IAN JAMES THOMPSON
Well-known member
As in the title!
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RSPB going to phase scannable membership cards from September 2023 (3 Viewers)
- Thread starter IAN JAMES THOMPSON
- Start date
Mike Crawley
Emeritus President at Burnage Rugby Club
"at our larger nature reserves"
be interesting to see which reserves make the cut - it’s not clear to me why this is necessary but presumably ‘senior management' deem it to be valuable
be interesting to see which reserves make the cut - it’s not clear to me why this is necessary but presumably ‘senior management' deem it to be valuable
I'd have thought a normal logical move - along with the ability to carry a digital membership card so you can just scan your phone for entry. Simple and easy, never need to worry about forgetting your card.
Bewick
Connoisseur of WTL
I just have a pic on my phone of my RSPB cards and its never been an issue. They just look at my phone and let me through. Not sure why they have to change it.
Automated car park? Scanned entry, saves manpower?
Bewick
Connoisseur of WTL
automated car park- so you would have to pay or present your card before entering the car park- seems more of a hassle then anything.
Also very few RSPB reserves have paid parking areas anyway- with the fee being for entering the reserve. Plus I also like having staff there- just feels more welcoming. I also have an issue with any apps etc, which may sell users data.
Edit- also aren’t most staff volunteers? I’ve met a few special needs volunteers who seemed to really value these positions- so I hope it doesn’t affect that either.
Idea is you just scan where otherwise you'd need to pay. No hassle, you don't even need to get out of the car.
IT solutions are generally way ahead here in LT than the UK, and certainly more used by the mainstream, so frequently ideas seem to be more often frowned upon in the UK
IAN JAMES THOMPSON
Well-known member
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust have has Scannable Membership Cards for at least 20 years possible. The National Trust then followed a long a long time after and now the RSPB.
Just spotted this. Good spot Ratal, Nasty ! Clearly the smell of money has overpowered the RSPB's concerns about reputational damage. I stopped my membership several years ago so it won't affect me, and they wont care what I think, but I certainly now hold them in a lower regard than I did before reading this post.
The RSPB is not selling your data. There is no small print. These cards are being introduced to raise funds by stopping abuse through card sharing and use of expired membership.
www.rspb.org.uk
Scannable membership cards – all you need to know
From September 2023, we’ll be introducing scannable membership cards with a QR code for all adults and adult family members. Here’s the lowdown on why we’re making this change and how we hope it will bring you a richer membership experience.
Farnboro John
Well-known member
Well, maybe it does. I go to some lengths to prevent companies getting geographic data enabling them to know my movements at the time or afterwards for whatever reason. When the RSPB says data "such as" email, address etc it doesn't rule out "dates and times of use of RSPB facilities" so I agree with Ratal and I don't like it. I shall be checking up on what my RSPB data currently say and ensuring opt outs are ticked so they can't pass on such details. If it turns out I can't cover that issue to my satisfaction then I shall leave the RSPB and they can drop another member from their numbers.
John
They don't need to track your movements using geographic data, they can just read your regular updates on Birdforum, up to the Shetlands et al
You, I, all of us and birds benefit from the pennies you give to the RSPB, is it really worth withholding that money to prevent a possible miniscule addition to profits of a social media company?
Farnboro John
Well-known member
To the extent that I set them out, which is generally less than complete. I hope I'm not in line for a tinfoil hat but when I try to help a charity with an annual membership fee I don't expect it to respond by passing any of my data - and my movements are my data - to anybody else, whether for money or not. If it is for money, they need to make a judgement on whether losing the support of real people who care about birds is worth a bit of extra dosh from selling out those supporters. It doesn't matter whether its legal or not. I'm quite clear about it: the only weapon I have in this argument is my subscription and if they won't guarantee not to sell my data for any purpose at all then they can do without the subscription - which will then lose them the other money as well.They don't need to track your movements using geographic data, they can just read your regular updates on Birdforum, up to the Shetlands et al
John
Andy Adcock
Worst person on Birdforum
How will this prevent fraudulent use? If you want to lend your card to someone who's having a day out, how does this prevent that?
Mike Crawley
Emeritus President at Burnage Rugby Club
If they’re following the National Trust example, it only stops you passing your card "through the fence" for your mate to gain free entry. It also prevents you and a mate using it on the same day at different reserves (i.e. using a good copy or fraudulent duplicate)
Feels like they’re curing a problem that might not exist.
I'd like to see the research that led to this
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