The Red Tractor ACCS referendum

[Grass And Grain]

Mate of mine was meat buyer at one of the big supermarkets. He said they weren't that bothered about RT. Can't have been all so bothered, as they were buying New Zealand lamb at the same time that had no assurance status.

Don't think they even put logo on the meat packets now.

 

[Clive]

I left the nfu several years ago over RT, perhaps I should rejoin and resign again

Red Tractor was why i resigned my NFU membership

if they grow some balls and withdraw all support of it I will rejoin

 

[Clive]

Same here. I was a Group Chair, and an active Member, but eased off a few years back.. but still talking and chatting

I suspect the local Reps are already very aware of the RT issue, as it is biting at their membership. For me, it was the apathy coming from the NFU after the pronouncements regarding beef production that finally annoyed me enough last year.

RT is not an issue as I am not a Member, but the push for WLA from some within the NFU is all part and parcel of the same mindset...

not a member ?

not affecting you ?

well you are paying via your AHDB levy !

ITS NOT OPTIONAL FOR ANYONE

 

[steveR]

not a member ?

not affecting you ?

well you are paying via your AHDB levy !

ITS NOT OPTIONAL FOR ANYONE

Good Point!

 

[Worsall]

I have asked to cancel my NFU membership, but told I would loose a 20% discount on my Farm Insurance! Is that legal?

 

[steveR]

I have asked to cancel my NFU membership, but told I would loose a 20% discount on my Farm Insurance! Is that legal?

I was told the same thing.....

I pointed out that there were numerous other companies that would quote me.

 

[Chris F]

I have asked to cancel my NFU membership, but told I would loose a 20% discount on my Farm Insurance! Is that legal?

@Nigel Wellings from Acres will happily quote for your business - give him 30 minutes of your time and I bet your premium doesn't go up. In fact - it might go down.

Threats like this are not the way the NFU should be behaving. Illegal - probably not, unethical yes. Wonder if Minette approves of this sort of thing?

 

[Clive]

I have asked to cancel my NFU membership, but told I would loose a 20% discount on my Farm Insurance! Is that legal?

move your insurance ! There are cheaper and better anyway (I‘ve saved circa 125k in the last 5 years doing so !)

do you like being blackmailed into remaining a member ? is the NFU there to represent farmers or is it just a glorified green shield stamp scheme !!!

 

[stroller]

I have asked to cancel my NFU membership, but told I would loose a 20% discount on my Farm Insurance! Is that legal?

I was told the same thing.....

I pointed out that there were numerous other companies that would quote me.

I got the same when I left, changed insurance company, then went back to mutual despite not being a member of the nfu a couple of years later as they were then cheaper, they still offered the "bonus/discount" for staying, kept with them for a couple of years until the next hike in premium then left, its probably time to get another quote from them, I might say I'll only use the insurance if they get rid of red tractor.

 

[steveR]

@Nigel Wellings from Acres will happily quote for your business - give him 30 minutes of your time and I bet your premium doesn't go up. In fact - it might go down.

Threats like this are not the way the NFU should be behaving. Illegal - probably not, unethical yes. Wonder if Minette approves of this sort of thing?

TBH, I did get a quote several years ago, and the competition was only in the ball park, nothing amazing...

I agree though, I am not impressed at the underlying behaviour from NFUM. 9 months to Renewal, so time to give proper thought to the process.

 

[Clive]

Unbelievable that the NFU are resorting to blackmail to keep their members

What has this industry become ? even the biggest defenders of the NFU should really take a moment and think about all this

 

[An Gof]

I have asked to cancel my NFU membership, but told I would loose a 20% discount on my Farm Insurance! Is that legal?

I thought that the NFU Mutual Bonus was for loyalty to NFU Mutual insurance not the NFU.

 

[Noyb]

Left NFU around 20 years ago when they brought in assured combinable crops which was pushed by the NFU, as i thought it was a licence to farm which you had to pay annually. Turns out i was right!! And its only got worse. As regards to insurance it made no difference to our price at the time, however we have subsequently had far cheaper quotes and taken business elsewhere. NFU simply could not afford to loose all their insurance linked to members which they will soon realise.

 

[buffalo_soldier]

Waaay behind on this thread but as said, other insurers are available.

Been getting the odd text from NFU NW about a zoom consultation if it's of any interest to folk.
I can't make my sector one as it's during the kids homeschooling hours.
They just sent me a combinables one. If any NW members on here don't get them.

 

[Brisel]

I thought that the NFU Mutual Bonus was for loyalty to NFU Mutual insurance not the NFU.

I thought that too. I've only used NFUM because they gave the best package at a decent price, not to do with whether I was a member or not. When I was being courted by the local NFU/NFUM office, they hinted that there would be an insurance discount for NFU membership.

 

[texelburger]

I honestly don't think the hierarchy of the NFU/RT have a clue as to the feelings of their grassroot farmers with regards to the RT scheme.I would imagine they regard us as a minor peasant irrelevance that is not representative of the majority of their members.
I can picture Minette and @Guy Smith leaning out of their ivory tower window and bellowing "Let them eat cake"..............RT assured of course

 

[Chris F]

I honestly don't think the hierarchy of the NFU/RT have a clue as to the feelings of their grassroot farmers with regards to the RT scheme.I would imagine they regard us as a minor peasant irrelevance that is not representative of the majority of their members.
I can picture Minette and @Guy Smith leaning out of their ivory tower window and bellowing "Let them eat bread"..............RT assured of course

Oh they do know at RT. They just don't care.

 

[Nigel Wellings]

NFU & NFUM are 2 completely separate organisations. My experience having worked for both many years ago was that many NFUM managers actively disliked the NFU. We as local Secretarys were then left as piggy in the middle. Both organisations were woefully out of touch with grass roots farmers and in my opinion have grown more so over the years. Both organisations think they have a god given right to expect farmers to be members & insure with the NFUM. Nobody can afford blind loyalty in 2021, it perpetuates schemes like RT.
I have it on good authority that NFU/NFUM staff are NOT allowed to threaten you with premium increases for resigning NFU Membership and they cannot do this. All Insurers and brokers have to comply with the Financial Conduct Authority(FCA) Rules about treating customers fairly. If the FCA were to hear of such threats then NFUM would be in hot water.

 

[Simon C]

So he can have a new drive, you wouldn’t want him to fail his next RT inspection for having potholes.View attachment 935969

The beauty of this post is that @Guy Smith dare not reply to say this is a public road and not his private drive. He would then be expected to reply to everything else in the thread.

Two phrases come to mind-

"Gone native"

"Snouts in the trough"

 

[Worsall]

NFU & NFUM are 2 completely separate organisations. My experience having worked for both many years ago was that many NFUM managers actively disliked the NFU. We as local Secretarys were then left as piggy in the middle. Both organisations were woefully out of touch with grass roots farmers and in my opinion have grown more so over the years. Both organisations think they have a god given right to expect farmers to be members & insure with the NFUM. Nobody can afford blind loyalty in 2021, it perpetuates schemes like RT.
I have it on good authority that NFU/NFUM staff are NOT allowed to threaten you with premium increases for resigning NFU Membership and they cannot do this. All Insurers and brokers have to comply with the Financial Conduct Authority(FCA) Rules about treating customers fairly. If the FCA were to hear of such threats then NFUM would be in hot water.

Many thanks, I am awaiting an email response from NFU Mutual.