Membership terms & conditions

The National Trust for Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland (registered number: SC007410) and has its principal office at Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh EH11 4DF.

On applying to become a Member of the National Trust for Scotland you are automatically agreeing to these terms and conditions and you are providing us with the appropriate consent to handle your personal information in accordance with data protection laws and our data protection policies. References to the ‘Trust’, ‘we’ or ‘us’ are references to the National Trust for Scotland.

Our acceptance of your application will bring into force a legally binding contract between us and these terms and conditions will form the basis of that contract through which the Trust will deliver a service to you as a Member. Where you apply for Gift Membership for someone else, we will deliver these services to the person named in your application.

These terms and conditions do not affect the rights which you have as a Member of the Trust under our founding statutes including the right to attend and vote at the Trust’s Annual General Meeting.

Please see the bottom of this page for Non-Profit Membership or Corporate Membership terms and conditions.

1. Membership benefits

1.1 As a member you will automatically receive a range of benefits as part of your membership package. The minimum membership package will include:

• Free entry to Trust places which are open for access
• Free parking at Trust-owned or -managed car parks which are open for access
• Receipt of our members’ magazine three times a year which includes stories about making the most of your membership, the ways in which we conserve and protect the places in our care and the promotion of our charitable purpose.

1.2 We reserve the right to change the benefits that apply to Trust Membership or the properties to which access can be taken at any time and without prior notice. Where possible, changes to benefits will be published on the Trust’s website.

1.3 We may maintain, cancel or introduce different categories of membership from time to time. It is your responsibility to ensure that you have the most appropriate category of Membership to suit your personal circumstances at any time. The Trust is not responsible in the event that a more appropriate category of membership may have been available at any time.

1.4 From time to time Members may be able to benefit from reciprocal entry arrangements with bodies with similar charitable aims and purposes to the Trust but these arrangements cannot be guaranteed. Please remember that local entry conditions will apply to those arrangements and these may be different to our conditions. Members must comply with those local conditions in order to benefit from the reciprocal rights.

1.5 When writing to any Joint Members or sending the members’ magazine to Joint Members we will only write to one address. We will assume that the first member’s address will be used unless the first member tells us otherwise.

2. Visiting as a Member

2.1 Members should remember to bring their Membership card – or Temporary Membership Card if the Membership card is yet to be received – with them when they visit. We may not allow entry to our properties without your Membership card. These terms and conditions do not affect your access rights under Scottish access legislation and the Scottish Outdoor Access Code.

2.2 Membership cards are for the named card holder(s) only. Membership may not be transferred to another person and Members are not permitted to allow another person to use their Membership card.

2.3 ‘Ordinary or Adult Member’ categories allow only the named card holder to enter our properties.
‘Joint Member’ categories allow both named card holders to enter our properties, either together or individually.
‘Family Member’ categories allow both named card holders to enter our properties either together or individually along with up to six children (under the age of 18).
‘Single Family’ categories allow the named card holder to enter our properties along with up to six children (under the age of 18).
‘Life Member’ categories entered into before 2001 allow the named card holder accompanied by one guest and up to 6 children (under the age of 18) to enter our properties.
‘Life Member’ categories entered into during and after 2001 allow the named card holder(s) and up to 6 children (under the age of 16) to enter our properties.

2.4 Trust Membership (other than Life Membership) is valid from the date of acceptance by the Trust until the date of expiry shown on the card, being not less than one year.

2.5 Membership cards will be delivered within 15 working days of your application for Membership being accepted by the Trust. In the meantime, you may use your Temporary Membership Card.

2.6 Lost Membership cards or car park stickers will be replaced once free of charge. We will charge a small administration fee for any subsequent replacement cards or stickers.

2.7 Entry to our properties is during our ordinary opening hours only. Opening hours may vary between properties. Although we will endeavour to adhere to advertised opening hours we reserve the right to change opening hours or close properties at short notice for safety, private hire, or any other reason. Please check our website before visiting. Entry to our places is subject to any terms and conditions of entry applicable at each place. We reserve the right to restrict entry or to demand that any member leave a property for reasons of health or safety or if we consider that it is in the best interests of the Trust or our staff, volunteers or other visitors.

2.8 Membership may not entitle Members to attend special events, tours or take part in other activities in our properties which require additional payment.

3. Right to refuse applications

3.1 The Trust reserves the right to refuse any application for Membership. The Trust also reserves the right not to fulfil or to cancel a Membership if you (or the Member, where you purchase Gift Membership for another person) are found to be in breach of these conditions.

3.2 On receipt of your order we will debit your card or process the Direct Debit payment or process your cheque for the price (as applicable). However, our acceptance of your offer remains subject to approval of it by us. Once a decision has been reached we will either confirm that your application has been accepted, at which point a contract will be formed between us, or notify you that we cannot accept your application. If we cannot accept your application for whatever reason we will confirm that your account has been re-credited (if applicable).

3.3 If we are unable to obtain payment authorisation from the issuer of your card or from your bank in the case of Direct Debit payments and a Membership has already been issued to you, we will request you return the card and you will forfeit any benefits.

4. Price information

4.1 All quoted Membership fees are for a one-year Membership subscription or a Life Membership subscription (as applicable).

4.2 We reserve the right to increase the price of your Membership subscription on an annual basis. You will be informed of any fee increase within your renewal letter.

5. Credit/Debit card payments

5.1 The credit/debit card information you provide us for a Membership transaction is used solely for the purpose of processing that Membership transaction. If we are unable to process payment from the credit/debit card details you have provided we will contact you immediately to verify your card details.

5.2 We strongly advise you against sending us any credit/debit card information via email. It is contrary to the rules of the Payment Card Industry (PCI) for us to accept credit/debit card payments by email and we will decline to accept payment by this means.

5.3 If you are not using your own credit/debit card to pay for the Membership subscription, you must ask permission of the credit/debit card holder before entering payment details. When you subscribe to Membership of the Trust either online, by post or verbally, you are confirming that you have obtained the express prior permission of the credit/debit card holder.

6. Direct Debit payments

6.1 If there are any changes to the amount, date or frequency of your Direct Debit, the Trust will notify you 10 working days in advance of your account being debited or as otherwise agreed. If we request to collect a payment, confirmation of the amount and date will be given to you at the time of the request.

6.2 If an error has been made in the payment of your Direct Debit by us or your bank/building society, you are entitled to a full and immediate refund of the amount paid from your bank or building society. If you receive a refund you are not entitled to, you must pay it back when requested to do so by the Trust.

6.3 You can cancel a Direct Debit by contacting your bank or building society. Written confirmation may be required. However, cancellation of your direct debit is not the same as cancellation of your membership which may require notice to be given to us. Please see Section 7 below. If you cancel or choose not to renew your membership you must also notify us using the method set out in Section 7.9 below.

7. Your rights to cancel

7.1 As a consumer, you have a legal right to cancel the contract formed between us (and receive a refund of the fees paid) within 14 days if you change your mind or decide for any other reason that you do not want to continue the Membership.

7.2 Your legal right to cancel the contract starts from the date on which we confirm that your application for Membership has been accepted or from renewal, which is when the contract between us is formed. Your deadline for cancelling the contract is 14 days after the day on which this contract was formed. To cancel a contract in this way, you need to let us know that you have decided to cancel. Please see Section 7.9 below to find out how to notify us.

7.3 If you cancel the contract in accordance with Clause 7.2 we will:

7.3.1 refund you the price you paid for the Membership. Please note we are permitted by law to reduce your refund to reflect the period of time (if any) that the Membership was valid up to the date on which we were notified of your decision to cancel the contract; and

7.3.2 make any refunds due to you as soon as possible.

7.4 After 14 days have passed you may not cancel your membership during the first year. In subsequent years, if you pay by Direct Debit you must give us at least 3 months’ notice to let us know that you have decided to cancel your membership.

7.5 If you cancel the Membership contract in accordance with Clause 7.4 your Membership will continue for 3 months during the notice period and we will not take any further Direct Debit payments after the end of the 3 months. However, we will not refund to you any payments already made and you will still have to make payments during the 3 month notice period.

7.6 If you pay for your Membership in full in advance then you may not cancel the Membership or receive any refund except in accordance with Clause 7.2.

7.7 In the event that your Membership is cancelled for any reason you must return your membership card to us and you will no longer be entitled to receive any Membership benefits.

7.8 Membership rights and benefits shall cease on death but no refund shall be made.

7.9 To let us know that you wish to cancel your membership or not renew your membership you must notify us by contacting our Supporter Care team by telephone on 0131 385 7490 or by writing to us at National Trust for Scotland, Supporter Care, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh EH11 4DF.

8. Gift Membership

8.1 Gift Membership can only be used by the named card holder or card holders (subject always to the terms of the specific category of Membership purchased).

8.2 The purchaser of any Gift Membership warrants that he/she has the consent of the member to provide the member’s personal data to the Trust for the purposes of administering the membership and membership benefits.

9. Data protection and use of personal data

9.1 When you apply for Trust Membership (and throughout the course of your membership subscription) it will be necessary for us to obtain certain information from you (such as your name, address and date of birth). We will treat this as personal data for the purposes of data protection law. The Trust will collect, hold and process your personal data in accordance with our Privacy Policy.

10. Liability

10.1 Subject to clause 10.3, and to the extent possible by law, the Trust excludes all liability to Members or to any other third party for any loss of profit, or any special, incidental or consequential damages (however arising, including negligence) arising out of, or in connection with services, benefits and/or products supplied by the Trust or any company associated with the Trust.

10.2 Subject to clause 10.3, the liability of the Trust to you is limited to the amount of your Membership fee.

10.3 Nothing in these terms and conditions excludes liability for death or personal injury caused by the Trust’s negligence or for fraud or fraudulent misrepresentation.

11. Queries, comments and complaints

The Trust will aim to respond to any query received within three working days. This may be an acknowledgement of receipt whilst further investigations are carried out. If you have any queries or complaints please contact the Supporter Care team:

• Using our contact form

• Telephone: 0131 385 7490

• Post: Supporter Care, National Trust for Scotland, Hermiston Quay, 5 Cultins Road, Edinburgh EH11 4DF

Office hours are Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm (excluding the period between Christmas to 2 January).

12. General

These terms and conditions are governed by the laws of Scotland.

Anything said by any sales person or member of our staff on our behalf should not be understood as a variation of these terms and conditions, nor as a representation about the nature and quality of the services being offered by us.

Non-Profit Membership

• Each card admits one person free to National Trust for Scotland places at published opening times.
• The cards are transferable within your organisation.
• A charge may be made for some special and additional attractions which are not an integral part of the Trust place itself.
• Excludes access to National Trust places in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.