The Banda forum, hosted by Forumotion, is a free forum in its basic form, however to make it how it is we need to pay to remove the google ads which would appear ^^^ up there somewhere, and we also pay for the secure chat room.

The current costs are laid out below, although these can vary depending on the $ conversion rate and whether prices increase.

We therefore rely on our fantastic members to donate to help run the forum, and we are now also affiliated to Amazon, Mothercare and Kiddicare (this is the only 3 we will have advertising on Banda).
If you click on the adverts and then make a purchase then Banda will receive around 5% of the sale value in advertising fees.

Banda is 100% non profit - every penny from donations or advertising will go into running the forum, or as has been done before for buying prizes, incentives etc.

Each 12 months I will set out the accounts so everyone can see where the money came from and where it was spent - as I believe its everyone's right to know!

COSTS
CHAT
It costs £8.32/month for the chat version we run now (its $12.50 and the exchange rate is pants right now) , which is paid for til Jun. 1st, 2011
I did trial the mobile edition which allows iphone users etc to use the chat room, which takes the price up to $16, about £10.60 a month, but I'm not sure if we should continue with that in the future?



ADS
Ads are disabled til 16 May 2011, and these are the points needed for each period to disable them
1 month(s) : 293 Credits
2 month(s) : 585 Credits
3 month(s) : 878 Credits = £6.94
6 month(s) : 1463 Credits
12 month(s) : 2925 Credits

Points cost this, but can be bought in the exact amount as above
£3.95 500
£7.90 1000
£14.20 2000
£26.86 4000
£33.18 5000

Shoutbox

We tried a free shoutbox a while back, but it wasn't great and they tend to have advertising in them!
The current shoutbox costs $2 a month, is faster & has more features.


Current Banda fund as at 4/1/11 is £13.93 and services are paid until at least middle of May

Hi Lisa, i dont mind donating. Just out of nosiness what do you have to pay for? I wonder how other forums cover hte costs where they pay IT support etc - is it via advertising?

The forum in its basic form is free - the costs currently are about 70p a month to keep the ads off (the forum hosts will add their own otherwise and they don't care where they go on the forum, and they get any money from that - I have added an ad on the forum but tbh I cant see much money coming from them because I don't want the forum to be covered in ads!)

Then the Chat Room costs $8 a month (about £5.15) (although as of next week I'm doing a 12 mth sign up which reduces it to £4.25 a month)

Yes i think others do it via ads - you know how some forums have words that are highlighted in the messages and when you hover over them a bluddy advert pops up lol

I am not sure if i have done this right - let me know if you receive donation and if not i will try again!

Kate1975 wrote:

I am not sure if i have done this right - let me know if you receive donation and if not i will try again!

Yes - that's perfect!! Another month in the kitty!

Thank you!!!!!!!!

Good!

how do i donate???xx

never mind, found it let me know f you get it ok xxx

there is a button on the left hand side Gemz

right iv done it x

woo, have had donations of Gemz and Debs thank you ladies xx

Can i just ask if people have payed by paypal or debit card?? xx

What do you mean Carla? As in paypal funds or off a card?

I did mine direct from my bank, I cant tell how the others did it though.

It says if a card or paypal i dont have paypal so just wondering if i put my card details in and thats its safe xx

oh yeh paypal is very secure!

i have donated hun, it will show in my maiden name of morgan i think xx

Thank you Jo!

Also a donation from Jo Cooke thanks!!!

x

Lisa wrote:

Thank you Jo!

Also a donation from Jo Cooke thanks!!!

x

you're welcome
x

Lisa can i make an indirect donation - just dont send me a brillkids payment this month and call it a tenners donation?

marioandthestuntbubs wrote:

Lisa can i make an indirect donation - just dont send me a brillkids payment this month and call it a tenners donation?

yeh thats ok! thank you! x

Got yours Awla!

Thank you!!!
x

Lisa wrote:

Got yours Awla!

Thank you!!!
x

your welcome

I just tried clicking on the link to donate, and a very plain white page came up with very small writing saying 'fatal failure' came up in the top left hand corner

Am i doing something else wrong - lol

Lisa xxx

LisaMnGirls wrote:

I just tried clicking on the link to donate, and a very plain white page came up with very small writing saying 'fatal failure' came up in the top left hand corner

Am i doing something else wrong - lol

Lisa xxx

Sounds lie your computer having some very odd issues Lisa! You done a scan lately?

hey, i just donated(used my BIL's email addy though! lol) hope it's enough xxx