Help & Advice

PCI DSS Information on Card Processing Compliance

If you take debit and credit cards, you may have been contacted by your provider, advising you that you need to be PCI DSS compliant. The initials stand for Payment Card Industry Data Security Standards.  There is really nothing to be worried about; it is a way of reinforcing best practice for when we are handling other people’s card details, when, naturally, we need to take precautions.  Click Here for a down-loadable document to help you with this. However, please do note that it is not an option to ignore this. We have members who have gone through the procedure and have found Security Metrics most helpful. 

Smokefree Gloucestershire

Fact Sheets (information not exclusive to Glos)

Disability Discrimination Act 1995

  • Advice on how to comply with the act - click here to download.
  • All graded accommodation providers need an Access Statement.   To find notes on how to complete and relevant templates, look here.

Fire Safety

  • Information on the new fire safety laws. 
  • Do You Have Paying Guests? This pamphlet addresses specific difficulties that the hospitality industry, specifically B&Bs, guest houses and self catering properties, have faced in understanding the new fire safety rules. It is designed to encourage compliance, by giving the owners of these businesses practical advice on reducing fire risks in their establishments. It explains the risk assessment process, sets out sources of further advice and guidance and offer some practical information for owners on what may represent appropriate and proportionate fire safety measures in these types of premises.

Scams

  • For information on identifying fake £1 coins visit the Royal Mint website.
  • Domain Renewal Scam: If you receive a domain renewal notice from the 'Domain Registry of America' sent by post with option to pay by credit card, IGNORE IT. If you acknowledge it, you will be transferring ownership of your website address to their ownership, and they will then be able to charge you for the use of what you previously owned. If you then don't pay what they ask, they will be able to take down your website.

Holiday Insurance

Over the years, various members have found it beneficial to suggest to their clients that they take out holiday insurance to cover themselves for losses incurred due to cancelling accommodation that they have booked.  This particularly applies to longer bookings and more for self/catering.    There are several companies that offer this but one specifically that is known to us is called Rothwell & Towler.  They will supply you with their leaflets and application forms which you can then send out with your own booking information.   As a small incentive they offer you 20% of the premiums they collect,  which they usually pay out at the end of the year and makes quite a nice little bonus.

With the new laws, there is only certain wording you can use when you make this offer and it is important that you do not recommend any particular company as you are not regulated under the Financial Services Act. Rothwells will give you examples of wording that you can insert into your terms and conditions, but here is an example:

We remind you that your accommodation booking is a legally binding contract. In the event of cancellation we are entitled to retain your deposit and ask for a further payment to compensate us for our loss. For your protection we suggest that you take advantage of holiday cancellation insurance.’

If you are interested in pursuing this, please contact and mention that you are a member of the TA (we will not be gaining anything from this!): 

Martin Rothwell
Managing Partner
Direct Line: 01404 548 661
partners@rothwellandtowler.co.uk

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