Contactless payment for honesty box

[jinkster]

We have a honesty box as part of the Parish Council toilets and car park. As we become a more cashless society I was considering a contactless payment machine. Has anyone done this? Can anyone recommend something that won't cost a fortune.

Thanks.

[superlightr]

why is there a charge at all?

Having a toilet visitors/people walking can use is a good thing to have - what else are they supposed to do? behind a tree?

Parking again is good to have to encourage people to visit.

If its all honesty box then sounds like its not being abused but may be more hassle to set up then what you will get in return and then back to why should an amenity be charged for anyway when it benefits your location?

[jinkster]

superlightr said:

why is there a charge at all?

Having a toilet visitors/people walking can use is a good thing to have - what else are they supposed to do? behind a tree?

Parking again is good to have to encourage people to visit.

If its all honesty box then sounds like its not being abused but may be more hassle to set up then what you will get in return and then back to why should an amenity be charged for anyway when it benefits your location?

We have to charge to cover cleaning costs/ materials etc. As we move to a more cashless society (guilty here too) I want to make it easier so we still get the donations. I'd do both given a preference - cash and machine. The more options for people to pay the easier it becomes.

[akirk]

this is done frequently - you see it in use by charities etc. - where you tap to donate x amount...
companies such as: https://collectin.com/ make it easy - I think their underlying technology is the iZettle - but yes it is very possible... (you do need mobile signal though)

[jinkster]

Unfortunately there is no company that offers a waterproof outdoor solution.

[48k]

I'd have thought it's impossible to have a simple outdoor non-manned card reader for contactless payments without going in to the realms of a proper car park payment machine.
A better solution might be to set up an online payment gateway and have a QR code on a sign at the honesty point.

[Muzzer79]

jinkster said:

Unfortunately there is no company that offers a waterproof outdoor solution.

Can you not just set up a 'normal' car park payment machine, but make your signage very clear that using it is optional and on an honesty principle?

[Funky Squirrel]

48k said:

I'd have thought it's impossible to have a simple outdoor non-manned card reader for contactless payments without going in to the realms of a proper car park payment machine.
A better solution might be to set up an online payment gateway and have a QR code on a sign at the honesty point.

This, just make sure no one changes the qr code

[jinkster]

Muzzer79 said:

jinkster said:

Unfortunately there is no company that offers a waterproof outdoor solution.

Can you not just set up a 'normal' car park payment machine, but make your signage very clear that using it is optional and on an honesty principle?

About £5000 for the normal car park machines.

QR Codes - lots have been changed recently due to fraud which is causing concern for users.

A simple - £2/ £3 etc default amount and then tap a phone/ card should be easy enough.

[RoadToad84]

48k said:

I'd have thought it's impossible to have a simple outdoor non-manned card reader for contactless payments without going in to the realms of a proper car park payment machine.
A better solution might be to set up an online payment gateway and have a QR code on a sign at the honesty point.

My local farm has a QR system for payment. Cash goes in a box, card payments via the QR. Works a treat.

[Crudeoink]

jinkster said:

About £5000 for the normal car park machines.

QR Codes - lots have been changed recently due to fraud which is causing concern for users.

A simple - £2/ £3 etc default amount and then tap a phone/ card should be easy enough.

How will you prevent someone fitting a card skimmer to the device? Will you be regularly sending someone out to inspect the reader for tampering etc?
There is a reason why Car Park machines are expensive and PCI compliance would be a big part of this, there are risks with leaving payment terminals in unsecured environments where they are not covered by CCTV etc

[48k]

jinkster said:

A simple - £2/ £3 etc default amount and then tap a phone/ card should be easy enough.

"simple".. "easy enough"... but you need an outdoor electricity feed, a SIM card subscription with robust internet connection, a device to be mounted somewhere which can withstand the elements and vandals, and adequate security. Things to maintain, things that can go wrong, things that can be tampered with and abused. How will you know if the system has gone down? How do you know if the device has been tampered with? Will someone check it daily? What happens if the customer wants a receipt for a payment? etc

There are pros and cons to both solutions, obviously, but your biggest stumbling block is finding a secure robust waterproof contactless card machine that is designed to be used outdoors unmanned, without getting in to the world of a proper car park payment machine. There's probably a reason why you are struggling to find such a device.

[Simpo Two]

48k said:

jinkster said:

A simple - £2/ £3 etc default amount and then tap a phone/ card should be easy enough.

"simple".. "easy enough"... but you need an outdoor electricity feed, a SIM card subscription with robust internet connection, a device to be mounted somewhere which can withstand the elements and vandals, and adequate security. Things to maintain, things that can go wrong, things that can be tampered with and abused. How will you know if the system has gone down? How do you know if the device has been tampered with? Will someone check it daily? What happens if the customer wants a receipt for a payment? etc

The wonders of progress. I'd stay with a box with a slot in the top.

[48k]

Simpo Two said:

48k said:

jinkster said:

A simple - £2/ £3 etc default amount and then tap a phone/ card should be easy enough.

"simple".. "easy enough"... but you need an outdoor electricity feed, a SIM card subscription with robust internet connection, a device to be mounted somewhere which can withstand the elements and vandals, and adequate security. Things to maintain, things that can go wrong, things that can be tampered with and abused. How will you know if the system has gone down? How do you know if the device has been tampered with? Will someone check it daily? What happens if the customer wants a receipt for a payment? etc

The wonders of progress. I'd stay with a box with a slot in the top.

I suspect the problem the OP is trying to solve is that fewer and fewer people are carrying cash these days so the number of people who will pop 3 quid in the tin is a lot less than the number of people who would pay with their phone. Even buskers have Zettle terminals these days.

[Simpo Two]

48k said:

I suspect the problem the OP is trying to solve is that fewer and fewer people are carrying cash these days so the number of people who will pop 3 quid in the tin is a lot less than the number of people who would pay with their phone. Even buskers have Zettle terminals these days.

Agreed but it looks like the cost of all the tech malarkey needed to do it the modern way is going to cost far more than any income. Hence a box will make them some money, the other won't.

Or just add 5p to the Parish Council part of council tax if possible, get the money that way and then the car park and bog can be 'free'.

[Tigerj]

In Bath they have these tap to donate to charity terminals, they are left out in the open.

[jinkster]

Tigerj said:

In Bath they have these tap to donate to charity terminals, they are left out in the open.

I don’t suppose you know which company provides them or can post a picture? Thanks

[anonymous-user]

NFC tag?