English Heritage

tornado123_2

Hello MSE, I have asked English Heritage for a refund for the last 3-months subscription fees due to not being able to use the services I have paid for.  They have refused on the basis that it wasn’t their doing but simply following Government guidelines.  I feel this is unreasonable and I and sticking with it through their internal processes first.  I am thinking of issuing  claim in the small claims court as they can’t take my money and not provide me with a service. They have said members are being given 15 months for 12 if you Renee but I do not want to extend my subscription.  In essence it feels like a fait accompli. Do I have legal redress if they do not take a reasonable line with my request. 

soolin

That's odd, I'm sure I was sent a letter saying that I would have my membership extended to cover this closure.

steampowered

So, they have offered to extend your membership free of charge for an additional 3 months?

That sounds totally reasonable to me. You paid for a year's membership and that's exactly what you are getting. I don't see why you would be entitled to a refund. 

Martin_the_Unjust

If I understand it correctly they have offered 15 months for the price of 12 when you next renew.

If, like the OP you don't wish to renew then tough.

Undervalued

tornado123_2 said:

Hello MSE, I have asked English Heritage for a refund for the last 3-months subscription fees due to not being able to use the services I have paid for.  They have refused on the basis that it wasn’t their doing but simply following Government guidelines.  I feel this is unreasonable and I and sticking with it through their internal processes first.  I am thinking of issuing  claim in the small claims court as they can’t take my money and not provide me with a service. They have said members are being given 15 months for 12 if you Renee but I do not want to extend my subscription.  In essence it feels like a fait accompli. Do I have legal redress if they do not take a reasonable line with my request. 

Why do you think you are buying a service?

I am very familiar with the National Trust, less so with EH but I would imagine the same principles apply. You are contributing to a charitable organisation because you support their aims and objectives. You are not buying the right to make XX visits a year. Forget the current situation, what would you have said had one of their places burnt down? Would you have demanded a proportional reduction in subscription as there were less places to visit!

tornado123_2

Hi, yes were offered an extension but only if you subscribe for another year and I do not want to do this so I am unable to make use of it.   I did sign up for 12-months but that is not what I got. I have actually received 9-months and if under normal circumstances I cancelled my direct debit at the nine month stage I cannot imagine EH would settle for this so.  Surely they can’t have it both ways.  There is of course the moral dilemma as they are a charity but it’s their intransigence on the matter that has started the issue.   

Martin_the_Unjust

tornado123_2 said:

Hi, yes were offered an extension but only if you subscribe for another year and I do not want to do this so I am unable to make use of it.   I did sign up for 12-months but that is not what I got. I have actually received 9-months and if under normal circumstances I cancelled my direct debit at the nine month stage I cannot imagine EH would settle for this so.  Surely they can’t have it both ways.  There is of course the moral dilemma as they are a charity but it’s their intransigence on the matter that has started the issue.   

I understand your dilemma but modern large charities, like English Heritage are run like businesses nowadays (quite rightly they would say in order to maximise their income) but if they want to act like businesses in one aspect then I don't think it's wrong of you to expect them to behave like businesses in other ways.

If I was you I would be chasing them.

DoaM

How much are were talking about? (Some battles are worth fighting - others aren't).

Undervalued

tornado123_2 said:

Hi, yes were offered an extension but only if you subscribe for another year and I do not want to do this so I am unable to make use of it.   I did sign up for 12-months but that is not what I got. I have actually received 9-months and if under normal circumstances I cancelled my direct debit at the nine month stage I cannot imagine EH would settle for this so.  Surely they can’t have it both ways.  There is of course the moral dilemma as they are a charity but it’s their intransigence on the matter that has started the issue.   

That may depend on whether you are making a donation (as I believe is the case) or if you are buying a service as you seem to think.

Yes, generally if you pay a membership in "easy monthly instalments" you have contracted to pay for the whole year and you are not buying a month in a time. So yes in theory they could pursue you for the remainder if you cancelled mid way. However I would have though that is unlikely in this case.

However, as I said earlier, it remains my opinion that you are not buying a service and there is no guarantee that all of the the venues will be open. Yes, this is more extreme but my previous point remains valid. If just a few places were closed would you honestly expect a pro rata rebate on subscription? I think the answer is no.

There have been similar debates about golf courses etc. If snow closes the course for two weeks in a particular year would you expect 1/26 of your subscription back?

The_Rainmaker

Membership works out at £5.25/month so you are getting your knickers in a knot for £15.75 from a charity that will be desperate for the money.

Jeez I'm a Scotsman and you are putting me to shame!

davidmcn

DoaM said:

How much are were talking about? (Some battles are worth fighting - others aren't).

3 months of individual membership is about £16. It would be absurd (and very much non-money-saving) to pursue something that amount via small claims, even if you were sure you'd win.