The VBA has advised that it is changing the way it treats practitioners when they fail to comply with the annual fee and insurance requirements. After 1 July 2018 practitioners who do not pay their fee and insurance will receive a SHOW CAUSE NOTICE from the VBA.
In the past, a failure to pay the annual fee and insurance requirements was grounds for immediate suspension. The new show cause notice will give the practitioner an opportunity to comply with the Act and get payment up to date before an immediate suspension takes place. In a sense, it is a final notice for practitioners to ensure they are compliant.
The VBA has said that reminders of the annual fee and insurance requirements will be sent out approximately six weeks before they are due.