Membership fees and request by Club to continue

Jogon replied on 07/04/2020 18:54

Posted on 07/04/2020 18:54

Today I received an email as most likely all club members have regarding the Membership Fees and the request that we consider continuning membership.

I/we support that request and for the following reasons:

I/we have been members for a few years now, we have enjoyed the membership, the sites and facilities along with the website and whilst we haven't always agreed with some of the site policies we have continued our membership.

These are tough times for us all and on so many different levels and whilst I do understand that it is a question of prioritising where finances are concerned (same for us) we feel that the club has benefited us greatly over the term of our membership, we're kind of proud to be a part of it.

Businesses like individuals will be hard pressed in the months to come, the Club did not get to where it is now by shrinking from it's responsibilities, neither did it get there by complacency, it got there by virtue of it's management making good decisions, by taking action when it needed to and importantly because of it's loyal members, combine the two and you can see why it's a club to stay with and continue to stay with.

In short, for us personally we will continue to pay our membership/remain a member, we won't be asking for refunds, reductions or extensions , we feel that the best support we can give the club right now is to continue our subscription throughout this terrible situation we all find ourselves in.

Of course, how we proceed won't be everyones cup of tea but in some sense diversity can add cohesion. Please keep in mind that whilst our stance may not be yours, it is ours and we like you have the ability to choose which way we're going.

We hope to holiday later in the year by taking up our annual booking, but if we are unable to because we're still in quarantine, well we can't, nothing we can do about it, it's 'life' ....which right now seems more precious than ever.

 

Cornersteady replied on 20/07/2020 21:41

Posted on 20/07/2020 17:17 by suecom

I guess a very large majority of members join to use the sites, and although it's not the clubs fault the sites aren't open, the government has provided grants, furlough schemes, and other financial dispensations to help cover those loses.

As I've mentioned, gyms, the camping and caravanning club, and even insurance companies have compensated clients for the services they've not been able to provide.

Why should the CAMC not do the same? If only out of a moral obligation to stick the letter of their T&Cs, the management seem to have scored a home goal.

Posted on 20/07/2020 21:41

Not all gyms though and not all insurance companies.

DavidKlyne replied on 20/07/2020 21:56

Posted on 20/07/2020 16:57 by suecom

I agree with you about the substance, just not the approach. 

Legally (as has been pointed out), you can't charge for a service you can't provide, and therefore a refund is payable. If a member doesn't want a refund, and I'm probably one of them, then fine, but that should be the choice of the member, not the supplier.

It leaves a bad taste that one's club decides its going to keep your money when it failed to provide what was promised (contracted) in the 12 months agreed.

Posted on 20/07/2020 21:56

I really don't think legality comes into it. You join a club to become a member. From there on in it is completely up to you what services you use. There maybe many other reasons during a year when you can't use Club services for a whole variety of reasons. There are many Club sites closed in the winter, should I demand a refund because I can't use a particular site in December of February. Whilst there are many who might like to have a longer season for all sites I don't recall anyone asking for a refund of membership for the months those sites are closed. I think we all accept the the last few months have been exceptional and I am pretty sure that virtually all members would not want to go through it again. I know the Club don't get everything right and can sometimes be a bit cack handed in how they communicate things but we must move forward. For the amount of money involved it would cost a fortune to consult members individually to see if they wanted a refund or whether they were happy with the status quo. I really think we need to draw a line under it.

David

SteveL replied on 21/07/2020 09:59

Posted on 21/07/2020 09:59

For the amount of money involved it would cost a fortune to consult members individually to see if they wanted a refund or whether they were happy with the status quo. I really think we need to draw a line under it.

+1

The club has made its decision, you either agree with it or you don't and if that disagreement is sufficient you don't renew membership. Personally I don't have a problem with it, although I think a membership extension opt out (as with English Heritage, or opt in (as with National Trust) might have been a better way to go than simply rejecting the idea.

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