Author Topic: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone  (Read 1731 times)

rudged

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Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« on: November 24, 2020, 09:15:37 AM »
Each year I solicit donations from my colleagues for a staff gift. This year, because of co-vid restrictions, I am unable to collect them in person. One of my colleagues suggested I use Paypal, but apparently you cannot register for a Paypal account without a mobile phone. I cannot justify buying a cell phone just to collect money for a once a year staff gift.

I'm wondering if anyone knows of an alternative to Paypal that I could use to collect money. I live in the United States--Skrill is not a possibility.

HPstache

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #1 on: November 24, 2020, 10:04:31 AM »
Each year I solicit donations from my colleagues for a staff gift. This year, because of co-vid restrictions, I am unable to collect them in person. One of my colleagues suggested I use Paypal, but apparently you cannot register for a Paypal account without a mobile phone. I cannot justify buying a cell phone just to collect money for a once a year staff gift.

I'm wondering if anyone knows of an alternative to Paypal that I could use to collect money. I live in the United States--Skrill is not a possibility.

You're right, both Paypal and Venmo (another popular ap for sending funds) require a cell number. You could have them mail you checks.  You could set up a GoFundMe, but then they take a small cut of the funds raised.  GoFundMe could be an interesting option because it will have some amount of assurance that all the funds are being tracked as that total is displayed and each giver can choose to be listed or anonymous.  But then everyone is going to have to make a GoFundMe account and that will probably stop some people just because they don't want to go through the effort.  I honestly think your best option is checks in the mail or handing off the responsibility to someone who does have Paypal/Venmo.

erutio

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #2 on: November 24, 2020, 10:57:12 AM »
....handing off the responsibility to someone who does have Paypal/Venmo.

This is probably the easiest way to do it.  While I understand that you don't have a cell phone, venmo/zelle/paypal are near ubiquitous now, so if you can have someone close or a manager you trust to set up to receive the funds for you, it should be quite easy.   There are no fees for these basic services also.

ChickenStash

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #3 on: November 24, 2020, 11:38:18 AM »
If you just need the cellphone for text messages, you might be able to get away with a free Google Voice number.

seattlecyclone

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #4 on: November 24, 2020, 12:13:25 PM »
If you just need the cellphone for text messages, you might be able to get away with a free Google Voice number.

As a Google Voice user myself, there's a small but annoying number of services that won't text Google Voice numbers for authentication purposes. I can't say whether PayPal or Venmo are among that list. Also you need to have a phone number to get a Google Voice number, but a landline would probably suffice.

kay02

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #5 on: November 24, 2020, 12:42:00 PM »
If you just need the cellphone for text messages, you might be able to get away with a free Google Voice number.

As a Google Voice user myself, there's a small but annoying number of services that won't text Google Voice numbers for authentication purposes. I can't say whether PayPal or Venmo are among that list. Also you need to have a phone number to get a Google Voice number, but a landline would probably suffice.
Google Voice has worked well for me.  There are also sketchy "temporary phone number" websites that I've used for a couple things in the past, but use at your own risk.

chemistk

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #6 on: November 24, 2020, 01:36:01 PM »
Have you looked into Zelle? You'll need a bank account that has access to online banking and is enrolled with Zelle (I think most are). It looks like, if you bank participates, and you have access to (or use) online banking, you can enroll with your bank credentials/email account.

Quote from: Zelle Support
If your bank or credit union offers Zelle, you may be able to use their online banking site to send and receive money without a mobile device. If your bank or credit union does not offer Zelle, then you must have a smartphone in order to access the Zelle app to send and receive money.

Now, I haven't actually ever signed up with this service or explored it very far, but I am constantly reminded by my banks that this is a feature I can take advantage of.

If this isn't an option, I'll second asking someone else with Paypal/Venmo to handle the collections.

rudged

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #7 on: November 24, 2020, 02:27:24 PM »
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Have you looked into Zelle?

I went to the site and as far as I can tell, to use it would require me to have everyone I solicit donations from having to set up their own Zelle account.

I'm thinking now I should simply get a Tracfone.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2020, 02:38:46 PM by rudged »

simonsez

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #8 on: November 24, 2020, 02:29:05 PM »
....handing off the responsibility to someone who does have Paypal/Venmo.

This is probably the easiest way to do it.  While I understand that you don't have a cell phone, venmo/zelle/paypal are near ubiquitous now, so if you can have someone close or a manager you trust to set up to receive the funds for you, it should be quite easy.   There are no fees for these basic services also.
+1

While it's a first world problem, if this happened in our office and we were expected to physically mail checks (and pay for postage) to a co-worker who didn't have venmo/zelle/paypal (or spend gas/public fare + time to go there to drop it off), we'd find another person who did to handle the collections.  It wouldn't be dramatic, just easier for everyone including if there was a person who would still be mailing a check (easier to only have minority mail than all mail).

alsoknownasDean

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #9 on: November 24, 2020, 03:26:32 PM »
You could have them mail you checks.

And date them to 1985 when cheques were still relevant :)

Can you provide bank details to transfer into your account? That's what people are doing at my workplace.

Cranky

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #10 on: November 24, 2020, 03:48:07 PM »
You could have them mail you checks.

And date them to 1985 when cheques were still relevant :)

Can you provide bank details to transfer into your account? That's what people are doing at my workplace.

That doesn’t work in the US. Checks are easier.

Daley

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #11 on: November 24, 2020, 04:09:08 PM »
If you just need the cellphone for text messages, you might be able to get away with a free Google Voice number.

As a Google Voice user myself, there's a small but annoying number of services that won't text Google Voice numbers for authentication purposes. I can't say whether PayPal or Venmo are among that list. Also you need to have a phone number to get a Google Voice number, but a landline would probably suffice.
Google Voice has worked well for me.  There are also sketchy "temporary phone number" websites that I've used for a couple things in the past, but use at your own risk.

Google Voice and new PayPal accounts don't mix well. Even if they take it initially, the account could still get shut down.

Just hand the task off to someone who already has an account that you trust, as has been pointed out already.
« Last Edit: November 24, 2020, 04:11:26 PM by Daley »

erutio

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Re: Staff gift - how to collect money without a mobile phone
« Reply #12 on: November 24, 2020, 04:36:46 PM »
Thanks to everyone for the suggestions.

Have you looked into Zelle?

I went to the site and as far as I can tell, to use it would require me to have everyone I solicit donations from having to set up their own Zelle account.

I'm thinking now I should simply get a Tracfone.

You actually don't need to sign up for a new account. Most banking apps already have it built in their app.

 

Wow, a phone plan for fifteen bucks!