Charity Chit Chat

COS & Friends comes to an end after 7 years but we’ll still be panto-ing and masquerading!

7 years ago we formed COS & Friends Fundraising Group: the company and the community together to raise funds for Cancer Research UK. Our voluntary fundraising group has raised over £27,000 over those years and organised a huge variety of events. After 7 years we’ve brought the project to a close.

We’ll still be having a ball

COS Bookkeeping will continue to run the Masquerade Ball rather than it be organised by the charity group. It will still be in aid of Cancer Research UK next year and is still booked in for the 7^th July.

Oh yes we are

The pantomimes were previously supported by COS & Friends and will still continue, but the funds will be used differently. The Music Group, who produce the pantomimes, are in desperate need of investment and so the profits will go towards lighting and sound equipment. Currently they must hire the equipment and run the show on a wing and a prayer. This investment will ultimately aid the Church in which they perform as the building will then have a permanent lighting and sound rig. This in turn helps the Church become accessible to other community groups looking to run performances too.

Thank you

COS & Friends would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who has volunteered and supported over the years.

Q- What’s your role within Worldpay Steve?

I’m the Regional Business Manager for local SMEs. Being field based means I visit my customers at a time and place which suits them to discuss the payment methods available and the various tariffs available.  I can even help with setting up any staff training if required, the only fee is cup of tea for that service.

Q- Can anyone take card payments?

Yes, we are partners with over 300,000 merchants in the UK alone – ranging from sole traders who may take just one payment a month on their smartphone- up to the big 4 supermarkets. There any many methods available and we can recommend the right one for your business whether it’s a retail shop, a service company, or online trading.

Q – Is it easy to open a merchant account and do I need a separate bank account?

It’s really simple, I visit customers at work or home, find out what product and plan best suits and if they want to proceed from there complete their application. The account will be ready within a week and paid directly into a bank account of their choice.

Q – What about fees to open an account?

There are no sign-up or joining fees, we even have Pay-As-You-Go plans.

Q- I already take cards with another provider, what can you do for me?

I offer a free assessment and cost comparison, it takes just a couple of minutes and can initially be carried out by email.

Q- I never see my customers, do I still need a card machine?

No, Worldpay have a simple to use portal for payments: by phone (Virtual Terminal), by emailing a link (Pay by Link), or set up a recurring payment (Future Pay).
All cardholder details are held securely by Worldpay.

Q- I’ve heard about businesses being tied into long leases and contracts, how do Worldpay compare?

All our agreements are FCA regulated and are a maximum of 18 months. As the UK’s largest provider it means we own all our equipment, so we don’t rely on a 3rd party who need to make their money upfront from a lease agreement. Our online services are all on a 30-day rolling agreement so you can even try them for a short time.

Q – What does the future look like in card payments?

Customers will soon be able to use biometric technology to buy products. Virtual shopping malls and everyday devices connected to the internet (IOT) will be commonplace in the next 5 years.  Biometric payment will be here sooner than you think, Costcutter are already trialling finger vein technology

>>>>Photo – Student at Brunel Costcutter store using finger vein technology to pay

Q – How do I find out more about what Worldpay can do for me?

We can arrange a meeting together at a place that suits you to discuss your needs. My contact details are: steve.tempest@worldpay.com or 07969 517576, please mention COS when you call.