Pay monthly membership

[Wolfman]

I like the monthly payment and have used Premium Credit, easy to cancel at any time and cancel the DD

My question is what about staggered joining fee, i.e pay over two years in two split payments

But after 1st year you decide to leave, do you owe the club for the balance of the joining fee even though you leave ?

My thoughts are that you do not and seems fair, some think different that you have left yet in theory you havnt paid the full joining fee

 

[full_throttle]

I have the choice,

one lump sum or

an initail deposit then 6 monthly payments, no charge for doing this either

 

[duncan mackie]

I like the monthly payment and have used Premium Credit, easy to cancel at any time and cancel the DD

My question is what about staggered joining fee, i.e pay over two years in two split payments

But after 1st year you decide to leave, do you owe the club for the balance of the joining fee even though you leave ?

My thoughts are that you do not and seems fair, some think different that you have left yet in theory you havnt paid the full joining fee

It will all depend on a combination of the contractual basis you enter into, and how the other party chooses to pursue any legal rights this gives them.

This also applies to annual fees funded by monthy contributions to Direct Credit as well - although your post suggests otherwise.

 

[Evesdad]

My club have just changed changed this year, before monthly instalment was via a finance company which basically cost you about £100 extra. This is now done in house for the extra cost of £20 to cover the admin costs. Pay bar tab and union fees upfront and ten payments feb-nov. I usually pay upfront but couldn't this year so worked out well plus you could pay an amout upfront and pay the remainder in instalments.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Our club were using Fairway Credit but got the feeling they've shelved them now. I tend to save during the year so I can just stump up at renewal time and forget all about it

 

[Fader]

Just joined my new club today and was offered 3 different payment options:

1. Lump sum for full year
2. Pay a quarter of the subs up front then 3 x further payments of equal amounts via standing order at 3 monthly intervals
3. Pay 1 month up front the the rest on standing order direct to their bank

I went with option 3 as I found it to be the best for me, no extra charge for paying monthly or as in option 2. No external credit company and no DD, a straight forward standing order set up in my bank direct to theirs on the same day each month. Though this year plan to save half the full subs amount so that next year I can halve the monthly outgoing.

 

[Fader]

Also should've added:

My dads subs at his club just came up for renewal and they are using premium credit, when he asked his club secretary a couple of questions about the T&Cs in the small print they were quite evasive with him. In the end he just paid the full amount up front to save paying the extra 6% and save any hassles down the line.

 

[backwoodsman]

We can pay either in full, or by x9 monthly installments by direct debit. Not done through a finance company but you pay an extra 1% for the direct debit option. Somewhat bizarre, is that if you pay in one go, subs are due by 1st Jan, but if you go installments, the first is not taken till February.

But, it's not a "monthly membership" scheme - if you go down the installments route, you're still liable for the lot, even if you decide to pack it in part way through the year

 

[palindromicbob]

I pay mine with premium credit. Seems to be done that way due to cash flow as they also offer discount for those paying in full early so they can build up the coffers. Personally I like the suggestion from Mike H in this months mag. Clubs don't have to start annual subs in Jan. They could start them in Spring when people are playing more and also it's not in the toughest month of the year financially.

 

[Fish]

Hmm, this has made me think.

I know I paid around 3 months (£250) at the beginning of the season when they offered me spread payments on my renewal and then its £82.98 p/month.

So, my payments should have stopped now as I was in essence 3 months in advance!

 

[Val]

Why because many clubs operate this way does it make it "the rules"? Plenty of others dont operate this way too, they are just different options!!

It's not "the rules" for everyone but it will be at plenty clubs. At the end of the day it's your choice to pin whichever club you like. There are still plenty clubs with full subscriptions who will not bend from an annual subscription paid up front as they see no need to.

I agree with Valentino - it's an annual subscription.

How it's financed is a different matter.

Consider an annual season ticket for trains as an example - completely different thing from purchasing a monthly season, then another, then another etc In the case of the train operator they offer the option of 'monthly membership', most golf clubs don't (although I am aware of one - but it starts it's membership year in Sept and anyone joining mid year has to pay a pro-rata one off and, before everyone say's "great I'll just join each year in April" they have rules to prevent what they see as an abuse of their system!)

Thanks Duncan, most clubs in my area still see it as annual subscription and will only allow payment plans under certain circumstances and only on interview with committee members, a guy there a year or 2 falling on tough times may be told its tough luck however members of say 20 years standing my get some leeway

 

[Fish]

a guy there a year or 2 falling on tough times may be told its tough luck however members of say 20 years standing my get some leeway

I'm pretty sure they couldn't openly display such discrimination, any decision should be a blanket ruling per club, not based on service or time served IMO.

 

[MetalMickie]

I'm pretty sure they couldn't openly display such discrimination, any decision should be a blanket ruling per club, not based on service or time served IMO.

Speaking from my time on t'Committee I would say they can "discriminate" if the request is to defer membership rather than defer payment but continue with playing rights.

Most Clubs' rules allow the Club/Committee a certain amount of discretion on membership matters.