to ask how you all organise online collections for teachers' xmas gifts?

[MsMitford]

I've been tasked with organising a class collection for the teacher's Christmas gift. No problem, I thought, I'll set up a collection on PayPal, like I've done in previous years. Only it seems that PayPal have now started charging for this service (a flat rate 30p per transaction, plus a % fee which is a lot if 30 parents are each making a transaction). How are the tech-savvy amount you organising online collections this year?

Group together !

That's the name of the website :)

I think it only charges a fee if you select the option with buyer protection. If you put the payment through as "friends and family" then you shouldn't get charged. That's what the woman who is doing our class collection this year said anyway.

@Marvellousmadness - thanks, but looks like group together only works in Australia?

Really? Oh im so sorry I thought it was internacional

Please make sure it isn't that god awful Post Office One 4 All Card which is a complete con. I'm a teacher and I honestly don't want a gift. We love personal little cards and pictures. We don't teach for the pressies!

We pay directly into the bank account of person organising, she puts her details on our WhatsApp group

pay directly into the bank account of person organising, she puts her details on our WhatsApp group

Same here.

@Fritilleries genuine interested why is it a con? And also I used to love as a TA getting that voucher, the pay is crap and of course we do it for the love but can still appreciate the generosity of parents.

BACS with child's name/family name as reference

Just send a hand written thank you from the child on a Christmas card.

[quote Icebreaker99]@Fritilleries genuine interested why is it a con? And also I used to love as a TA getting that voucher, the pay is crap and of course we do it for the love but can still appreciate the generosity of parents.

BACS with child's name/family name as reference[/quote]
It's impossible to redeem. I've had three and none have worked. Each time I contacted the company and got nothing back. I get the need treat professionals and show gratitude but honestly I feel sometimes a small card can mean so much more. I have cards and pictures from years ago!

@Fet2021duejuly2022

Just send a hand written thank you from the child on a Christmas card.

This!

@Fritilleries that's interesting, I've never had an issue with them. I stand by my statement that a voucher is very much appreciated at such an expensive time of the year when you're getting paid peanuts. Don't want to derail the thread though!

Collection Pot - first year we've used it so I can't vouch for how easy it will be for the organiser to access the funds!

Our class is using Collctiv this year, I'm not the one organising it though, so not too sure how it all works. It seems like you can make a voluntary donation to help towards covering their fees, but you don't need to opt in.

@RabbitFooFoo

We pay directly into the bank account of person organising, she puts her details on our WhatsApp group

This.

@RabbitFooFoo

We pay directly into the bank account of person organising, she puts her details on our WhatsApp group

Yep, this is how it's been done with our class for years.

This is my job this year and after reading around I am using Collectiv- it’s the only one I found without a mandatory fee (there’s a very simple opt in/out, both when you’re making the donation and when you’re taking the money out). Really easy to set up and for people to chip in (you can use apple/google pay or card).

Biggest downside is 2-3 working days between withdrawing the money and it hitting your bank account.

I looked at Collection Pot but that has mandatory fees.

You can still use PayPal but you can’t do a money pool so you just need to transfer the money to an individual and for them to keep tabs on it. Balance transfer also fine but again you need to keep tabs and it’s a bit faffier for people chipping in.

@Fet2021duejuly2022

Just send a hand written thank you from the child on a Christmas card.

This.

@Fet2021duejuly2022

Just send a hand written thank you from the child on a Christmas card.

Easier said than done - class collections are very much the ‘thing’ at our school. Imagine being the only teacher who didn’t get one!

I’m out class rep, we’re more or less told to set one up.

Collectiv is what we are using - you can opt out of the fees