the practice for convenience.  Though  depending on whether the GP is a partner or salaried, if salaried the practice may take a % , or in some cases all fees for private work are pooled and shared at a later date.

No cards are not generally used at practices - there is no need as income through this route is minimal. Only time might be a largish travel health clinic