BIOS Membership Terms and Conditions

New Members

Your application will be assessed against the BIOS membership criteria by the BIOS office. In cases where the BIOS office is unable to make a decision, it will refer the application to the Chair who may take advice from the Board of Trustees, the Council of Experts, or suitably qualified members.

For auditing purposes, figures are kept on the number of people joining at each point in the year, including the amount paid. The Board of Trustees and members may receive reports on membership figures, finances and other data from time to time. Data stored by BIOS will comply with the Data Protection Act 2018, and is not disclosed to anyone without prior permission.

Any person who is refused membership will have the right to appeal. Individuals must write to the Chair stating the reason they feel they are eligible for membership. This appeal will then be taken to an Appeal Board consisting of three members appointed by the Chair. The terms of any appeal shall be limited to whether, on the basis of the facts found by the Society, the refusal of membership was appropriate. The determination of the Appeal Board shall be final and conclusive. The individual will be notified of the outcome of their appeal following the meeting of this Board.

When you’re a member…

Once accepted as a member, your membership will continue until you advise BIOS in writing that you no longer wish to be a member. BIOS will not automatically stop providing services to members if their membership is not paid on the day their subscription is due for renewal. BIOS will assume that the member is just late in making payment. Reminders will be sent to the member. However, if payment is not made by the deadline given to that member, then the member will be cancelled for non-payment.

Cancelling membership

Because membership subscriptions are calculated to provide services for a whole year, members can only resign from BIOS at the start of their membership year. Any member wishing to leave BIOS should notify the BIOS office in writing prior to the start of their new membership year or no later than one month after the start of their new membership year. Members paying by Direct Debit will need to ensure they notify BIOS in writing of their intent to resign and also cancel their Direct Debit with their bank to avoid any further payments being taken. BIOS will not issue refunds on subscriptions paid if members fail to notify BIOS of their intent to resign more than one month after the start of the BIOS membership year.

BIOS has the right to terminate or suspend the membership of any member for any of the following reasons:

Failure to pay subscriptions
Any of the reasons described under Article 8.2 in the BIOS Articles of Association.

If BIOS sees fit to remove a member, they will be informed no later than 21 days prior to the meeting at which their removal is to be discussed.

When membership is cancelled or suspended due to disciplinary action, the member will be informed. The member will have the right to appeal against the decision. Notice of such an appeal must be given to the Chair in writing within 21 days of notification to the person concerned of the decision.

This appeal will then be taken to an Appeal Board consisting of three members appointed by the Chair. The terms of any appeal shall be limited to whether, on the basis of the facts found by the Society, removal from the record was an appropriate sanction. The determination of the Appeal Board shall be final and conclusive.

When a member is due to be suspended or cancelled for non-payment of subscriptions, BIOS will advise the member of its intention and, providing the outstanding money is paid within the allotted time stated on that notification, the decision may be reversed. If the money is not paid within the allotted time, then the membership will be cancelled.

Once a membership is cancelled, that member will cease to receive all of the benefits of membership, including liability insurance coverage and access to British Orthoptic Society (BOS) Trade Union representation. Application for restoration of membership may be submitted no earlier than twelve months from removal.

Direct Debits

Direct Debits are paid in twelve monthly instalments to cover the full year’s subscription. However, the option to pay by Direct Debit instalments is not a part-yearly membership; it is intended to be for the whole membership year. If a member wishes to cancel their subscription, they will still be required to pay the full annual subscription.

Direct Debit payments will be taken from the member’s account on or as near to the 4^th of the month as possible. If a payment fails, BIOS will advise the member accordingly and they will be notified of the actions required to ensure the missed payment is made at a future date. If the payment is not made following two months, your membership will be cancelled.