# Community shops to use Ethecol's credit/debit card system

- Link: https://fundraising.co.uk/2011/03/24/community-shops-use-ethecol039s-creditdebit-card-system/
- Published: 2011-03-24T21:04:40+00:00
- Author: Howard Lake

The Plunkett Community Shop Network, launched last week to support the UK’s 255 
community owned shops, expects to save in the region of £1,300 per year for each
shop by employing Ethecol’s card processing services. Founded by social entrepreneur
Robert Ashton and credit card specialist Peter King, Ethecol are a social enterprise
company who process credit and debit cards at greatly reduced rates for community
concerns.

“Community run shops are often quite small and traditional card processors charge
prohibitive rates,” said Ashton. “Ethecol offers a service solely to social enterprises
and charges about half the rate of high street banks.

“[Ethecol](http://ethecol.com) works with the Allied Irish Bank who will pay commission
to the Plunkett Foundation, who will then reinvest that commission into further 
benefits for members of the Community Shop Network. Ethecol’s running costs are 
covered by the commission we receive when each retailer buys or leases their chip
and pin terminal.”

## Advertisement

With an estimated 400 village shop closures each year, community shops are effectively
replacing almost 5% of all village shops closures.

The [Plunkett Foundation](http://www.plunkett.co.uk) helps rural communities to 
take control of the issues affecting them through community ownership.  The focus
of their work is helping rural communities to set up and run community-owned shops
and a wide range of other community-owned rural services.

www.plunkett.uk.net

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