Rip-off membership renewal

emv

Hi

We're members of the New Zealand Historic Places Trust (so that we can visit National Trust properties in the UK!). Our membership expired in September & we delayed renewal until December as we had a baby in early October. Although we renewed our membership using the same number, I believe we paid the same price as if we'd joined as new members. When we received our card, in early December, it was dated from the 1st of October & until the 20th of September. When I contacted the NZHPT, they explained that it's their policy to do this, to backdate membership even though we couldn't have had any member benefits in the 2 months+ that we had no valid card.

But this can't be fair, surely? I have looked online for terms & conditions that state they'll do this & can't find them. I paid by credit card & I wonder if I can apply for a chargeback. As far as I'm concerned, I paid for 12 months membership & have been given 10 months'...

Emmavix

paddyrg

I suggest you find a NZ consumer website for kiwi consumer quations.

Hintza

You were a member and just didn't pay your subs for two months past the due date. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

Is it corrrect to assume that this membership is cheaper than joining the National Trust and you are living in the UK?

Would it not have been better (more honest) to take out a National Trust joint subscription at £62.63 or family subscription at £66.38. Instead of the NZHPT family membership at £33.

bod1467

£33 saving using NZHPT? Sounds like a very MSE thing to do.

Hintza

bod1467 wrote: »

£33 saving using NZHPT? Sounds like a very MSE thing to do.

We are talking about a charity. Why not just mug the old lady down the road for the subs? Then it will cost you nothing.

bb999

bod1467 wrote: »

£33 saving using NZHPT? Sounds like a very MSE thing to do.

It does.... but if a lot of people do this then all that happens is the NT in this country loses out in a big way. Remember, we are not talking about big business that can afford to lose this money, but a charity that is here to benefit us all.

If the OP is not happy, I suggest they fight it through the New Zealand courts.

Isn't it ironic that the OP feels they are being ripped off, whilst at the same time trying to rip off the NT.

pendulum

Hintza wrote: »

You were a member and just didn't pay your subs for two months past the due date. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

If I signed up for a year's membership to something, and it expired, I would not deem myself still a member past the expiry date.

If he signed up and paid for a year, then barring any "automatic renewal" clauses, he ceased being a member on the expiry date and when he became a member again he should have got the full year.

pendulum

bb999 wrote: »

If the OP is not happy, I suggest they fight it through the New Zealand courts.

Or maybe just do a chargeback as she indicated. Don't you think that would be easier?

bb999

pendulum wrote: »

Or maybe just do a chargeback as she indicated. Don't you think that would be easier?

On what grounds? OP admits they signed up & were charged the correct fee.

Hintza

pendulum wrote: »

Or maybe just do a chargeback as she indicated. Don't you think that would be easier?

On what grounds?

esuhl

Hintza wrote: »

You were a member and just didn't pay your subs for two months past the due date. Sounds perfectly reasonable to me.

What makes you think the OP was a member? If I buy an annual subscription to something, why should I be considered a member for the rest of my life and expect to have any membership renewals automatically back-dated to when I was last subscribed?! Wouldn't it depend on the terms I'd agreed to?! Your post simply doesn't make any sense!

Hintza wrote: »

We are talking about a charity. Why not just mug the old lady down the road for the subs? Then it will cost you nothing.

Are you saying that if you were mugged by a charity you'd let them have the money and, in turn, mug an innocent person to recoup your losses? Again, your post makes absolutely no sense.

There doesn't appear to be any mention of a recurring subscription in the T&Cs on the website, so assuming the OP hasn't agreed to have membership fees backdated indefinitely to ensure continuous lifetime membership, then back-dating the membership breaches the agreement.

I'd double-check the agreement you initially made, and if appropriate, threaten legal action to recover the loss.