Help with OSM

OSM's payment system operates in two modes.  You can choose which mode your want payments to be made by.  You can change this at any time.

• Subscription (recommended) - your payment method will be charged automatically when there are payments due for your child

• Pay Now - you have to approve each payment manually - logging in to OSM each time

Which ever 'mode' you chose, you will always be emailed each time a payment is due and have the chance to review it, cancel it or pay it immediately.

And don't forget - because payments are collected using the Direct Debit system, you are protected by the Direct Debit Guarantee.

Following the instructions in payment due email to open OSM Parent Portal and the payment item itself.  Click 'Create Subscription' or a 'Pay Now' button.

OSM's payment system operates in two modes.  You can choose which mode your want payments to be made by.  You can change this at any time.

• Subscription (recommended) - your payment method will be charged automatically when there are payments due for your child

• Pay Now - you have to approve each payment manually - logging in to OSM each time

First and future payments

The first time you do this for your Group, you will need to register your payment details with the payment service provider - we use GoCardless. You only need to do this once, as are able to select your existing GoCardless account details for future payments.  OSM and GoCardless will guide you through this simple process.

If you used the 'Create Subscription' button, you won't have to do anything again for future payments.  You will receive reminder emails as always, but if you take no action the system will automatically process the payment on the payment due date.  We strongly recommend this option.  Don't forget, to stop future automated payments happening after making a subscription, simply click 'Cancel Payment Authority'.

If you had click 'Pay Now' button, that specific payment is taken there-and-then.  You will need to take manual action in the same way in the future to pay for other items.

There will be a 'Cancel' button next to any payment that can still be cancelled.

Gift Aid is a simple government initiative which allows charities to get an extra 25 pence for every one pound donated.  Scout Groups and Explorer Units are charities and Gift Aid can make a significant difference to our small charities.

Gift Aid can be claimed by your Group for donations given - this includes the membership fees (subs) you pay for your child's Scout Membership.  

Groups often rely on the additional income generated from Gift Aid, it helps towards the costs of running an interesting, engaging and diverse programme.  It helps keep subs low and affordable.

Please register for Gift Aid if you are a tax payer and are eligible.

Remember, GIft Aid is at no cost to you!  The Government pays the 25p for £1 donated, and your Group handles the process for requesting it.  You, the tax payer / donor, don't need to do a thing - except register!

Ask your local leaders for a Gift Aid declaration link.  Click the link to opt in or decline the Gift Aid scheme.  

• Please decline if you do not want, or are not able, to join the scheme - this will save someone chasing you in future.

• To opt in click MAKE DECLARATION and follow the instructions.  If the details are already correct, just click the button at the bottom of the page to confirm they are still correct.  You can use the same link to review or change your opt in status at any time.

OSM is reporting a "Pending dual-parent approval" error and payment has not been able to be processed and is now overdue.

This can be resolved in a few simple steps.  Take a moment to complete these steps now.

1. 1. Login to OSM Parent Portal as normal

   2. For your child, select Payments

   3. Click Cancel payment authority

   4. Once processed, subscribe to the Subs schedule again, click Create subscription

   5. When prompted, click Remove Account to remove the old dual-authority account and start again.

What does the error mean?  

OSM provides the following explanation:

• When a parent is setting up a Direct Debit (subscribes to a schedule) there is a box that they can tick if their account requires payments to be approved by more than one person.

• People with joint accounts sometimes tick this in error, when in fact either account holder has full authority to carry out transactions without reference to the other.

• To resolve this, the parent must remove their account from OSM and start again, this time, when they get to the GoCardless screen, they should not tick the box that says they need dual authority.

Although you may not realise it, every online transaction you ever make has a per-transaction cost associated to it.  Our payment providers GoCardless and OSM has a cost for each transaction paid to us using their services.

Just like using a payment card in a shop or online, you wont see this when you make a payment via OSM, but both the following charges are applied:

1. 1. GoCardless charges 1% + 20p per domestic (UK GBP) transaction, capped at £4. 

   2. OSM charges 1.95% per transaction.

The money you pay is collected by our payment provider and then sent to your Group/Unit after the fees have been deducted.  It's is up to your Group how to cover transaction costs - if you have any questions about this, please speak to a local Leader.

In general, Groups consider these charges a "cost of doing business" and a valuable assist to Leaders as it save time (lots and lots of time, per transaction), eliminates cash and paperwork and dramatically improves financial transparency - with every payment logged and reconciled in multiple places.