UKASA - Who/What/Why?

[obious]

Hi All,

i know now that there have been issues with UKARA with the last year (site being down possibly due to being hacked etc) and it seems a few Airsoft sites are pushing UKASA. Does anyone know what it is? Who backs it etc?

cheers

[Super64]

From what I’ve read UKASA doesn’t seem to offer anything that UKARA doesn’t offer when it comes to being able to purchase a rif, but they’re asking for £30 a year. I know there have been issues recently with the UKARA database, but it’s still the site used not only by U.K retailers, but foreign retailers and U.K border and customs. It’s nice to have options, but I think we’re stuck with UKARA for the foreseeable.

[Fizzy]

Hi All,

i know now that there have been issues with UKARA with the last year (site being down possibly due to being hacked etc) and it seems a few Airsoft sites are pushing UKASA. Does anyone know what it is? Who backs it etc?

cheers

I do know who backs it, and lets just say it's the same people who's sites/shops are pushing it...

Also, they seem to have added retailers to their list of supporters, without actually asking the retailers first.

[Bryan Mills]

It is run by site based down south. They had issues with UKARA so went their own way.

it offers a defence for carrying a RIF. You don' need that. Defence only applies to purchase.

it offers 3rd Party Liability Insurance in case somebody tried to sue you.the same insurance any legitimate site already has. The only sort of instance it could be useful is if you are negligent and cause injury.... but if you are acting like an arse I'm sure there will be small print getting the insurance company out of it.

Compared to UKARA it is similar:
a private run company
your details held.on a data base

Compared to UKARA it is differrent:
UKARA is proof of Defence (but not a defence itself) as the only way onto the data base is with site membership to a site that holds its own 3rd Party Liability Insurance.

Compared to UKARA it's the same:
you never have and under current UK laws do not need it.

The noise on the grapevine is the site set this up to snub UKARA. It is rumoured the site was not / could not get insured and so figure if their players are insured they don' have to but it and they make a profit off their players at the same time.

what is absolute fact is something Fizzy said above. They have claimed a number of very big and household name wholesalers and retailers back their scheme.

I know one of the biggest in England and one in Scotland absolutely DO NOT back the scheme. In fact hey are opposed and very annoyed they have been named without their consent.

[obious]

All pretty interesting stuff. The site in question is my local which is why I mentioned it. Thanks for th info all!

[Fizzy]

Well, the UKASA car crash rumbles on...

Their latest 'marketing material' if you can call it that, claims they're recognised/endorsed by HMRC and even uses their logo. HMRC, however, aren't impressed...

HMRC does not authorise the use of their logo and where any marketing material is found to give the impression of a relationship with or endorsement by the department, the department may take legal action to address the problem