CAMS license - not happy!

[Slugoid]

Well I just renewed my Level 2S CAMS two weeks ago and when I got the sticker back, the expiry date was April 30 2008. April 30 was the expiry date of my old one, but I never bothered to renew it until now cos I haven't been on track all this time.

So effectively I've paid $88 for a 7 month license (which should be 12 months). I've rang them up and even emailed them and they practically said there's nothing they can do about it, which is seriously bs. Following their rule, even if you paid on on March 2008, you'll get an expiry date of April 30 2008. The only way to get a new expiry date, you'll need to renew after 12 months (i.e. after April 30 2008).

So for the casual track goers, beware. You might as well sign up for a new license rather than renew it.

[bigdog]

This has been a problem for over 30 years Slug. CAMS simply refuse to believe they can handle pro-rata billing - putting them at odds with just about every other commercial licensing body around. When you understand how few licences they actually handle each year it is even more unbelievable, and if you were paying for a full competition licence it would hurt even more. Until recent years you were forced to renew at 30 December, regardless of when you applied, so at least that has changed! I can remember a friend getting his new C4 licence in December, then being forced to pay another $400 a month later to renew it!!

It will be interesting to see the outcome of the latest CAMS restructure process currently underway. Make sure you write to the CEO and complain - too many people just let them get away with it.

[Slugoid]

Thanks for that bigdog. I find it hard to believe that they can't set a new expiry date according to when you pay. Even Vicroads knows how to manage their registration, and how many cars are there in Victoria compared to CAMS members??

I will write to the CEO and complain indefinitely, just so that they know it's a problem that they can't get away with .

[neil d]

Welcome to motor sport under CAMS

Neil

[irwin83r]

wow and i thought the RTA was bad...

this is crazy.. im pretty sure the department of fair trading would like to hear about this also.... or atleast you might want to mention that to the CEO

[Okibi]

Ekkkkkk , i'm \"renewing\" mine now, it expired in Feb.

Fuggin Dr. wont sign my medical clearance (asthma) because I haven't been to the Dr in over a year.

Next available appointment is Thursday night, lets hope CAMs will give me a temporarily licence on Friday.

[JBT]

Of course they will, they only want the money

[Slugoid]

Well I emailed them last friday explaining my situation and this was their reply:

Victor

Thank you for your query regarding the expiry date of your licence.
The CAMS regulations state that the expiry date that you are given is your permanent expiry date. The only way this can be changed is by not renewing your licence for 12 months or more then re-applying.
If you have extenuating circumstances that stop you from renewing your licence, such as a medical reason (recovering from an operation) or similar, then you should contact this office and discuss the situation to see if your licence expiry can be changed to suit the situation. This can be done if the circumstances are deemed sufficient by CAMS Management.

Regards

Geoffrey Weir

Then today, I said that I was unhappy about the situation and told them I will report to the ACCC and make a complaint to their CEO, this was their next reply:

Victor

At this point in time anybody renewing with that small amount of time [less than one month] left to renew the licence would be issued with a 13 month licence.
Also anybody sending in an application with 2 months left to go would be contacted and advised of the consequences of renewing at that late stage. If there is no reason, such as an event that the member must enter that falls within the remaining time, the member would be advised that it would be better for us to hold onto the application until after the expiry date when we would issue a full twelve month licence.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your licence is renewed, the licence renewals are sent out well in advance of the expiry date to ensure that members do have time to renew by the expiry date. The regulations do state that the expiry date is set for the next 12 month period, it is your choice to renew when you do.

Regards

Geoffrey Weir

Don't think I'll get anywhere with writing, as they will never make an exception out of me, or for anybody for that matter.

[Okibi]

Question is if they can justify the 12 month \"gap\" between what is considered a renewal and what is a \"new\" license.

I think they really need a cheaper rate to encourage people to renew.

Their objective \"The key Member Service objective is to provide CAMS competition license holders with outstanding service. Put simply, this means providing accurate and timely service to our customers. \"

I'd question that they're providing an outstanding service.

The top of their form says \"your fixed expiry date\" so they are stating the date is \"fixed\".

The cut off section on the bottom says \"CAMS member services will forward your official 12-month Level 2 license directly to you\" ... so you could argue that the license doesn't in fact last for 12 months as advertised.

It's a bit of a pickle.

CAMS is really designed for the \"money is no object\" sponsored race teams, not us weekend hacks that have to watch every dollar.

[rhysk]

Ekkkkkk , i'm "renewing" mine now, it expired in Feb.

Fuggin Dr. wont sign my medical clearance (asthma) because I haven't been to the Dr in over a year.

Next available appointment is Thursday night, lets hope CAMs will give me a temporarily licence on Friday.

You made the same mistake I did. Next time you fill out the form, you will know better than to list asthma medication.

Fortunately, they can fax you something which will cover you until you receive the licence.

[Okibi]

I still want it listed as my Asthma is quite severe.

The event has been postponed until mid November because of problems getting CAMs permits in time (although they manged to do them in a day or so when they were given the new event date - go figure? )

Which means I may get only 3 months out of my year license, I may only purchase a day license then.

We need an online petition to encourage cams to change the system to pro-rata or do a 6 month license price.

[rain902]

C ant
A dminister
M otor
S port

[Okibi]

C'mon they have a whole new charter and everything, they're dedicated to customer support.

[dab]

C onfederation
A gainst
M otor
S port