Login
This page may help you answer any questions you may have about Peterborough U3A or maybe save you time using the Contact Us facility and writing out a long email
PU3A is a “self help” organisation, and where possible we have made it as simple as we can for you to be able to solve most things for yourself.
If your query is not in our listed below then at the bottom of this document there is a link for you to be able to contact Peterborough U3A.
Click on a topic in the index to jump to the answers
INDEX
When you become a member PU3A issues you with a Membership Number (4 or 5 digits long) and a System Generated Password.
These are possibly the most useful pieces of information that you should keep safe for your time as a member.
If you are likely to forget the System Generated Password, then once logged into the member section you can change it to something more memorable for yourself. As a reminder for your Member Number you can print or download a Membership Card which shows your Member Number. If you feel confident using electronic methods then log in and click Information> / Print Member Card option. A file called My_Membership_Card.pdf will be downloaded to wherever your device stores downloaded files. From there you can print off a local copy to paper if you wish
If you use a smartphone or iPhone you can add a shortcut to your home screen to open the file when needed -
For an iPhone - see the video here for how to achieve this
For an Android phone -
Method 1: Using the File Manager (Samsung & Others)
As said above, your password is one of the most useful pieces of info for PU3A. It is your gateway to so much information about PU3A via the website. However, sometimes you may forget your password, or wish to change it to something else - Members can reset their password as long as you know the email address you have provided us with.
On a Laptop or PC
Before logging in click Information > Forgotten Password then complete the 2 fields with your registered email address and your member number. The system will send you an email to the address you entered.
You can now log in using that new password.
Then go to Personal > Change Password and enter the system generated password in field 1 - then enter a password of your choosing in fields 2 and 3 and click okay.
That password will now be your password when returning to the system
On a Mobile Phone
Click the Hamburger Menu (top right) .
Click Login.
On the screen presented click the link Forgotten Password.
Then complete the 2 fields with your registered email address and your member number. The system will send you an email to the address you entered.
You can now log in using that new password.
Then, on the Hamburger Menu go to Personal > Change Password and enter the system generated password in field 1 - then enter a password of your choosing in fields 2 and 3 and click okay.
That password will now be your password when returning to the system
Unfortunately, we are not allowed to display telephone numbers to the general public under GDPR legislation - however, if you are a member of PU3A then you can log into the members section, navigate to the group you require via Activities > Group List on the menu and in cases where a group leader has given permission we display their contact details on the specific group page. If no number is shown then there is always an option to contact them via email. If you are a non-member then you can use the "Contact Us" facility on the top menu to request a call back from the Group Leader - the administrator for the Contact Us facility will ask the leader to call you.
If you are a member then by logging into the Member Section of the website you can request to join (or add yourself to a waiting list if the group is currently full) from a link on the group page Activities > Group List , the link is in the far right column of the presented list. The Group Leader should then contact you to confirm membership or give a reason as to why this isn't possible. If you are a non-member and wish to know more about joining a group then use the Contact Us link to ask the admin to request a call back (as above)
We tend to use an "online ONLY" joining process (available by the Join Our U3A link on the home page). However, if a person is not internet-able, then they can ask a friend to complete the online form for them. It is only in extreme circumstances that we resort to a paper form - and in this case contact the Membership Secretary via telephone on 0300 102 1399 Option 1 and they will talk to you about a paper form.
We only take electronic payments for our membership fees (Credit Card, BACS, Direct Debit), but we realise that not everyone can achieve this themselves. It is always possible for someone else to pay fees for another person, but if this is also not possible then contact the Membership Secretary via telephone on 0300 102 1399 Option 1 and they will talk to you about a solution that suites you.
Our email communications are sent from a "Bulk Emailer" facility, and sometimes your email provider may be a little over cautious about thinking we are sending Junk or Spam emails, and either reject our mails or send them into your Junk/Spam folder. You can stop this happening by viewing the advice at this link which lets your software and/or provider know that our email address is a "safe sender". There is nothing we can do from our end - this has to be solved by you.
Every member has their details logged in our Membership Database (which is fully secure), but sometimes your details may change, such as your home address/telephone number/email address. In these cases the Member is expected to update their own detail by logging into the Member Section and following the Personal > Check My Details from the menu link. From there you can change the vast majority of what we know about you. If you fail to keep these details up to date then you may miss out on important communications sent by PU3A.
As said above, we only take electronic payments for Membership Fees. This does not mean that you have to miss out. If you are unable to pay electronically then a friend or relative can pay your fees for you using their Credit/Debit Card and you can pay them back in cash. This applies for both New Membership requests and Membership Renewals as a new year starts.
If a member logs into the member section then any fees owed (Membership or Group Fees) will be shown on the top menu in orange saying “Pay xxxxxxx by CC” – you can follow this link to access a payment page from where you can pay any fees online
We now have a central telephone number (0300 102 1399) where you can select from various options to reach the correct person. If you call Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm you should be answered, but if not then you can leave a message which will be responded to ASAP. There is also an answer machine facility if you call outside of these hours
If you are reading this article, we would assume you have internet access, however, if you are viewing for a friend then the answers to queries that cover most questions are shown above
PU3A ONLY runs a "Single Membership" system.
Some U3As run Associate Membership and/or Joint Membership - but this has proved too administratively complex for a U3A of our size.
However, from a payment aspect we do have a "Linked Members" process(once you are a member) that allows a single person to make one payment for a couple (usually living at the same address) once the members have joined.
Either member who wishes to link should
If you are a member with an idea or question about a new group, then the Group Coordinator is the person to speak to. Call 0300 102 1399 Option 2, or email groups@peterboroughu3a.org.uk
If you are a member with a suggestion for a good speaker you have heard about - or if you are a speaker wishing to speak to PU3A about being a speaker at one of our Tea and Talk meetings then you need to speak to the Speaker Meeting Coordinator - The best way is to email committee11@peterboroughu3a.org.uk
Our groups tend to be on a rolling calendar basis, in the main, where you can join at any time of the year without being at a disadvantage.
However there are a few groups (Languages being the obvious ones) where there is a progression throughout the year (or term). In these cases it is best if you can join the group at the start of a year (September) so you are not left scratching your head about what is going on.
SET UP OR CANCEL A DIRECT DEBIT
To Cancel your Direct Debit
You can leave a Direct Debit in place year on year, and your Membership Fee will be taken automatically each year. If you leave the U3A your debit will automatically cease at the next renewal period.
Should you wish to cancel it yourself for any reason - do the following
Peterborough U3A is able to claim Gift Aid from HMRC against your annual Membership Fee if you are a UK Tax Payer. This helps us to keep your organisation on an even footing financially.
Read on to see how the scheme operates and if you are eligible.
What is Gift Aid?
The Gift Aid scheme allows PU3A to claim back the tax that you pay, as a donor, when you earn the money (or is from a pension on which you pay tax) from which you make the donation. Eligible donations from UK taxpayers attract Gift Aid at a rate calculated in accordance with the basic rate of income tax. So with basic rate income tax at 20%, an eligible £10.00 gift from a UK taxpaying donor is worth £12.50 in the hands of a charity after Gift Aid is reclaimed.
So, you earn £12.50 of taxable income and pay 20% in income tax (£2.50). You give £10.00 to a charity, and the £2.50 of tax that you have paid is refunded to the Charity by HMRC under the scheme.
Whilst generally straightforward, what are the key questions for donors to understand when using the scheme?
In essence if you pay more tax in a year than you are gifting as Gift Aid (don’t forget to add all your Gift Aid donations together) then the whole scheme costs you nothing and PU3A benefits by HMRC giving us some of your tax back
Can I support more than one charity?
You can directly support as many UK charities as you wish using the scheme so long as:
If none of the above answers solves your problem, then please click the link below to send us an email, which we will respond to as soon as possible
