The Card Machine Trap: Why Charities are Ditching Monthly Rental Fees

Many UK Charities are losing hundreds of pounds every year to card machine rentals and hidden fees. Learn why QR codes are the cost-effective alternative for modern fundraising.

1. The Invisible Drain on Your Funds

Standard card terminals often come with a monthly rental fee of £20 to £30, regardless of whether you use them or not. For a small charity that only holds a few major events a year, this means you could be paying over £300 annually just for the "privilege" of owning the hardware.

2. Hardware vs. QR Codes: The Comparison

Traditional card machines require electricity, a Wi-Fi or 4G connection, and expensive thermal paper rolls. If the machine breaks or the battery dies during a gala, your fundraising stops.

• No Hardware Costs: DonationPay QR codes cost nothing to generate and never break.
• Zero Subscription: You only pay a small fee when you actually receive a donation. If you don't use it for a month, it costs you £0.

3. Better for Gift Aid, Better for You

Most card machines are built for retail, not for charities. They don't capture Gift Aid declarations. This means you’re missing out on an extra 25% on top of every card tap. DonationPay was built specifically to capture that 25% automatically during the payment process.

Conclusion: Simple, Fair, and Hardware-Free

The future of UK giving is digital, but it doesn't have to be expensive. By moving to a QR-based system like DonationPay, you eliminate fixed costs and ensure more of every donation goes directly to your cause.