SWN Topics
Beacon Training - Available on request
Card Readers
Chepstow u3a
Credit card readers that are available to groups. The best seem to be from a company called Sum up. They do not have a monthly fee and their transaction fee is 1.69% (Some are as high as 3%)
There are 4 possible hand held devices:
- Sum up Air - works with App, or Bluetooth. Up to 500 transactions on a single charge. Currently on offer for £17 (full price £29)
- Sum Up Air plus a charging cradle- works with App or bluetooth. Cradle keeps reader fully charged. Currently on offer for £29 (full price £39)
- Sum Up Solo - standalone device. Works with WiFi, plus unlimited mobile data with built in SIM card. Charging cradle keeps it fully charged and new features are added via automatic updates. Currently on offer for £79 (full price £99)
- Sum Up 3G and printer - works without a smart phone. Built in SIM card, free unlimited mobile data and WiFi connectivity. Makes up to 50 transactions on single charge. Prints receipts for each transaction. Currently on offer for £119 (full price £149)
As you can see there is a good range of prices depending on what we want. If we just need a small hand held device then the Sum up Air would probable suffice (I think the one with the charging unit makes most sense)
You can find more details on these by looking on sum up.co.uk
Usk u3a – Michael Faraday
SumUp will have higher charges now as they got an introductory discount, but do look at/ send on the link to a site comparing readers
…..a garden open under the NGS open garden scheme. They have been doing this for a couple of years and last year moved to a card reader method of payment.
He uses 2 of them: SumUp, set up by NGS; and Zettle, which he set up, and which he prefers.
Zettle:
It links via a smart-phone app
Terminal cost him £29 (look out for promotions). Very easy to set up.
4G preferred but should be OK on 3G (not sure what we have at the Lodge)
Easy hand-held terminal, charging via USB; long charge life
Can use only 1 bank account (so would need another one for 2 categories) but can link via several phones to the app
Provides reports by time (day/ week etc) and can choose a category for payments. In his case gate/ plant sale/ kitchen. With us it would be bar/ dining/ raffle/ social etc, entered at time of transaction.
Payment into bank account received within 2 days
Now owned by PayPal, so credible
Commission is 1.75%
Uses contactless, or card insert required for over-limit transactions.
SumUp has slightly cheaper commission, but the difference is negligible. He prefers Zettle.
It is well worth reading: https://www.mobiletransaction.org/square-vs-izettle-vs-sumup/
Insurance Questions and Responses Received from the u3a Insurance Broker
Note that this these answers were given in April 2022. For up to date information see the TAT website.
Why there is no crime cover?
We’re presently not able to find an insurer who will provide this cover because of the u3a claims history nationwide. We are continuing the search and will report back to Sam with any developments.
Why has the excess gone up so much; many u3as have equipment that is worth less than the excess; the smaller u3as don’t have that much money in reserve anyway
All excesses are increasing and this includes my own personal Home insurance excess. The U3A policies are all commercial contracts and in terms of commercial insurance the excesses are below the market average.
What is meant by “cyber” and why is the excess £1000; what exactly does it cover and how would an average u3a be able to manage such a high excess?
Please see the main heading below. Not an easy question to answer briefly but hope the following does at least fill in some blanks. Again the excess is below the market standard.
Cover
| Cyber Data Loss | |
| Data Security Breach | Limit £250,000 |
| Virus, Hacking and Denial of Service Attack | Limit £250,000 |
| Extortion | Limit £250,000 |
| Business Interruption | Limit £250,000 |
| Maximum Indemnity Period | 12 months |
| Excess Period | 8 hours |
| Cyber Crime | Cover Deleted with effect from 2022 Renewal |
| Telecommunications Services | Limit £25,000 |
| External Cyber Crime | Limit £25,000 |
| Cyber Liability | |
| Network Security Liability | Limit £250,000 |
| Data Privacy and Confidentiality Liability | Limit £250,000 |
| Payment Card Industry Liability | Limit £250,000 |
| Multimedia Liability | Limit £250,000 |
OVERALL POLICY LIMIT OF £250,000 IN THE AGGREGATE DURING ANY ONE PERIOD OF INSURANCE.
Why can’t they see a policy document rather than just the certificate?
All policies are available to the National Office and can be referred to. In our experience issuing all of the policies to the U3A’s cause more problems than it solves, one of the Aviva policies runs into excess of 100 pages.
Walking Trip 1:
Our u3a organises an annual walking trip where one member books and liaises with the hotel, another member books and liaises with the coach company, another member coordinates the daily walks. Several members lead the daily walks. Only u3a members are allowed (maybe from another u3a) and no one gets a free or subsidised trip - everyone pays the same. The package is offered to our u3a members on a non-profit making basis.
Are there any insurance implications?
None especially. Your current Public Liability cover will operate in the normal way for walking as an activity (and the u3a members making the activity happen) – ie, is triggered only when there is injury or damage. The Tour Operators will also operate without amendment but does of course only come into play if the u3a is deemed to be a Tour Operator. The rules & regulations about when you are a Tour Operator are complex but the backstop is that the cover is in place if you are deemed to be one. The existing covers will not help with any loss of money in the event say the coach operator or hotel goes bust etc or of course the individual members with a travel insurance type claim, eg the loss of luggage etc.
Walking Trip 2
Same as above but:
We ask a coach company/Travel Agent to organise the hotel and coach part of the above but u3a members still organise and lead the daily walks.
Would there be any insurance implications (eg public liability particularly for organising the walks?) (a) If all participants were u3a members? (b) If some participants were non u3a members?
By using an ABTA / ATOL travel agent / tour operator I believe you do get much more protection for the cost of the holiday and against the insolvency etc of the various companies providing the services and this is why I believe the u3a advice nationally is to always go down this route where possible. The u3a Public Liability applies to the activity leaders etc as before. Non-members do cause a problem. Insurers underwrite the u3a as a whole on the basis it is a membership organisation and that members abide by the rules & regulations etc and of course members do contribute towards the cost via their membership fee. My advice in the past to avoid any problems involving non-members has quite simply been for such individuals to join! If they want the benefit of taking part in a u3a activity it’s the right thing to do.
Miscellaneous Information - What you might not know.
- Use 'u3a Office' for what what was 'Head Office' - but their registered title is still the Third Age Trust.
- u3a should now be written in lower case
- You should be using the new u3a logo on your website and all your documents. Download options in the Brand Centre in the u3a Office Web Site with or without Welsh or English text. You can add your u3a name.
- DM Sans Font from Google. Maybe this will help with constructing any text with the u3a logo.
- NOTE: from TAM February 2021. Although the Trust recognises that each u3a is an independent charity administered by its elected committee it hoped that they will also adopt this change (to the logo) in their written items and on their websites.
- You shouldn't be using 'University of the Third Age' any more.
- This guidance, however, does not apply to the legally registered name, for instance when dealing with banks, where you may be registered as U3A or University of the Third Age.
- The Third Age Trust provides advice and support. Because u3as are independent charities, (they are not a branch or a club or a group), their committees can decide whether to take this advice.
- Qualification for joining u3a: Not working full time. Interpret this as you wish!
- In the February 2022 edition of TAM, page 20, the Chair of u3a says 'we should stop using words such as retirement, older, and learning and emphasise the fun and social element of u3a'
- Trust Volunteers. The role (which used to be called Regional Volunteer) is basically to help new u3a's when they are setting up. Helping them to arrange a launch, work with their constitution, committee and holding their hand through their first "actual" meeting. It also involves suggesting new locations for u3as and helping failing u3as.