caterers association advises that cashless payment systems are too great a risk

Galtres Parklands Festival 2014

Friday 22nd to Sunday 24th August 2014
Duncombe Park, Helmsley, York, North Yorkshire, YO62 5EB, England MAP
£95, child (5-15) £40 family (2a + 3c) £285

Daily capacity: 10,000

Following the news that Galtres Festival Trading Company has ceased trading, see article (here), which has left some caterers who were trading at this year's Galtres Parklands Festival out of pocket, the NCASS (The Nationwide Caterers Association) is advising all members that cashless payment systems are too great a risk, and should be boycotted.

A statement issued on the festival's website (here) says,

"We are saddened and disappointed at the announcement that Galtres Festival Trading Ltd has recently ceased trading and commenced issuing letters to creditors.

"The cashless payment system that was used at the festival has resulted in traders at the event receiving no money whatsoever for four 16 hour days of work. They have lost stock, paid wages and received nothing back from the organisers. Early indications suggest at least one catering company will now go out of business while others will struggle with the thousands of pounds worth of debt they have now had forced upon them.

"The Nationwide Caterers Association is advising all members that cashless payment systems are too great a risk. Until a system for ring fencing this money is developed, caterers should not accept work under cashless conditions. The success of such systems is based on trust; without that the systems cannot and will not work. We will be publishing an article about the dangers of cashless payment systems in the upcoming Catering Quarterly Magazine.

"The situation has affected a number of our members, many of whom are significantly out of pocket, having worked the busiest weekend of the year for nothing.

"We are encouraging all traders to take legal advice; we have a dedicated helpline for our members which can be accessed by visiting the members’ area of the website. Due to the nature of this problem and in solidarity with the event catering fraternity, we have decided to offer our legal advice line to ALL businesses who traded at the festival.

"We hope that the festival will make the necessary arrangements to end the confusion and pay the traders the money they earned through hard graft and in good faith."

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