Subscriptions increase on 1 January 2027
The Society's membership subscription has remained unchanged since the last general increase took place in January 2007, almost two decades ago.
According to the Office of National Statistics, the Retail Price Index (RPI), which measures cumulative inflation has driven up prices by roughly 80.10% since 2007. If our subscription had increased in line with RPI, then it would by now have risen to £27.
Although we have sought, with some success, to minimise our running costs, increasing overheads combined with reduced membership levels have resulted in a shortfall which has been met from our cash reserves. While we continue to operate with a strong balance sheet, we cannot continue indefinitely to cover the shortfall in this way.
For this reason, the Executive Committee has decided to increase the annual subscription rate for all members to £20 with effect from 1st January 2027.
Whilst we are naturally disappointed to have to increase our subscriptions, we are pleased that we have been able to limit the increase to comfortably within retail price inflation. We believe that even with the new rate, MLFHS membership still offers exceptional value for less than 6p per day.
Online Renewal
If you renew your membership using our online payment system, you will find that after 1 January 2027 the subscription charged for renewal will automatically increase to the new amount.
Bank Standing Orders
If you pay by Bank Standing Order (BSO) you will have to inform your bank to increase the sum paid to £20 from the first payment due on or after 1 January 2027. See below for more information.
Online Banking
If you have set up a recurring payment directly from your online bank account, the amount payable should be increased to £20 from the first payment due on or after 1 January 2027. See below for more information.
If you have not already set up a recurring payment, why not consider this as an alternative to a BSO?
Further Notes on Bank Standing Orders and Online Banking
Bank Standing Orders
CLICK HERE to download a form to update your BSO.
Online Banking
If you already meet your day-to-day payments using Online Banking, why not switch to that method with effect from your renewal date in 2027?
Most Online Banking platforms will allow you to set up a recurring payment, so that your membership will be automatically renewed each year until you cancel the recurring payment.
Setting up your Payment
The details to set up your BSO or recurring payments are:
Payee: Manchester & Lancashire Family History Society
Sort Code: 09-01-51
Account No: 00411908
Amount: £20
Reference: When setting up your payment, please ensure that the reference (which is how we know to whose membership the payments relate) is as follows:
MEMBERSHIP NUMBER Name e.g. 12345 SMITH John
Make payments on: [The date your renewal falls due] and annually thereafter.
Once you have set up the online payment, don't forget to cancel your existing BSO!