9. Using contactless/card payment devices

Contactless/card payment devices are very helpful indeed for fundraising now that fewer people carry cash. People can make payments using their cards or their phone and the contactless/card payment devices are very easy to use.

Obviously you need a bank account to receive the funds taken via these devices.

Organisations like Zettle and SUMUP provide the interface platform between a bank account and the payment device and for this they take a fee deducted from your takings. Of course, they also sell you the payment device in the first place!
Cheaper devices (some cost as little as £20) do not have SIM cards built in and so need to be paired with the smart mobile phone of the person using the device (and that person must have an account set up for them beforehand). If a different person uses it then that all needs to be done again for the new phone. This is very fiddly and needs dedication! But then these devices do not work so well when mobile phone coverage is less than perfect. Our strong advice is to buy a contactless/card payment device with a SIM card already in.

Which platform should you use?

SUMUP is straightforward to set up with an online account and their Solo device (costs about £90) has a built in SIM so it can be used by anyone, anywhere.

Be aware that you do need to answer questions about what you are taking payments for, give the name of the person responsible for the group and link to e.g., a Facebook page or website to show them you are a real group. (Presumably this is to deter criminals from using the platform).

Other platforms can require a higher level of proof of your reason for collecting payments.

Raise funds for XR UK with a contactless/card device

If you want us to provide a contactless/card payment device that is set up to direct funds into the XR UK bank account please contact the fundraising team.

Get in touch through the Mattermost Fundraising Reception channel.

Or email XXXXXXfundraising@rebellion.earth.