La Rochelle, France – Lycéens participating in the annual “Père Cent” celebrations in La Rochelle are embracing a new method of fundraising: electronic payment terminals. Traditionally, students in costume solicit small donations from passersby to finance their conclude-of-year festivities, held 100 days before the baccalauréat exams. This year, many are utilizing SumUp devices, allowing individuals to donate via credit or debit card.
The shift towards digital payments was evident on Wednesday, March 4th, as students dressed as cows, dinosaurs, and other characters collected funds along busy boulevards. “We managed to raise 192 euros thanks to the TPE since this morning,” said Blanche, a student stationed on Boulevard Joffre with her friends. “People are very generous with their bank card. They give us 2 or 5 euros, whereas with coins, they’ll only give 10 or 20 centimes.”
Apolline, another student involved in the fundraising effort, echoed this sentiment, noting the declining prevalence of cash. Léna, positioned on Boulevard André-Sautel, added, “People are less and less likely to carry cash. With a TPE, they no longer have an excuse not to give.”
The use of electronic payment terminals isn’t without its critics. Cerise, a student at Lycée Saint-Exupéry, expressed concern that the method detracts from the traditional spirit of the event. “The point of Père Cent isn’t to force people to give us money. We do it for fun, not to collect as much as possible,” she stated.
Some students have also encountered practical obstacles. Martin, for example, abandoned plans to use a TPE due to the perceived complexity of the process. “It’s too complicated with a bank card. You have to declare a business to be able to use the application,” he explained.
SumUp, the company providing the technology, offers a Mastercard that allows users to access funds quickly. According to Entrepreneur Hero, the card allows users to spend funds received through SumUp terminals the day after they are collected, a significant improvement over the typical 2-3 day bank transfer. The card itself is free, though withdrawals from ATMs beyond three per month incur a 2% fee. SumUp also provides virtual cards compatible with Apple Pay and Google Pay for online transactions.
The SumUp system accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and NFC payments via Apple Pay and Google Pay. The company’s website highlights security features, including transaction alerts and biometric authentication.
