Mercia Methodology and Compliance Renewals

Mercia General Practice and Procedures Products renewal up by 43% this year - alternatives?

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We have just received a renewal notice from Mercia relating to their annual costs for Methodology and Compliance products (previously called General Practice and Procedures Manual) and it has gone up by 43% on last years price.  Has anyone else received a similar increase from Mercia? Does anyone use anything similar that I can compare for costs/quality of content please?  We are finding that everything is being loaded this year - most of our regular renewals, including software have gone up in excess of 10% - Mercia have just taken the trophy for the highest cost increase we have ever experienced in terms of percentages.  Stationery costs have generally gone through the roof - some items have almost doubled in price since our previous order.  We can manage that to a degree, but it will still have an impact. We cannot pass on such massive increases to clients although our rates will need to be reviewed in the light of these increases.  Is anyone else finding the same?

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RLI
By lionofludesch
14th Feb 2022 23:22

I obviously baled out at the right time.

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By SouthCoastAcc
15th Feb 2022 11:04

Anyone willing to share the costs? I was considering Mercia

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Replying to SouthCoastAcc:
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By Jimess
15th Feb 2022 13:59

The General Practice Compliance and Methodology products we used with Mercia cost us £320 plus VAT in 2021 and the quote for this year is £459 plus VAT (Prior to 2021 the GPPM was around £250 - £260 per year plus VAT). Client letters & budget reports etc are charged extra ranging from ££'s to £££'s depending on what they are.

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FT
By FirstTab
15th Feb 2022 13:33

Appears to be standard material.

What value do you get out of this manual?

I remember buying it a few years back. I found our work processes were better than following a manual.

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Replying to FirstTab:
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By Jimess
15th Feb 2022 14:03

Yes we use it as a guideline and update our work processes as and when needed using material from the manual. We mainly use it to update and create draft client letters. The content is good but sometimes a bit OTT and cumbersome to use. I am sure there must be something else out there but I just cannot find it.

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Replying to Jimess:
RLI
By lionofludesch
15th Feb 2022 16:23

Jimess wrote:

Yes we use it as a guideline and update our work processes as and when needed using material from the manual. We mainly use it to update and create draft client letters. The content is good but sometimes a bit OTT and cumbersome to use. I am sure there must be something else out there but I just cannot find it.

I'd consider whether I needed to buy this every year.

Or, indeed, at all.

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Replying to lionofludesch:
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By Jimess
15th Feb 2022 16:41

Yes, we are fast coming to that conclusion. Our admin lady has just run a brief review on how much we use it and for what purpose - not a huge amount over the course of the year. We also buy other products from Mercia - website and CPD courses that have not come up for renewal yet - just wondering if they are also going to be hiked up by 43%.

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Replying to Jimess:
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By Jayden
15th Feb 2022 17:01

Just had my online only CPD renewal. Up by just over 10%

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Replying to Jayden:
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By Jimess
15th Feb 2022 18:00

Thanks - at least that is a more reasonable increase.

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By SouthCoastAcc
15th Feb 2022 18:09

going to need some serious fee increases

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By Calculatorboy
16th Feb 2022 00:28

From my experience these companies appear to be the sort of people who give advice about running a business but who have never actually successfully done it themselves ...

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Replying to Calculatorboy:
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By Calculatorboy
16th Feb 2022 00:31

I remember seeing their audit manuals ..complete overkill...I would never make a profit on an audit following their procedures....but very good for insomnia .

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By bkrajiv
19th Oct 2023 15:24

guys what audit methodologies do you currently use ? Are these boiler plate or again paper pushing excercises ?

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