NATURAL TRUST RIP OFF???

It might, possibly, be a pilot scheme (and I think it would be a bad financial decision on their part) but there are so many competing places that I could easily spend all my time visiting those and not go to NT properties.

At the moment I make my decisions on where to visit on the basis of what is good and what is a reasonable cost. Although I don't have to pay for parking or entry at NT properties (which colours my view on where to visit) I do spend money having tea etc. and catering is a major income generator for them. I don't think they would roll it out across all their properties as it would be very difficult for them to regain lost members if they, then, change it back.

The "I don't really care" was partly tongue in cheek but is a pointer towards the view I would take because there are so many other places I can frequent. Having said that, my attitude wouldn't stop me from being extremely vocal about my regrets .

On the up side, it might encourage me to see some other places that I've never bothered to go to in the past. Of course, if they started charging members for their car parks in the Lake District I'd probably be camping on the head office doorstep.

 

I can't remember ever having been to a property with the car park such a distance from the place!

I suppose it makes a difference that we never take seats with us anywhere and our 'picnics' are not real picnics. We just take some sandwiches or rolls and a bottle of water.

 

Not with you, Pete.??? Are you saying that if you're a paid up member of the RAC and should you break down you have to pay an additional charge???? I'm with Green Flag and they seem to have it all covered.

 

No extra charge with the AA.

 

@Kristen That's a new law that Revenue and Customs brought in a few years ago.

Charities that charge an entrance fee have to be shown to be receiving extra funding before they can claim Gift Aid. The Revenue set that extra sum at 10% and it has to be charged by all charities. The NT and RHS have to do it - as did Bressingham on Sunday where they charged us wrinklies £7.27 without Gift Aid and £8 with it.

As I always wish to decide who I give Gift Aid to, I refuse the extra and object if they try to charge me the higher price without asking.

As we already give a lot to charity we have to be very careful about giving more Gift Aid. If the total tax claimed by charitable donations exceeds the amount of tax you actually pay then the charity gets the tax from the Revenue - and the Revenue send you a bill for it!!! It happened to me, and I had to pay the Revenue some of the money they had given to the charity.

 

Depends on how often you intend visiting. If you go three times or more then you are better off.

There's a garden near us that's £7.70 for each entry or £35 for a season ticket, and as we visit very regularly the season ticket saves money for us in the long term.

 

We have to keep an eye on the limit all the time as we pay very little tax, being pensioners

 

So, if I work at it a little bit harder, can I be a Rock Star?

 

I was treasurer for a local charity for years and it was one of my jobs to do just that . HMRC did not wish to see them routinely but there was always the possibility of them auditing us so they had to be kept just in case, and we would then need to identify who gave what. I didn't mind doing it as the gift aid gave us a tremendous boost to our income for only a little extra effort, it much easier than organising any other money raising events such as fetes and fairs.

 

Taxes? What are they? And I can't play the fiddle!