National Trust shuts due to coronavirus and won't extend membership

sharpe106

11,000 staff, 61,000 volunteers

https://www.nationaltrustjobs.org.uk/about-us

Semple

We kept paying our monthly membership during closure. When you consider the entry prices for non-members, and we tend to go to a site at least twice a month, we know that we've certainly had our monies worth even if it meant not being able to visit a NT site for 2-3 months. 

Thrugelmir

roddydogs said:

Surely most staff are volunteers?

Nope. The area office I volunteer for has no historic house to generate income. Yet looks after 8,500 acres of land. This includes 12 tenanted farms, 4 historic buildings, a listed farm (i.e. all the buildings),  285 residential properties and some 150 historic monuments. 

GibbsRule_No3.

Semple said:

We kept paying our monthly membership during closure. When you consider the entry prices for non-members, and we tend to go to a site at least twice a month, we know that we've certainly had our monies worth even if it meant not being able to visit a NT site for 2-3 months. 

I pay annually, none are needing renewing for 4-5 months.  IF they can start letting people visit again, without the need to book, then I will renew all of them.  If booking is required when renewal time comes, then I will give up Kew and Royal Palaces.  NT I would keep due to my length of membership and holidays, booking a property or two while actually away from home I would not feel as bad as not being able to walk into my local NT, Kew and Hampton Court.  I have also managed to have all membership cards, not owe me anything this year,  as I have visited all of them enough times before lockdown.

avav

We have decided not to renew.  The new booking system does not give priority to members - the only reason for this, as far as I can glean, is financial (ie non members pay for every visit, members don't).  With all bookings sold out for the foreseeable future at local NT sites, there is little use for membership. I am unwilling to pay for a service that can't be accessed and will leave it to other wealthier people to support the NT as a charity.  I suspect if other not so wealthy members also decide to let their renewal lapse, then the current financial decision might turn out to be misguided. A great shame.

Ashworks

avav said:

We have decided not to renew.  The new booking system does not give priority to members - the only reason for this, as far as I can glean, is financial (ie non members pay for every visit, members don't).  With all bookings sold out for the foreseeable future at local NT sites, there is little use for membership. I am unwilling to pay for a service that can't be accessed and will leave it to other wealthier people to support the NT as a charity.  I suspect if other not so wealthy members also decide to let their renewal lapse, then the current financial decision might turn out to be misguided. A great shame.

They can't give priority to members, as charity tax rules around Gift Aid forbid it. 

Thrugelmir

avav said:

We have decided not to renew.  The new booking system does not give priority to members - the only reason for this, as far as I can glean, is financial (ie non members pay for every visit, members don't).  With all bookings sold out for the foreseeable future at local NT sites, there is little use for membership. I am unwilling to pay for a service that can't be accessed and will leave it to other wealthier people to support the NT as a charity.  I suspect if other not so wealthy members also decide to let their renewal lapse, then the current financial decision might turn out to be misguided. A great shame.

New tickets are released every Friday for the following week. Likewise every week more places are opening again. 

angela110660

I went on website on Friday morning and booked for myself (member) and daughter £8 as non member. We are visiting on Thursday this week and very much looking forward to it. Will retain my membership as such good value in normal times. 

plassey

I bought membership for my family on 28th February, the offer of membership said that I would receive;

• Free entry to over 500 special places, including our houses
• Free parking at most National Trust car parks

I have not been offered that service and therefore a refund is appropriate - why should an airline refund us for a lack of service but not the National Trust?

[Deleted User]

plassey said:

I have not been offered that service and therefore a refund is appropriate - why should an airline refund us for a lack of service but not the National Trust?

Your "membership" to the National Trust is a charitable donation which comes with some discretionary benefits. Legally you are paying to be a member of the charity, not for any specific benefits. There is no "service" to be provided, which means that there is nothing to be refunded.