Membership

All membership cards issued since April 2011 include a barcode. Here is more information about why we will scan this barcode when you enter one of our properties.

Why is the National Trust scanning membership cards?
We are doing this largely to accurately count and analyse member visits. It also enables us to track and prevent fraudulent use of National Trust memberships. As a charity we rely heavily on membership subscriptions and admission fees to provide vital income to fund our conservation work.

Every time a member visits one of our properties, they are 'counted' and the property receives a financial benefit to compensate for ‘free entry’. Scannable cards will ensure greater accuracy in this counting.

What will you do with this information?
We will be able to analyse and count member visits more accurately than before, and we will also match the data back to our records to track any fraudulent use of membership. This will help protect membership subscription and admission fee incomes so that we can continue to fund our conservation work in the future.
Ultimately, we also aim to use the information to contact you with suggestions of where to visit to help you get the most out of your membership.

Is it costing much?
There are some nominal costs for starting up the barcoding of membership cards and initial investment required for the hardware and software at properties. We are linking this work with other projects where possible to avoid duplication of costs and ensure that what we implement is suitable for the medium to long term. We believe that the long term benefits to the National Trust far outweigh the short term costs.

How will it benefit me?
We hope to be able to offer you a more personalised experience of the National Trust through more tailored communications, and it will make us more efficient, so even more of your money will go towards caring for the places you enjoy.

What do I need to do when I visit a National Trust property?
You don’t need to do anything differently from what you did before. Please just enter properties through the marked entrances and show your membership card to the member of staff who will either check it as we do now or scan it before you enter.

Will it lengthen queues and increase the time it takes for me to enter a property?
We hope not. In fact, it should shorten queues as the properties that can scan membership cards may be able to welcome members away from those visitors wishing to pay for entry. It may take a little time for property staff to get used to using the new scanners, but it’s unlikely take them long.

Will my membership card be scanned at all National Trust places?
No, not immediately. With so many sites, we can’t implement the scanning of membership cards everywhere straightaway – we have prioritised the 100 properties most visited by our members for implementation during the first quarter of 2012 (January – March).  So, you may visit some places where the visitor reception staff simply check your membership card and others where they scan it. All you need to do is present your membership card as you currently do to the member of staff who greets you.

How will the card be read?
The card will be read using a handheld scanning device to capture the following information: the lead supporter identification number (the lead supporter is the person who pays the membership subscription), party size, place, date and time of your visit. You don’t need to do anything other than show your membership card to the member of staff, as you have always done.

When will my membership card be scanned?
If the place you are visiting is one of those which are scanning membership cards then your membership card will be scanned on entry. Members of staff will do this for you so all you need to do is show your membership card on entry as usual. Over the next 12 months more and more sites will start scanning membership cards but we don’t yet know exactly when this will happen at each site.

What information is contained within the barcode?
The barcode simply contains your lead supporter identification number (the lead supporter identification number is the person who pays the membership subscription). There is no personal information held within the barcode so if you happen to lose your membership card you need not worry that any personal details such as address or bank details have been jeopardised.

Will the scanning of cards be used to track my visiting?
We’ll be looking initially to see how many members visit which property and how frequently but we are also keen to encourage visiting to ensure members get the most out of their membership, so in due course it may start to be used in this way perhaps so we can suggest new places to visit based on your preferences.

Previously the text has rubbed off my card, will the barcode rub off as well?
We haven’t changed the type of card we’re using or the way we print them. However we have tested the barcodes (with varying degrees of damage) and believe they will scan provided all the vertical lines are in existence in one horizontal line.
If for any reason the barcode has rubbed off to such an extent that it cannot be scanned, your visit will be recorded anonymously (i.e. as a tally for the property, without recording your lead supporter identification number). We will be monitoring this and will review the printing of the text should it be necessary.

Can I laminate my National Trust membership card?
Yes, we will still be able to scan your membership card even if you have laminated it.

Can I opt out of receiving a scannable membership card?
No. We will be introducing scannable membership cards for all of our members and in order to gain entry to National Trust places you need to show your membership card to a member of staff and at properties with barcode scanners we will need to scan the card to count your entry. However, if you have opted out of receiving communications from us this will still be adhered to.

Where is the information being stored?
The information (which will be the lead supporter number, time, date, place and party size) will be stored on a secure central database. As mentioned above, we will potentially use this data to link to your membership record to analyse visits and to contact you. No personal information such as address or bank details will be collected or stored through the scanning of membership cards.

By showing your membership card at all properties on entry you are helping us greatly to ensure we protect the very valuable income that we need to care for these special places for ever, for everyone.

We thank you in advance for your continued help and support and look forward to seeing you soon.