Leading heritage organisations, including the National Trust, Tate, Historic Royal Palaces and the Victoria & Albert Museum, have urged the government to close a loophole in new consumer rights legislation that they warn could leave them severely out of pocket.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers Act (DMCCA) introduces a two-week cooling-off period for charity memberships. Under the rules, a person could purchase a membership, use it to gain free entry to paid exhibitions or heritage sites, and then cancel within the period for a full refund — effectively receiving those visits for nothing.
In a letter to the prime minister, seen by The Times, the organisations argue that charities should be treated differently from commercial businesses to protect a revenue stream worth hundreds of millions of pounds each year. A National Trust spokesperson said membership had long been treated as a charitable donation, and that the legislation would add to the financial pressures facing charities in the current economic climate.
The concern is illustrated by the example of a National Trust family membership, which costs £168.60. A family could visit several sites within two weeks — visits that would normally cost upwards of £100 — then cancel and receive a full refund. Similar risks apply to galleries that offer members free access to paid exhibitions.
A government spokesperson said ministers were engaging closely with charities on the issue, and insisted that the consumer protections against “rip-off subscriptions” would not unfairly affect them. The DMCCA was introduced by the previous Conservative government and has been implemented under the current administration.
