Lapsed IAM Membership
Discussion
snapperharmer said:
HI there,
I took my IAM test about twenty years ago now and in a fit of youthful moodiness I let my membership lapse. I'm just wondering now if it's worth applying again. Do I have to take the test again? That might be quite a trauma...
Cheers,
Paul
Why do you want/need the membership ?I took my IAM test about twenty years ago now and in a fit of youthful moodiness I let my membership lapse. I'm just wondering now if it's worth applying again. Do I have to take the test again? That might be quite a trauma...
Cheers,
Paul
snapperharmer said:
I took my IAM test about twenty years ago now and in a fit of youthful moodiness I let my membership lapse. I'm just wondering now if it's worth applying again. Do I have to take the test again? That might be quite a trauma...
From the IAM website:"Please note: if your membership has lapsed by more than two years, you will have to contact the membership department to find out your options. Please telephone 020 8996 9646 or email members@iam.org.uk."
I would say you'd definitely have to retest.
The trouble is I'm not sure why I want to renew the membership! I suppose it's because it's something I achieved and sort of regret that I let lapse. I have an MSA license as well, but that went the same way!
Thank for the quote from the website - sounds like a re-test would be the order of the day, and that sounds like a lot of money and time. I'm tempted to say they should welcome old members back with open arms, but there you go!
Thank for the quote from the website - sounds like a re-test would be the order of the day, and that sounds like a lot of money and time. I'm tempted to say they should welcome old members back with open arms, but there you go!
You're probably right about that. They should certainly do it for the standard test every five or ten years, which would have a greater effect on overall road safety. Is there any benefit in me doing the IAM all again though, apart from from the knowledge that I've ironed out bad habits?
Well if fixing those bad habits isn't enough, I've heard good things about the current insurance scheme. If you fit the profile (not too young, not too fast a car) then they're supposed to be very good.
After that, it comes down to the activities that the group offer, and this varies widely from region to region.
After that, it comes down to the activities that the group offer, and this varies widely from region to region.
snapperharmer said:
You're probably right about that. They should certainly do it for the standard test every five or ten years, which would have a greater effect on overall road safety. Is there any benefit in me doing the IAM all again though, apart from from the knowledge that I've ironed out bad habits?
Some people do quite well using the IAM Surety insurance scheme, for which you have to be a member. Not sure it'll be £139 worth though.You could try contacting a local group and see if an Observer will have a run out with you to see if anything's slipped?
Everyone is referring to IAM - they are not the only ones out there - just the biggest. They keep pulling in loads of money without retesting - that way they can advertise and pull in even more money.
Retesting does exist - why not join RoADAR (www.roadar.org). Its part of RoSPA and we retest every three years. There are also various pass levels (Bronze/Silver/Gold). IAM is only equivalent of Silver. Gold is the highest civilian driving award in the UK.
And I don't know what the current position is with IAM - we always used to say IAM slowed drivers down - do that on a RoADAR test and you won't get a Gold. And our local police examiner who also does the IAM tests always complains about the level of candidates at the IAM groups - although we shouldn't complain as any improvement is always better than no attempt at improvement.
Your annual membership covers the cost of your retest every three years. Groups cover most of the country - but sometimes may be an extra few miles away.
Check it out - if you need any help finding groups etc let me know.
Retesting does exist - why not join RoADAR (www.roadar.org). Its part of RoSPA and we retest every three years. There are also various pass levels (Bronze/Silver/Gold). IAM is only equivalent of Silver. Gold is the highest civilian driving award in the UK.
And I don't know what the current position is with IAM - we always used to say IAM slowed drivers down - do that on a RoADAR test and you won't get a Gold. And our local police examiner who also does the IAM tests always complains about the level of candidates at the IAM groups - although we shouldn't complain as any improvement is always better than no attempt at improvement.
Your annual membership covers the cost of your retest every three years. Groups cover most of the country - but sometimes may be an extra few miles away.
Check it out - if you need any help finding groups etc let me know.
G_T said:
How does a registered charity "pull in money"?
It's a not for profit organisation. They have to reinvest anything they make to maintain their tax status?
As a trustee of two small charities I take the 'not for profit' with a pinch of salt. And so do the big boys (my business is a key supplier of relief aid to the main international charities so I see it from their side as well).It's a not for profit organisation. They have to reinvest anything they make to maintain their tax status?
All charities MUST be run as a business. One of the charities I took on had lost ten grand in three years and was on its knees. The reason was due to poor management - old ladies out of their depth.
In the last five years we have made about twenty grand profit - and will have invested seventy five grand by the end of this summer, thanks to a twenty grand grant I pulled in this week. The reason we can pull in money is because grant makers can see we are making reasonable money - but not enough to meet the requirements of our long term business plan.
The whole purpose of charities is that they must be to serve / benefit the communities in which they exist - through a whole wide variety of means. And it is a big business sector that relies on volunteers and donations. If you've got a skill (advanced driving tuition for example !)(or spare cash !!) don't keep it to yourself - the world needs volunteers (and cash) and there are too few around. End of sermon.
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