These are the terms and conditions of membership of the British Geriatrics Society. These terms and conditions may be varied from time to time and any variation will be notified to members via email, on our website or in our Newsletter.
Any questions or complaints regarding these terms and conditions or membership issues should be directed to membership [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk, or the address of the British Geriatrics Society.
1. Definitions
1.1 In these terms and conditions the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings unless the context requires a different meaning:
- “Applicant” means a person applying for Membership or renewing Membership;
- “British Geriatrics Society” and “us” or “we” means British Geriatrics Society, a company limited by guarantee with company number 01189776 and a charity registered with charity number 268762, whose registered office is at Marjory Warren House, 31 St John’s Square, London EC1M 4DN;
- “Member” or “you” means a member of the British Geriatrics Society;
- “Membership” means membership of the British Geriatrics Society;
- “Membership Application” means the electronic, paper form or phone call whereby an Applicant makes an application to the British Geriatrics Society for Membership;
- “Membership Category” means a category of Membership, as specified on the Membership application;
- “Membership Fee” means the fee that applies to the relevant category of Membership;
- “Materials” means any documentation in either machine readable or printed form;
- “Membership Year” means 1st January until 31st December; and
- “Working Day” means any day from Monday to Friday (inclusive) which is not a statutory bank holiday in England.
2. Membership Application
2.1 An Applicant is deemed to accept these terms and conditions upon submitting a Membership Application for enrolment as a Member. These terms and conditions become legally binding once the enrolment of a Member is confirmed in writing by the British Geriatrics Society following our consideration of a Membership Application.
2.2 These terms and conditions govern Membership to the exclusion of any other terms and conditions a Member might have with the British Geriatrics Society.
2.3 In the event of any conflict between these terms and conditions and the provisions of the Membership Application Form, these terms and conditions shall prevail.
3. Contact details
3.1 It is your responsibility to update us in respect of any change to your contact details, so that we are able to contact you regarding your Membership.
4. Membership Fees
4.1 Your membership year runs for 12 months from date of joining, or for 12 months following your renewal. For most members this will be from 1 January to 31 December.
4.2 The Membership Fees for each Membership Year is per Member and will vary according to the category of Membership.
4.3 The annual price includes a copy of our bi-monthly newsletter, discounted rates of attendance at British Geriatrics Society meetings, the right to participate in British Geriatrics Society business and stand for office on committees, Special Interest Groups, Regions or the Trustee board.
4.4 Category A (Senior Doctors – Post CCT or CESR CP); Category B (Pre CCT or CESR C); Category C (Healthcare professionals); and Category D (Students/Preceptorship Nurse and AHP and Foundation Year Doctors [free]). Category A and B come with a year’s subscription to Age and Ageing journal with license to access the Age and Ageing journal online. Access to the Age and Ageing journal will continue as long as your membership is current. Category C members can select not to receive the journal for a discounted membership fee and Category D (and all overseas members) will receive digital access to the journal. All other items will incur an extra fee, which will be indicated on the Membership Application, or be communicated separately.
4.5 Membership Fees are subject to an annual increase and we will notify members via the newsletter of the proposed rates for the subsequent year. The proposed rates will be voted on at the Autumn AGM.
5. Payments
5.1 Membership Benefits commence once an application, or renewal application, has been approved and when the required Membership Fee has been cleared. Direct Debit is the default payment method for UK membership fees. Other payment methods (bank transfer or selected credit/debit cards) can be arranged in exceptional circumstances as agreed by the Membership Officer.
6. Cancellations
6.1 We reserve the right to cancel Membership for any failure by a Member to pay fees for the Membership Year.
6.2 We reserve the right to cancel Membership for any reason, at any time of the year, where false or incorrect information has been provided in support of that Membership Application, or where communication with a Member is returned to us because of a failed email address or returned post.
6.3 In the event of cancellation by us due to false representation, the Member will be notified and a full refund of the current year’s fees will be made.
6.4 In the event of cancellation by a Member, cancellation fees will be due as follows:
6.4.1 if Membership is cancelled for any reason within 10 Working Days of the Membership acknowledgement being issued, the Member is entitled to a full refund; and
6.4.2 if an Application is cancelled after 10 Working Days of the Membership acknowledgement being issued, the Member is not entitled to any refund.
6.5 If a Member wishes to change their Membership Category, the Member is not entitled to a refund unless the existing Membership has first been cancelled in accordance with the above in 6.4.1. If we enrol the Member to a new Membership Category and the new Membership Fee associated with the new Membership Category is greater than the amount already paid, the Member will pay the balance.
6.6 To request a refund in accordance with these terms and conditions you must notify us in writing by email to membership [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk. We will pay any refund to which you are entitled as soon as possible and within 30 days.
7. Copyright
7.1 We reserve all rights in the content of all Membership Materials. By completing the Membership application an Applicant acknowledges that all rights in the content of Membership and related Materials shall be owned by British Geriatrics Society (or the identified author responsible for developing the Materials) and that Membership does not entitle you to any such content or Materials.
7.2 The Member agrees not to reproduce, sell, hire or copy Materials (in whole or part) and not to use such Materials except for the purpose of references.
8. Data protection and recording
8.1 Information about Members will be added to our database, to enable us to process your Membership Application, personalise your experience as a Member and keep you up to date with services that we offer.
8.2 All information that you provide to us will be processed and held in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998, the General Data Protection Regulation and all other relevant law.
8.3 You agree that the personal details provided to us may be used for administrative purposes to fulfil your membership rights and provide membership services to you. In some cases, we work with external providers who supply particular services and we agree to transfer all data securely and ensure that relevant suppliers sign data processing and confidentiality agreements with us. If you would like a list of current third parties who we work with, please contact us.
8.4 As part of your Membership, we may also send you information about developments in the healthcare of older people and services we offer where we believe this may be of legitimate interest to you and we may contact you by post, telephone or email.
8.5 If you wish to update your communication preferences or do not wish to receive any further information from us please notify us by the ‘my account’ section of the BGS website, post, the ‘unsubscribe’ option in electronic communications, email via membership [at] bgs [dot] org [dot] uk or telephone to 0207 608 1369.
8.6 Photo and video footage may be taken at our events for promotional and education purposes. In agreeing to these terms and conditions you consent to being recorded at such events and to the use of the resulting material by the British Geriatrics Society.
8.7 Feedback comments may be collected from you from for promotional purposes. In agreeing to these terms and conditions, you consent to such comments being used by us for marketing purposes, in such form that you remain anonymous.
9. Limitation of liability
9.1 Except in respect of liability for death or personal injury caused by the British Geriatrics Society’s negligence or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation (for which no limit or exclusions of liability apply):
9.1.1 The British Geriatrics Society’s aggregate liability, whether for damages or compensation of any nature for each Membership year shall be limited to the total sum or sums paid by you as Membership Fees in relation to the Membership Year; and
9.1.2 The British Geriatrics Society shall not be liable in respect of any loss of profit, loss of business, loss of revenue, loss of anticipated savings or loss of use or value or any indirect, special or consequential loss however arising by reason of: any representation (unless fraudulent); any implied warranty, condition or other term; any duty at common law; or, any express term of these terms and conditions or the Membership application.
10. General
10.1 The failure of the British Geriatrics Society to exercise or enforce any right in these terms and conditions does not constitute a waiver of such rights.
10.2 These terms and conditions do not create or infer any rights under the Contracts (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999 which are enforceable by any person who is not a party to the contract.
10.3 These terms shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the law of England and Wales and any dispute that may arise between us concerning these terms and conditions shall be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.
Last updated: 12 February 2021