FAQ

About CNG Business Services

CNG Business Services is part of the privately owned CNG Family of Companies, a privately owned business founded in 1971. The rationale of CNG Business Services is to allow smaller businesses to obtain products and services for themselves at the same low prices that the largest businesses obtain. We think it ironic that the smallest businesses, those least able to overpay for a product, are the very same customers who pay the most to a supplier, whereas the large customer with the high profits pays the least. We help to redress this balance by providing individual businesses with access to the lower costs they would not be able to negotiate themselves - as we act for so many small businesses, the suppliers provide all our customers with preferential pricing more usually reserved for their largest, most preferred customers.

How CNG Business Services works

Both the supplier and customer benefit with CNG Business Services. Customers benefit from access to a lower cost pricing structure from their preferred suppliers. And suppliers benefit because CNG Business Services generates so many new customers for them at a much lower acquisition cost than normal. The result is win-win for all parties and it is the reason that our company is growing so quickly.

How do I know if my shop is suitable for a surcharging ATM?

PayPoint will only install an ATM in a location that they feel will be beneficial to both you and them. They do not advise installing a surcharging ATM that is near to a free bank machine. They complete a free site survey at every site before installation.

You can check for yourself to ensure there are no free/ non-surcharging ATMs within 0.30kms of your site - just visit www.link.co.uk/atm_locator. If PayPoint do not feel that the site will be profitable for both you and them, then they will not install an ATM.

How secure is the ATM?

When installed, the ATM will be securely bolted to the floor through its security container by a minimum of 4 bolts into a substantial base. PayPoint can install the ATM into wooden, stone, tile or brick floors.

What type of ATMs do PayPoint offer?

PayPoint offers new or refurbished ATMs (when available) and all models are supplied with the standard maintenance package included.

Who is responsible for insuring the ATM?

The retailer is responsible for insuring the ATM cash and the ATM site. PayPoint only supplies self-fill machines and these are a low insurance risk as they are left open at night with no cash in, like your store till. CNG Business Services can help you by providing you with a free no-obligation quotation for your business insurance. For more information on this service please visit our insurance page.

How much can I make from having a PayPoint ATM through CNG Business Services?

On average each PayPoint ATM processes 3,000 successful debit card withdrawals per year and with £0.95 commission on each withdrawal that means you receive £2,850 additional commission per year.

Do you provide any marketing support?

As with all products that CNG Business Services provides, there is comprehensive marketing support. PayPoint provides a pavement sign, A2 window poster, A5 window sticker and till wobbler that advertises the ATM. They also provide an A5 window sticker that clearly states that 'No Cash is Left in the ATM Overnight'.

What are the technical specifications of the ATMs that you provide?

PayPoint provides two types of NCR ATMs. All brand new ATMs are NCR Tidel 3300 and all reconditioned ATMs are NCR EasyPoint. The technical specifications of both machines ATMs are given below.

Tidel 3300

This ATM is manufactured and supplied by NCR and is perfectly suitable for convenience stores, newsagents, pubs and clubs.

The ATMs Measurements

• 18" (46 cm) wide
• 24.5" (62cm) deep
• 60" (152cm) high
• 5.7" flat LCD screen offering quality graphics

Other Specifications

• Triple DES (data encryption standard X3) compliant
• EMV (Europay, MasterCard and VISA) compliant
• RoHS (restriction of hazardous substances) compliant
• 64mb memory
• VISA Encrypting pin pad keyboard
• Thermal graphics receipt printer
• 2 cassettes (£10's and £20's)
• Combination lock safe

EasyPoint Range

This range of ATMs is no longer in production however PayPoint still deploys reconditioned ones and that are also suitable for convenience stores, newsagents, pubs and clubs.

The ATM Measurements

• 18.5" (46cm) wide
• 18.5" (46cm) deep
• 52" (130cm) high
• 7.5" flat screen offering quality graphics

Other Specifications

• Triple DES (data encryption standard X3) compliant
• EMV (Europay, MasterCard and VISA) compliant
• 32mb memory
• VISA Encrypting pin pad keyboard
• Thermal graphics receipt printer
• CD ROM enabled
• 2 cassettes (£10's and £20's)
• Key lock safe
• Enhanced pedestal

Are there any businesses you cannot provide a credit card machine for?

Yes, here are some of the key business types where we cannot provide a credit card machine:

• All sexually orientated or pornographic merchants
• Dating, companion and escort services (adult and non-adult)
• Modelling Agencies (adult and non-adult)
• Illegal activities (or peripheral support thereof, including drug paraphernalia)
• Businesses selling using door-to-door sales or pyramid selling
• Attendant services (bodyguards)
• Bail Bondsmen
• Chain letters
• Cheque cashing
• Fire Arms - Non face to face
• Flea markets
• Fortune tellers, palm readers, tarot readers etc
• Free gift, prize, sweepstake or the winning of a contest as an inducement to purchase a product or service
• Home based businesses with non face-to-face transactions, where the merchant's target market is outside the UK
• Non FSA regulated financial and investment programs/opportunities
• Non Registered Charities
• Non essential (improvement type) cosmetic surgery
• Online sale of prescription drugs and tobacco
• Merchants offering rebates or special incentives
• Pawnbrokers and pawn shops
• Private detectives
• Pseudo-pharmaceuticals where guarantees are implied
• Ticketing Agencies
• Timeshare related businesses, including travel clubs
• Third Party Payment Processors (Aggregators)

How long does it take for a customer to Top-Up?

With E Top-Up, mobile telephone airtime is automatically added to your customers' account within seconds of them paying and for those customers who do not carry their Top-Up cards, eVouchers let customers instantly top up their mobile telephone account when they dial specific access number.

What commission do I earn for selling Top -Up services?

The commission depends on which payment provider you chose - PayPoint, payzone or e-pay - but they are between around 2.5% and 4.0% for mobile phone Top -Ups

What are the differences between e-pay, payzone & paypoint?

PayPoint accepts payment for the widest range of utilities, products and services. Their terminals require a separate dedicated phone line and their commissions tend to be the lowest of the three providers. PayPoint only place terminals in areas where they are looking to extend their service coverage.payzone accepts payment for a fairly wide range of utilities, products and services. Their terminals do not require dedicated phone lines and so can share a line with an existing fax machine or telephone. Their commissions tend to be higher than with PayPoint. e-pay is primarily focused on accepting payments for mobile top-up. They also have the exclusive licence to accept payments for the Central London Congestion charge. They tend to pay the highest retailer commissions. Their terminals can also share an existing telephone line.

Can I integrate a debit & credit card machine into the Top-Up machine?

Yes - the e-pay machine can provide chip & pin debit and credit card payment facilities at exceptionally low rates.

How long does it take to be set up and operational with a terminal?

It typically takes between 2-6 weeks from completing the application form to be operational. The exact time depends on the speed at which you provide the required identification documents and your bank provides the references. We find e-pay terminals tend to be installed the quickest as their sales representatives can install, subject to documentation, on their first visit to your premises.

How large are the terminals?

All the terminals from our various partners are compact and each have a footprint smaller than an A4 pad of paper.

Is there any after sales support?

Yes, all terminals are supported by dedicated telephone based technical support.

Do I get any help with promoting the ETU in my store?

Yes, all terminals are provided with a comprehensive point of sale merchandising by their relevant supplier.

Can I have more than one type of terminal in the same store?

No, you should select only one terminal that is best suited for your business needs. Suppliers will remove their terminals if they learn you have are dealing with more than one supplier. You should also be aware that there may be penalties to pay for any early termination of a contract.

How often are payments taken by the supplier?

Payments are taken at least twice per week directly from your bank account.

What types of locations are suitable for a photocopier?

• Post Offices
• Convenience Stores
• Newsagents
• Pharmacies
• Off Licences
• Petrol Service Stations
• Dry Cleaners
• Internet Cafes

Why would I want a photocopier in my shop?

A photocopier acts as a magnet for people, especially students and older people. It will bring more people to your shop and they will buy other things from you at the same time. And, you have the benefit of increased cash-flow as a result.

How many copies do I need to make per month?

A typical site will do about 1,250 copies per month but a busy high street location can easily do several times this amount.

What type of machine do you supply?

We only supply digital Toshiba photocopiers - usually the 16S model.

What features do your photocopiers have?

Reliable machine that is quick and simple to use
Print, copy & scan speeds of at least 16 pages per minute
Compact and stylish A4 / A3 multifunctional device for choice of paper size
A4/A3 Enlargement / Reduction facility
Small footprint with integral storage for spare paper & toner supplies
Machine fitted with staff-controlled copy counter & on/off master switch

Can you supply a colour photocopier?

Yes - if a site is busy enough, we can supply a colour copier.

How much space do I need?

Our units are compact and typical dimensions for a Toshiba 16S are 530mm (W) x 550mm (D) x 1015mm (H)

How does the application process work?

Once you let us know you are interested, a site agent will visit you to assess your location for suitability and will have the application form to sign. Once your application and credit have been checked, you will be contacted for delivery and installation of the copier. You can be offering this service to your customers in your store in just a few weeks.

How do you know how many copies I make?

We will call you monthly to ask for the photocopier meter reading. You only pay for the copies your customers make and not for any machine-spoilt ones.

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Which cards can you accept?

You can accept all major credit and debit cards (the preferred methods of payment in the UK today). This means you can serve more customers as you can accept their preferred payment method. Do card paying customers spend differently from cash paying customers? Yes. Card customers tend to spend more; often purchasing items they would not have bought if cash was the only option. By accepting credit cards, you can get increased sales and benefit from more impulse purchases.

Are there any cost savings from accepting cards?

Yes. You process less cash so you have lower bank charges and need to keep less cash on the premises, thereby improving security.

How long does it take to receive payment?

Only 3-4 days, direct into your bank account.

If I have a problem with your card system, is there anyone to provide assistance?

Yes. Bank of Scotland Merchant Services has a dedicated customer service channel open Monday - Saturday, 8am - 9pm.

Are all your terminals chip and pin compliant?

Yes. This means that for customer present sales, your customer enter a PIN instead of signing, and this protects you from fraud liability.

Do you allow mail order & telephone ordering?

Yes. All our terminals offer Card Security Code (CSC) and Address Verification Service (AVS) checking. This allows you to process customer not present sales with greater peace of mind. You can check the last three digits on the back of cards (CSC) and verify the customers' addresses against the card issuer's records (AVS) which provides you with greater protection against fraud.

Do you allow E-Commerce Transactions?

Yes. We offer 3D Secure - Verified by Visa (VbV) and MasterCard SecureCode. For E-Commerce transactions, you have access to this system which issues cardholders with passwords, so you are protected against online fraud liability.

Do you provide the facility to accept business cards?

Yes. More and more businesses are choosing cards as their preferred way to pay. If you supply other businesses, you can accept the full range of commercial cards and benefit from being paid in 3-4 days as opposed to 30 days which is the business payment norm.

Can we provide cashback?

Yes. Merchants can offer debit card customers up to £50 cashback. This helps you recycle your cash, and attracts more customers to your premises.

Are your terminals Payment Card Industry (PCI) compliant?

Yes. They are all PCI compliant. All terminals offer Pan Truncation and provide receipts for both merchant and customer.

Other Services

CNG Business Services also provides a wide range of other products & services which can help you lower your costs from business insurance through to business rates appeals, and even business outsourcing solutions. We apply the same principal of using our significant economies of scale to negotiate preferential pricing with suppliers, which we then pass on to you. As always, we only work with the most trusted brands in the industry.

To read more about our Cost Reduction Solutions or our Corporate Outsourcing Solutions, please click on the relevant icon below.

Does empty rate relief still apply?

Yes, but the conditions in which it applies are much more restricted than previously. It mainly applies where: A property is unoccupied for less than three months, whereas previously it was six months. A building is a monuments or sometimes when it is listed When there is a legal prohibition from occupying a property.

Why are more vacant buildings being demolished?

This is because the Government has reduced the empty rates relief period from six to three months. As a result, it is sometimes cheaper for landlords to demolish old buildings and pay no rates while they sit out the overall slump in the market.

What is happening in conjunction with the new 2010 property rating revaluation?

The VOA will be using rental evidence from around April 2008 for all 2010 rates assessments. These new assessments will be effective from April 2010.

The Government has announced some measures for businesses to defer payment for part of this increase in business rates but discussions on this front are continuing with the property industry.

How much notice do I have to give my existing supplier if I wish to change?

You must give your current supplier at least 4 weeks notice prior to the expiration of your current contract that you are considering changing supplier. You should check the specific terms of your current contract but most require at least this period of notice otherwise your supplier may be entitled to automatically renew your contract at a much higher rate. It does not matter if you serve notice to your current supplier and then after you receive the renewal quotes you decide to continue with your current supplier. You have at least protected yourself and preserved your ability to choose the most appropriate contract by giving the contractually required notice.

Am I allowed to change electricity and gas supplier whenever I want?

You can certainly change suppliers whenever you like as long as you are not under contract with a particular supplier. If you are under contract, you must refer to your specific terms & conditions and serve the relevant notice.

Since deregulation of the energy markets in late 1998, changing supplier to obtain a more favourable rate for electricity or gas has become commonplace. Thousands of businesses change electricity and gas supplier every month and lower their bills. We do the hard work for you by sourcing the most competitive electricity or gas supplier for your type of business.

Can I just ring up and use the emergency glazing service when I want?

Once you have registered your interest with us, we give you an account number so you can purchase from UKGlassForce whenever you need to.

Can I ring for new glazing at any time of the day or night?

Yes, UKGlassForce will ensure they attend to you when you need them.

Do you provide temporary boarding if suitable glazing is not available at a particular time?

Yes, the minimum call out fee of £100 includes for boarding if suitable glass is not available at a particular time.

I already have fire extinguishers, what more do I need to do?

While having even a single fire extinguisher can be tremendously helpful, it may not be enough to comply with your insurance requirements. Furthermore, compliance with British Standards requires extinguishers to be serviced annually to the highest standards.

Where can I read more about my responsibilities as an employer?

For more detailed information on your responsibilities as an employer and the range of fire protection services available, please refer to the Chubb website.

Can I call Chubb to help me on an ad-hoc basis?

Yes, you can call Chubb to help on an ad-hoc basis, but you may prefer to have an annual service agreement with them.

A service agreement is important because in addition to complying with British Standards & meeting insurance requirements, it extends the life of equipment due to preventative maintenance visits and it reduces the risk of false alarms. We can provide you with an easy, convenient and competitively priced solution through Chubb that will both give you peace of mind and look after your property.

Why do you pay a bonus?

We have been doing this since we started our original Wall's Ice-Cream buying group in 1984. It is a way to reward you for all the efforts you have made to sell frozen foods and it is in addition to the already low prices from our distributors.

How is the sales bonus calculated?

This is calculated based on sales of ice-cream and other frozen food supplied by our nominated distributor.

When do I receive the bonus and in what form?

The sales bonus is sent to you every March in the form of a cheque.

Do you have coverage across the whole country?

No, we only have coverage in certain areas where our distributors have reach. This is always changing though so do check back frequently.

How long does it take to obtain a quote?

We will provide a bespoke quote to you within 24 business hours of obtaining all the required information.

Do you deal with just one insurer?

No, we work with dozens of insurers every day so you can be assured that we are searching for the best product for you.

If I have any questions after I have taken a policy, is there any support available?

Yes, there is specific customer support available from Giles and also the relevant insurer.

Do you provide any account managers for larger clients?

Yes, if you annual insurance premiums are in excess of £10,000 your account will normally be assigned to a dedicated account manager.

Do I open the account with CNG Business Services and the supplier?

No, you just open the account with the supplier and then you order directly from them.

Can your suppliers deliver nationwide?

Yes, the suppliers can deliver nationwide

How long does it take to open an account?

An account can be open in only a couple of days

What if I want to buy something which is not on the list of items initially submitted?

Just ring your account manager to request a specially reduced rate. The reductions that will apply will depend on whether an item is OEM or a high-quality generic.

How is this Health & Safety legislation enforced?

Legislation is enforced by various agencies including the Environmental Health Departments of Local Authorities and also the Health and Safety Executive.

Can you treat other pests?

Yes, Rentokil can treat all types of pests - they will determine the most suitable treatment after visiting your premises and indentifying the specific pest.

Can I change my pest control provider to Rentokil?

Yes, but please refer to the agreement you have with your current provider as they may require notice for you to stop using their services.

Could my current pest control company already be using Rentokil products?

It is possible that your current provider has bought some Rentokil products, but only Rentokil carry the full range of their products and it will be cheaper direct.

Why would I need to replace my existing alarm system?

If your intruder alarm system has more than about three false alarms, or the personal attack alert has more than two false alarms in any 12 month period, the police may refuse to respond to your alarm calls in the future? If this happens, the only way to restore police support is to replace and upgrade your existing alarm system to current specifications.

Each Secom installation is backed up with a service package which ensures the system installed operates to its fullest potential and that any potential problems such as equipment failure or false alarms are reduced or eradicated altogether.

Can you still help me if I already have security equipment in my business?

Yes, in many cases it is possible to upgrade a security system without replacing the equipment already in place. An example of this is adding CCTV to complement the existing intruder alarm system - this serves both as a deterrent in preventing crime, and more importantly it helps bring criminals to justice.

Can you help maintain my alarm system even if you did not supply it?

Yes, Secom can also take over the maintenance and monitoring for many other types of security systems too. Preventative maintenance of any manufacturer's equipment not only extends the life of that piece of equipment, it also ensures that it functions properly in an emergency situation. Our supplier has its own in-house alarm receiving centre and an infrastructure of local offices to ensure the highest levels of customer care and service throughout the country.

When did it become possible to switch telephone supplier?

Deregulation in the telephone markets began in 1984, but it is only much more recently that switching telephone supplier has come within the reach of most businesses. Like switching electricity supplier, switching telephone supplier is an easy, and much misunderstood process.

How does switching suppliers actually work?

Switching supplier is also known as Carrier Pre-Selection, or CPS. CPS entails all telephone calls you make being automatically re-routed at your local exchange to the new supplier, but you maintain the telephone line and telephone number with British Telecom. BT will still own, run and send you bills for your line rental, and your secondary CPS supplier will bill you for calls made through them.

Do I keep the same number if I change supplier?

Yes, your number stays the same and you will notice no difference in the service provided.

While we have grown from the retail industry and firmly have a root there, we now support a wide range of industries, from medical though to automotive.

First, we will seek to understand exactly what you would like us to assist with. Once we all agree on the scope of duties, we will provide you with a quote for using our services. If you are interested, we will provide a 1 week free trial to demonstrate the benefits we can bring to your organisation.

Yes, we provide services to clients throughout the world. Everyone likes efficiency savings.

Every quote is bespoke, but it is worth remembering that your costs savings include not just labour but all the overheads that go with it - eg national insurance, office space, telecommunications, computer, transport and holiday & sickness cover - all of which add thousands of pounds to the cost of employing someone.

It is not all about cost savings though, that is only part of the equation. Instead, there are tremendous efficiency savings as your employees are free to pursue more value enhancing activities and concentrate on winning new business rather than having to worry about back office functions which are not your core competency.

Yes, we operate 24/7 so can always staff a project at any time of the day. For some products, customer interaction is necessary in the evenings and weekends and we can happily provide this reach.

No, we ensure there is sufficient cover for your project at all times.