NT and the rise of the machines
Having reached a certain age earlier this year, I rang the National Trust to ask about the reduced membership fee (the one they don't advertise too much).
It appears that our joint membership was taken out all those years ago with MrsH as the 'first named' member and me as a joint member. No problem, they can swap us over and we would benefit from the reduced fee.
They then wrote to me confirming the change.
They wrote again, asking me to set up a new direct debit.
They wrote again asking me about them claiming the tax relief.
I rang and asked them to simply take the payment from the same account that they had always used. No, no.....we cannot do that, because that account is in MrsH's name........but it's joint membership, I said......no can do - it must be an account in your name. So I gave them details of an account in my name.
We'll write to you to confirm this, they said. Please don't, it's not necessary, said I. There is no choice......the computer just does it anyway. So we received a fourth letter.
Last week, MrsH received a letter enclosing our new membership cards and saying that they would take the full membership amount (not the reduced fee) from her account.
I rang them again and pointed out the change. Ah yes, but our mail is done three months in advance and there is no way of stopping it going out.
Is it me?
Comments
-
Must say that me and the old girl have bashed the NT plastic card a bit this past week, 8 properties in 7 days. Their computer may be all powerful but the lads and lasses on the ground are terrific. Better examples of customer service I have yet to meet.
0 -
I tried to get the reduced rate this year but was told that although I comply by my age I wouldn't be eligible for it until next year as I have not been a member long enough.( We did cancel it for one year) I then asked how much I would save. We have a ticket
that includes all the grandchildren and the answer was so convoluted that I could not make it out. Said I would try again next year.So if you don't mind me asking IanH how much will you save?0 -
DEBSC - I think the normal rate for a couple this year is £105 and we got it for £78.....so a worthwhile saving.
Yes you do need to have been a member for a certain number of years (10 years?) and so if you cancel and renew your membership each year to take advantage of the (unfair in my view) special offers to new members, then I assume that you have broken your 'long
service' record.0 -
Is having a reduced life worth it just to get a cheaper subscription?
0 -
Not having a lot of luck with your memberships are you, Ian. First it's the CC, now the NT. They do say things come in threes. Are you a member of English Heritage? Be very afraid!
Well, obviously we have cancelled the DD that relates to the higher standard fee for the NT, we have our membership cards for the forthcoming year.......so no real problems there. The point of my post was that the NT are wasting member's money by writing
to us repeatedly. Do you disagree with that?As for our CC membership, I've not experienced any issues with renewal.
What was your point?
0 -
National Trust for Scotland charge £60 per year for joint membership, with reciprocal access to NT properties.
Me? I'm from Yorkshire.
Good point, Mick.
It used to be that the only real advantage of having English membership was to get the handbook. Now the NT have a very good app that provides all the necessary information.......so they may have shot themselves in the foot.....
0 -
Not having a lot of luck with your memberships are you, Ian. First it's the CC, now the NT. They do say things come in threes. Are you a member of English Heritage? Be very afraid!
Well, obviously we have cancelled the DD that relates to the higher standard fee for the NT, we have our membership cards for the forthcoming year.......so no real problems there. The point of my post was that the NT are wasting member's money by writing
to us repeatedly. Do you disagree with that?As for our CC membership, I've not experienced any issues with renewal.
What was your point?
There wasn't a point, Ian. It was meant to be humorous - it's obviously the way I tell 'em!
(PS, I assume you've actually paid the new rate for your cards, not wangling entry for nothing?
That's meant to be humorous as well!)0 -
I am also from Yorkshire! Join Cadw, a lot cheaper than EH, same conditions apply, first year half price to get in EH and HS properties, after that free.
0 -
I believe that it is possible to join Malta National Trust, which has reciprocal arrangements with other National trusts. Thirty euros for a couple and 5 euros for students.
But we pay pensioners' rates because we are making a contribution to a worthwhile cause! (He said, piously).
David
0 -
Yes it doesn't seem fair that NT Scotland is so much cheaper than NT England, we unaware of this when we joined one year in England and then the next year we were at the Glasgow show and got talking to the members there who were running an offer of 15mths
for the price of 12 mths. We renewed with NTS for many years after that. Haven't had membership for the last couple of years as there is very little open in the winter months, we are away abroad in Spring and Autumn and don't go touring in the peak Summer
season. Maybe on day we will rejoin when we spend more time holidaying in the UK.To answer IanH, there are many orgainisations that waste members money CC being one of them.
0
