Or do the National Trust need to start looking after their members during the 'Rona

[MaconVillagesisgoodchardonnay]

I know we're in "unprecedented times" before anyone starts with that one.

I pay a family membership for NT and in a normal week I will use it at least twice a week with the children, either alone, with husband or to meet up with friends.

I haven't been since March when they opened it up to everyone, caused chaos and subsequently shut.

Since reopening and operating a booking system, the venues close to me you need to book almost a week in advance which is utterly bonkers. They haven't prioritised their members, or in fact communicated with us at all regarding this, in fact I've had no post from them since Jan renewal.

I've emailed them to see whether I can have either a partial refund or an extension on our membership - AIBU? I haven't had a response yet. I'd rather now have an annual pass to a private estate locally and know I can be guaranteed somewhere to go. When the schools do break up for summer the chances of booking a NT day out become even slimmer.

I'm a bit ratty after the baby kept me up all night but AIBU to be a bit fucked off at them?

They have charity status, so cannot prioritise members due to this.

@SachaStark thank you - I didn't realise this and it's good to understand that's why.

I would be annoyed. We have English heritage and they've given us 3 extra months free.

The state Gallery has extended our membership by four months.

I'm thinking of stopping our annual membership after this year. We don't have anywhere on our doorstep and but would visit places as we travel through the country and on holidays, which just hasn't happened. I am also finding the booking system very restrictive, I know that's the most sensible approach but it's definitely put me off.

Also, their purpose is to preserve valuable buildings and land and they have to prioritise that. Having less footfall means they will be working on cash reserves probably to keep them all open and in hood condition.

They arent allowed to give member priority booking so while it is unfair there isnt anything they can do about it. However I do think they should have sent some communication to explain this. As far as i know theres nothing prohibiting them from extending annual passes and any decent company has been doing so - I hope they will for NT too.

They have not been very clear about it but are offering a couple of options. You do have to apply rather than get it automatically like with English Heritage.

www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/help-with-your-membership-payments-due-to-coronavirus

They will make more money from visiting non-members than those they already have 'captive' especially if the can persuade those visitors to join a the same time. It is annoying but we look upon it as a sunk cost and a small thing compared to everything else. They should have communicated though -is annoying when every excuse is 'people working from home to keep them 'safe'' /they can email from home!

That's really helpful, MummyToALittleMonster. We've been hit financially the last three months ago I'll take that offer up.

Sorry, that sentence was a bit all over the place.

Yes they have not done well in a difficult situation. They were slow to reopen and still have playgrounds and other parts shut. They have a ridiculous 1 way system despite very wide paths. They also seem to have cut the cost to non members but done nothing for members.

I initially gave them benefit of the doubt but now think they've been quite poor

Are you on their email list? I've had weekly updates from NT via email. Haven't been able to access a site since the lockdown began but haven't really tried to, to be honest. My new membership cards arrived recently with a letter saying thanks for continuing membership, etc.

We pre-booked and went to an NT gardens this week. Were shocked at how neglected it looked - like the NT Gardens That Time Forgot. It’s such a shame but they must be losing so much cafe revenue and so many of their volunteers are elderly. However, I can understand why some members will think twice about renewing. We’d normally go to an NT say three or four times a month - but have only been once since lockdown and no idea when we’ll go again.

I am very peeved especially as EH gave the 3 months pretty near the beginning without it being requested. I did ask the NT and they replied they had no similar intention. Mind you, the NT wind me up anyway but if you want access to their buildings you have to put up with them and their ways!

Our NT membership lapsed in May and I have not renewed and probably will not due to lack of any priority or support of members

We were considering family membership recently, but there's just no point at the moment because so many places are still shut and the booking system for places that are open is so restrictive. I don't want to decide days/week in advance to go somewhere because if the weather is rubbish it will be wasted! I'd be pretty fed up if I'd already got membership, I really think it should be extended by 3 months.

I was offered a reduction for this year's membership based on 3 months free. Added to my newly acquired senior status I renewed for £40.50. Very pleased. Lots of emails from them keeping me up to date latest being yesterday.

Has anyone taken up the 3 month payment holiday? Do you know if you can still visit in those 3 months?

I've booked a place to go next week for the first time since they've reopened. I'm interested to see what it'll be like.

The not prioritising members doesn't bother me so much, I'd imagine the vast majority of tickets booked are by members plus they need to make money from non members. I'm more annoyed about parts of the gardens etc not being open or cafes not even open for a takeaway.

I have seen it explained on MN before that it is to do with their charity status that somehow it means they can't open to members only.
I'm not doubting that as a fact, but it does seem bizarre as all sorts of other charities only cater for their members.

If I were a member of the NT though, I too would be extremely peeved to be paying my membership for something I can't use, only to then have the public at large able to use it. (I do 'get' that members have the equal chance to book on line when it opens, but this might not be possible or convenient for people).

The ‘Rona - how horrific.

Just checked for a payment break with National Trust Scotland and no option - shame!

If you pay annually you had to apply for a 25% refund before 31st March. If you pay monthly you have a couple of weeks left to apply for a membership break.
I had this communicated to me, by email I think, it was a long time ago so it may have been another method. We chose not to take up the offer as we haven't been impacted financially but it's there if you need it.

We have a family membership and DH emailed them back in April to say he wasn't paying if he couldn't go (we pay monthly) and they didn't charge us for 3 months. We are now back paying again but we are now using it as much as possible and we are lucky that we've never had an issue booking a slot.

My parents also have a membership hut they pay annually. As far as I'm aware, when they renew, they will get 3 months for free or something like that.