National Trust rant?

Splog

Splog

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Steve
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Anyone else a member?

I became a member about two years ago and signed up by direct debit. Today I received my bank statement and they've taken £50.50 should have been £37.50 ish? :thumbsdown: Why do they do this? I would have been happy to continue with them but not any more............. Stupid, stupid rip off tactics! :cuckoo:

Sorry for the rant...... stuff em.
 
Contact them, it looks like they have charged you the standard price, not the cut rate direct debit price.
 
You've been charged the Debit Card rate not Direct Debit rate. Should be able to sort it out with a phone call.
 
To be honest, I've been an NT member for over 30 years. If you use your card(s) regularly, it's value for money. Doesn't always have to be great estates or gardens, some of the car parks in the Lake District are pay and display - and expensive - free if you're a member.
Regarding your specific issue, it's easy to check current membership rates and if they've billed you wrongly, get it corrected. However, I will say that when they centralised many functions into Warrington it was initially a nightmare. They couldn't seem to execute simple instructions and didn't respond to phone calls and emails.
Hopefully that's sorted now.
N.B. Individual Adult is currently £50.50 BUT £37.88 if you sign up online (first year only, dd, 12 months for the price of 9) then reverts to full price on renewal.
**from the NT site**
[†† The discounted Direct Debit price is an introductory rate for the first year of membership only.]
 
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Steep said:
Contact them, it looks like they have charged you the standard price, not the cut rate direct debit price.
Click to expand...

Ploddles said:
You've been charged the Debit Card rate not Direct Debit rate. Should be able to sort it out with a phone call.
Click to expand...

zeugma said:
To be honest, I've been an NT member for over 30 years. If you use your card(s) regularly, it's value for money. Doesn't always have to be great estates or gardens, some of the car parks in the Lake District are pay and display - and expensive - free if you're a member.
Regarding your specific issue, it's easy to check current membership rates and if they've billed you wrongly, get it corrected. However, I will say that when they centralised many functions into Warrington it was initially a nightmare. They couldn't seem to execute simple instructions and didn't respond to phone calls and emails.
Hopefully that's sorted now.
N.B. Individual Adult is currently £50.50 BUT £37.88 if you sign up online (first year only, dd, 12 months for the price of 9) then reverts to full price on renewal.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the replies and I really do appreciate the NT. However, I can't help but feel it's just another typical 'rip off' tactic used by big business these days.... The DD will be cancelled and I will call them about this, but will not renew the membership!
 
Think they are greedy buggers myself and always annoys me how they include the donation in with the admission price without asking
Would be more than happy to pay an extra quid if they asked, but refuse now they are so crafty
 
Splog said:
Thanks for the replies and I really do appreciate the NT. However, I can't help but feel it's just another typical 'rip off' tactic used by big business these days.... The DD will be cancelled and I will call them about this, but will not renew the membership!
Click to expand...

Splog ... whilst I was aware that the first year is cheaper, and in the second year the cost would rise, it is not clear on their website that this is the case.

I am naturally suspicious and did some digging around to clarify what was meant by the "Direct Debit Offer", it is not clear on the page listing the various membership options that this is a one off discount.

As I said it took a lot of searching their site to clarify the position.

If I was you I would have that page open and ask where it states clearly that the figure will rise to full cost in the second and following years.

Here is their membership cost page LINK
 
Martyn... said:
Splog ... whilst I was aware that the first year is cheaper, and in the second year the cost would rise, it is not clear on their website that this is the case.

I am naturally suspicious and did some digging around to clarify what was meant by the "Direct Debit Offer", it is not clear on the page listing the various membership options that this is a one off discount.

As I said it took a lot of searching their site to clarify the position.

If I was you I would have that page open and ask where it states clearly that the figure will rise to full cost in the second and following years.

Here is their membership cost page LINK
Click to expand...




Ah that will be to the right hand page on the link you posted where it clearly says " Join online today by direct debit and get three months free."

Or is that not crystal clear enough???????? :cuckoo::shake:
 
Lynton said:
Ah that will be to the right hand page on the link you posted where it clearly says " Join online today by direct debit and get three months free."

Or is that not crystal clear enough?
Click to expand...

Where does it state for the first year only, that still infers that paying by direct debit gives a discount, it does not state it is limited for the first year of membership.
 
I think the clue is in the "join today" :shrug:
 
Lynton said:
I think the clue is in the "join today" :shrug:
Click to expand...

Yes possibly and in all honesty I did delve around their site and got a fair way through the joining procedure before it was clearly stated, I was aware of it before I joined.

However Splog was not, and I would think that he is not alone, it is open to interpretation, and it is easy to see how it could be missed or misunderstood.

The fact remains it should be clearly stated on that page that it is a one off for the first year only.

I read specifications nearly every day, so I am used to spotting ambiguity in the written word, I am used to reading what is written and seeking clarification of grey areas, that statement is grey, and could be read either way, the addition of some simple wording would remove any doubt.

It should be said that I do not expect too much from their admin department as my first membership card was for MISS Martyn .... despite being Mr on every document :D
 
Martyn... said:
It should be said that I do not expect too much from their admin department as my first membership card was for MISS Martyn .... despite being Mr on every document :D
Click to expand...


Maybe they thought you just wanted weekend membership? :lol:

I take your point, however I would think the vast majority of the public would read that as a "new member offer"
 
I am a long standing member of the NT and if anyone feels "ripped off" by there billing methods, this should be looked into. However, one should always read the small print before signing up for anything.
 
A lot of companies rely on people being too lazy to cancel memberships once they've got hold of your direct debit details. That's why you see a lot of magazine subscriptions now being done on Direct Debit.

I joined the NT on the 3 months free deal recently, it was pretty clear that it was a one year special discount. So I'll cancel towards the end of the year and wait to see if they offer me another deal (only in it for the parking in the Lake District)
 
With all due respect it is clearly stated on the payments page. It's not in small print it says it above where your told how much it is.

Ever wondered if they can check if your a member when you go to an NT property.

Give you a clue, they can't other than you have a membership card. What do they send you before they ask you to pay by cheque after you cancel the Direct debit, I'll give you a clue and new membership card.
Work it out how they can check the new card ( clue is above )

 
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