More ROSPA bollox

[King Rat]

Don't get me wrong, I am all for getting 'advanced training', but the concept of 'making roads and riders safer' has now gone full mode into a money making racket:

Dear member,
As you may be aware, RoSPA is undergoing major changes to its operating and financial procedures with brand new IT and finance systems being introduced to provide an improved customer experience and improve efficiencies to our operational procedures.
As a result, and in line with new financial operating requirements, we will be changing the way we deal with membership renewals with effect from December 1, 2024.
The new systems being introduced will ensure that the membership renewal process is more reliable and efficient for both RoSPA and our members.
From December 1, we will be implementing a 60-day payment policy. Initial membership renewal reminders will be sent out to members 30 days prior to their renewal date. If payment is not received, members will continue to receive regular reminders up to 60 days past the renewal date, at which point, if payment has still not been received, the membership will be cancelled.
Anyone wishing to reinstate their membership after it has been cancelled will be treated as a new member and will be required to re-take their advanced test.

I appreciate that this is a change for our members and the large majority who pay their annual subscriptions in a timely manner will be unaffected. However, over the years, bad debt caused by delays in members paying their renewals on time (or within a reasonable time) has reduced the amount of financial support we can provide to our RoADAR community. By implementing the change, we will be able to continue offering advanced tests and membership at a low cost compared to other institutions, allowing us to support more people on the roads.
Thanks as always for your continued support in making our roads safer.

Of course, if you don't pay your cheque, the knowledge previously gained is sucked out of your brain. pay up or we'll make you go through it all again. BOLLOCKS. I will see my membership out but then they can GTF. I KNOW YOU NEED FUNDS TO RUN, but as soon as you make threats like this, I'm out. It isn't the membership fee, it is the way it is being communicated. I will not be threatened like that.

 

[DJ123]

I assume the test is not cheap, and probably needs at least 1/2 day to be carried out too?

Sometimes organisations for whom people volunteer for and decide to pay money, donate time, etc to be a part of forget this. None of it is mandatory and people will walk away.

 

[Wapping]

All they are saying is that members are now obliged to pay their renewal subscriptions no later than 60 days AFTER renenwal. In short, members are allowed up to two months’ grace. Is that so terrible? Miss your UKGSsr subscription payment and your subscriber’s privileges cease one second later.

 

[King Rat]

All they are saying is that members are now obliged to pat their renewal subscriptions no later than 60 days AFTER renenwal. In short, up to two months’ grace.

Is that so terrible?

As I said, it isn't the money for membership. IT IS THE THREAT OF EXCOMMUNICATION and that you no longer are an advanced rider that I object to. 60 days is good grace, but the communication comes across all threatening - that is not pleasant. I'm out.

 

[GSian]

I agree with you, it's the threat that rubs you up the wrong way, not the fact that you have to pay on time, which you probably intend to do. That way of getting you to pay by penalising could have be dealt with differently, for example giving a financial benefit to those who pay on time. You're right, just because you haven't paid doesn't mean you suddenly started to ride unsafely. At least they should say that if you prove you have passed the test within the validity period then you can pay up and be reinstated for the remainder of that period with maybe an admin fee, but having to re-take the test is a bit churlish of them.

 

[Wapping]

As I said, it isn't the money for membership. IT IS THE THREAT OF EXCOMMUNICATION and that you no longer are an advanced rider that I object to. 60 days is good grace, but the communication comes across all threatening - that is not pleasant. I'm out.

Just pay your renewal, within 60 days of expiry and all will be well.

Just out of vague interest, when did you intend to pay it? In advance of due date? On the due date? A day late? A week late? Six months late?

RoSPA has a re-test every three years anyway.

 

[Wapping]

That way of getting you to pay by penalising could have be dealt with differently, for example giving a financial benefit to those who pay on time

Why add a layer of bureaucracy to something very simple? Cough-up on time or within 60 days and nothing happens. Cough on day 61 or later and there’s a penalty.

Look at it another way King Rat, why should you (who pays on day one, I assume) subsidise lazy bikermates, who pay up to 364 days late?

 

[GSian]

Why add a layer of bureaucracy to something very simple? Cough-up on time or within 60 days and nothing happens. Cough on day 61 or later and there’s a penalty.

It would replace a bureaucratic decision with another that is less conflictual.

I don't advocate late payers but sometimes there are reasons for it.

 

[Wapping]

It would replace a bureaucratic decision with another that is less conflictual.

I don't advocate late payers but sometimes there are reasons for it.

The new system is remarkably unbeaurocratic. Pay 61 days late or fail to pay at all and a computer turns you off.

Yup, assorted reasons, mostly centred around, “Sorry, mate, I forgot” which is most often code for “I couldn’t be arsed. Pay late, mate, nothing happens. Feck ‘em”

 

[Budweiser]

 

[er-minio]

As I said, it isn't the money for membership. IT IS THE THREAT OF EXCOMMUNICATION and that you no longer are an advanced rider that I object to.

Stop paying altogether and retain the knowledge, for free. Simple.


I never understood the obsession people in this country have for these advance driving things, mind you, where despite such "training", most people are sitting ducks in middle lanes, creating traffic while on motorcycles or unable to get through a corner at speed...
Doesn't even make much of a difference insurance-wise.

 

[casbar]

I have been an IAM and RoSPA member for 10 years and have no issues with this at all. I pay every year anyway. Storm in a tea cup!

 

[glenn2926]

I had to re qualify my EFAD every three years whilst in the job. It was definitely one of the best courses I attended. At least two days (the length of the course varied over years?) of driving around on blue lights. City centres, Yorkshire Dales, North Yorkshire Moors, Lake District and some motorway driving. Great fun, particularly as there was no life risk incident to get to. We had to give a commentated drive which was kind of difficult as one doesn’t realise just how many things one is doing at once and trying to communicate this is pretty difficult.
At least one of our DIs was either a ROSPA or IAM instructor. He said it was not really worth attending as it was a bit of a watered down version of EFAD and the Police driving course. Obviously no blue light exemption etc.

 

[GSian]

I have been an IAM and RoSPA member for 10 years and have no issues with this at all. I pay every year anyway. Storm in a tea cup!

I'm not being funny when I ask this, it's a genuine question. In those 10 years what extra benefit have you seen for being a member?

 

[casbar]

I'm not being funny when I ask this, it's a genuine question. In those 10 years what extra benefit have you seen for being a member?

I am a blood biker, so need it for that. Benefits wise, I don't belong to any local group, don't really use any of the discounts available etc. But I do benefit from the 3 yearly re-test for RoSPA and a bit of coaching before the test to ensure I am still riding to a standard. I also get a discount on my insurance for having a Gold pass, but probably not worth the membership. In the future I am also considering training to become a RoSPA tutor so I can help others with their training, but not yet.

 

[GSian]

All makes sense. Selfless.
Thanks

 

[G&T]

The video reads like a ponzi scheme

In an earlier post it was brought to our attention that not paying UKGSer subs means loss of privilege - immediately! However, thankfully one doesn’t have to take a ‘paid for’ test to rejoin. But if there was, what a test that would be

 

[Tinytim]

Well, whatever. Can't be arsed to read through all this but whatever it's about I'm with everyone, my piss is boiling, I'm utterly outraged and I'm writing a strong letter to , err, hmm I dunno yet .

 

[wessie]

never understood the obsession people in this country have for these advance driving things

17 Nov 1558. We threw out the Catholic tradition of taking your carriage to the local priest to have it blessed, thus making you and it invincible on the highway. It was replaced by Anglican bureaucracy, fees and a test for those that lack the moral fibre to ride like a cúnt.

I believe this practice persists in your homeland, with some churches specialising in the practice on 9 March each year on St Francesca Romana day.

Blessing of cars in Rome

Annual feast day of S. Francesca Romana Every year on 9 March, the saint’s day of S. Francesca Romana, Roman Catholic drivers take their cars to the Monastero Oblate di S. Francesca Romana to receive the blessing of Rome's patron saint of motorists. In 1425 noble woman Francesca Bussi de' Leoni...

www.wantedinrome.com

 

[RedRick Esq.]

RoSPa IAM etc all start out as brilliant ideas ( and they are) and then get bigger and bigger to the point of it becomes big business and all that goes with it

Plus of course the politics within the organisation