Should I cancel my National Trust membership?

laurel7172

I think it's a technical thing rather than a scam...you have to make a donation *on top of* the standard entrance price before they can claim back tax on the lot. Don't blame the charities-they didn't write the insane rules

If tempted to rotate memberships, remember that EH members only get free entry to Historic Scotland and CADW properties in the second year (half price in the first). So if you're heading in a Celtic direction for your holidays, bear that in mind before you swap.

Kay

Quentin wrote: »

That's it in a nutshell!

There is no commitment to renew (unlike the "autorenew" clause in many car insurance policies).

They know when you cancel a DD as they get informed by the bank.

Yet they send out an unsolicited renewal pack!

(And there is no fear they could blight your credit record)

I agree with Quentin - when you cancelled your DD, they were informed by the bank. I did this with another organisation once and within a week they'd written a begging letter asking me if I'd cancelled by mistake and asking me to reinstate it. I then felt guilty and rang to explain why I'd cancelled.

Yes, maybe we should inform the organisation when we cancel the DD, but that's why the DD is so convenient, because you're in control of it.

They're definitely trying it on - ring them and tell them you cancelled the DD, didn't want to rejoin and haven't used the cards they sent so to remove you from their list. They can't demand payment for something you didn't order and haven't used!

sunshinetours

Kay wrote: »

I agree with Quentin - when you cancelled your DD, they were informed by the bank. I did this with another organisation once and within a week they'd written a begging letter asking me if I'd cancelled by mistake and asking me to reinstate it. I then felt guilty and rang to explain why I'd cancelled.

Yes, maybe we should inform the organisation when we cancel the DD, but that's why the DD is so convenient, because you're in control of it.

They're definitely trying it on - ring them and tell them you cancelled the DD, didn't want to rejoin and haven't used the cards they sent so to remove you from their list. They can't demand payment for something you didn't order and haven't used!

This was the only bit I previously had an issue with. there is no maybe about it. Just call or email the charity and inform them you are not renewing and then cancel your DD - job done. Cancelling a DD does not constitute cancellation of a membership of an organisation, its merely the payment method. As I said its laziness nothing more.
I really hate the culture of "not my problem -sue me" you seem to hear all to often. 90% of these issues could be sorted by the person doing the right thing in the first place - everyone like to hide behind a computer screen these days rather than talk!

Quentin

sunshinetours wrote: »

Cancelling a DD does not constitute cancellation of a membership of an organisation, its merely the payment method. As I said its laziness nothing more.

Although you are correct in saying that cancelling a dd doesn't cancel membership of an organisation.

But this is immaterial as far as NT are concerned!

You do not become an ongoing member when you join. You are just a member for the year.

There is no auto-renewal agreement of your membership!

(And a charity shouldn't be trying it on by sending out renewal packs without getting paid for them. They are unsolicited items, and must involve them in some expense!)

So they should not be sending out renewal packs without getting paid for them. What they should be doing is sending out renewal notices like any other organisation, inviting you to renew if you want to.

To describe a member as being "lazy" for not specifically advising them they do not wish to renew is plain rude/arrogant!

sunshinetours

Quentin wrote: »

Although you are correct in saying that cancelling a dd doesn't cancel membership of an organisation.

But this is immaterial as far as NT are concerned!

You do not become an ongoing member when you join. You are just a member for the year.

There is no auto-renewal agreement of your membership!

(And a charity shouldn't be trying it on by sending out renewal packs without getting paid for them. They are unsolicited items, and must involve them in some expense!)

So they should not be sending out renewal packs without getting paid for them. What they should be doing is sending out renewal notices like any other organisation, inviting you to renew if you want to.

To describe a member as being "lazy" for not specifically advising them they do not wish to renew is plain rude/arrogant!

You get an invitation to renew on all services or subscriptions - its plain rude/arrogant not to mention unprofessional to ignore them and simply cancel the payment means with no direct contact to the organisation.

Most other organisations send out a renewal pack (think RAC/AA who send out cards, think insurance companies who send schedule of insurance etc)
One phone call sorts it all out

We clearly disagree on the way things should be handled which is fine

Quentin

sunshinetours wrote: »

Most other organisations send out a renewal pack (think RAC/AA who send out cards, think insurance companies who send schedule of insurance etc)
One phone call sorts it all out

Insurance companies etc (especially car insurance) are a different issue entirely!

They often do make you agree to autorenewal of the policy, and relying on the phone to "sort it all out" is poor advice. (There are lots of reports on the insurance board where insurance companies deny getting the calls to cancel, and go ahead and renew - so better advice for cancelling any contracts that autorenew is to send written instructions to lapse by recorded delivery).

But in the case of the NT, by sending out unsolicited renewal packs including membership cards to members who have not signed up to an autorenewal contract is truly just "trying it on"!

sunshinetours

Really? All seem to be offering a service (access to NT properties for example, access to receovery services) in return for your annual premium or subscription?

"Picking up the phone" was obviously just a method of dealing with it rather than doing nothing but cancelling a DD, which is clearly not dealing with it (and that would indeed be poor advice) . Sorry that wasn't made crystal clear for all apparently....

As previously there is more than enough on this thread for people to make up their own minds about how to deal with these things correctly

[Deleted User]

If you join the Scottish National trust or the NZ one do you also get the free car parking in the English NT car parks?

sunshinetours

I think its just property entry reciprocal agreements, as you need an English NT window sticker to park in car parks. If you are likley to visit a lot then could be worthwhile English NT anyway in that case as some car parks aren't cheap

This "loophole" has been round for years and I am sure car parking was mentioned before

marmotta

We have been NT members over several years, enjoying the wonderful properties & countryside & feeling that by being members we are supporting the NT and our heritage. Usually just two adults as members & one year also with my grandchildren as they came to stay often that year and it was much more cost effective to include them. We have allowed the membership to lapse and then renewed but usually after several months. Last year I cancelled our membership after a lengthy phone call to their membership department regarding on going membership costs for existing members never being as good as the cost to new members. The lady I spoke to was quite sympathetic and said that it is a "bone of contention" to many members and is being looked into" ? In early October we were in Devon, decided to visit a NT property and payed the normal entry fee, we were told that if we decided to join that day we would get our entry fee refunded and would get 14 months membership for the price of 12, which before leaving we decided to do. Today we received our new membership cards & DD confirmation letter and I noted that the expiry date was for 31 October 2012! I have just been speaking to the NT office who informed me that we were misinformed when taking out membership, NT membership is always & only for 12 months although you may pay for 10 and get 12!!! She suggested I contact the property where I took out the membership which I feel is unreasonable, she also said it is "pot luck" what you pay for membership as there are always different offers, online, in magazines or at the properties. She finally agreed to refund me the difference in vouchers from what I have paid and the online price for two people, to which I agreed. I think we may sign up to the RHS next year:)