Cashless

Here’s why and how it works at Boom 2023

It’s a mixed feelings relation with technology. Although it may scare us at times, we know that the way we use it, like so many things in life, it’s all about balance. And finding the advantages of a world in constant — and unavoidable — development.

In a way, technology does help us, it makes our lives easier. At Boom, we too want to facilitate your experience, by having access to things in a more quick and efficient way.

That’s why we adopt, once again, the cashless model, where money — paper and coin currency — isn't used for transactions. Instead, transactions are electronic.

It is a secure solution and it also avoids voucher systems and waste of paper. It will also contribute, as said before, to facilitating the logistics. Less time waiting in lines? You got it.

Like last edition, we are presenting a mixed solution: at bars you use cashless, but you have an option at all restaurants (you can use either card, bank notes or cashless).

The FAQ below is meant to clarify any questions you might have on the cashless model.

FAQ

1. IS BOOM GOING 100% CASHLESS?: No;

At the bars, Boomers can only pay with cashless;

At the Food Vendors, Boomers can pay with both cashless, money and card;

At the Bazaar Stalls, Boomers can pay with the methods available in each stall (money and/or cards);

The on-the-go carts are 100% cashless.
2. WHAT IS CASHLESS?: A cashless model is one where money — paper and coin currency — isn't used for transactions. Instead, transactions are electronic.
3. WHY IS BOOM USING CASHLESS?: Technology is supposed to make our lives easier, allowing us to do things more quickly and efficiently. At Boom we intend to raise awareness of its use: our ethos on this matter is being a channel, not a dam;

So why cashless? It is a secure solution and it also avoids voucher systems and waste of paper. In a festival context, this system contributes to facilitating the logistics: prepare for quicker services in the bars, restaurants, etc. And, of course, less time waiting in lines.

Keep in mind that:

We are not using it to control consumption data but rather to facilitate;

We are keeping a mixed solution — meaning, at bars you use cashless but you have an option at all restaurants (you can use either money, bank card or cashless).
4. HOW DO I KNOW MY PRIVACY IS PROTECTED USING CASHLESS?: Please check the answers related to Data Privacy below.
5. WHERE IS BOOM USING A DIGITAL PAYMENT / CASHLESS?: Bars, the Info Stand and the on-the-go carts accept cashless only. Purchases at food vendors and Boom Corner can be made with other methods of payment.

Therefore you can use cashless for the following purposes:

Any item available at Boom bars;

Any item available at the Info Stand;

Any item at the Boom Corner;

Food Vendors: You can use a mixed method of payment: money, card and cashless. It goes directly to the restaurant owners. So you can always opt for the one you prefer.
6. HOW DOES IT WORK?: PLAN AHEAD (IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT)

You can charge your cashless credit beforehand. Download the Boom App or follow this link to top up your balance before getting to the festival.

This will prevent waiting in line to do so once you arrive. You do not have to register to use cashless, but there are perks to doing so, like being able to add your tax payer information in advance for invoicing purposes (check question 8 for more information on Registration).

STEP 1: You arrive at the festival and are given a RFID wristband. These will be anonymous. If you have already Registered, your cashless account is automatically associated with your wristband;

STEP 2: If you wish to make any purchase at Boom Bars, you need to top up your balance (learn about topping up on question 9). Purchases at food vendors and Boom Corner can be made with other methods of payment;

STEP 3: You can check your balance, transactions and invoices. Know more about this in questions 10, 11 & 12;

STEP 4: After the festival is over, you can ask for a refund of the remaining balance on your account. Know more on question 14.
7. WHAT ARE THE COSTS OF USING CASHLESS FOR BOOMERS?: There are no costs for Boomers using cashless.

Cashless is a service provided by a third-party entity, and the costs of the cashless operation are entirely supported by Boom Festival.

Boom does not charge wristband activation or the transactions during the festival.

The only cashless movement that incurs a cost is, in the case of a refund, where a service tax of 0,20€ needs to be paid. Check question 13 for more information.
8. DO I NEED TO REGISTER? IF SO, HOW?: You do not need to register to use cashless;

The registration link is available from 3 July;

Registration is necessary in case you need an invoice with your personal details or an entity’s details;

Registration is useful if you wish to check the details of where and how you are using your cashless;

Registration is necessary if you wish to ask for a refund of your balance after the festival;

Any Boom Festival ticket holder (Boomer, Worker, Volunteer, Artist) can register by creating a Wallet with a Boomer ID;

Registration is available before the festival starts, from 3 July

On the Boom Festival App

On the Cashless Dashboard

Registration allows you to:

Top up your cashless online;

Check your invoices;

Check your account balance;

Check your transactions;

Request your outstanding balance after the festival.

Registration is free from any cost.
9. WHERE CAN I TOP UP MY BALANCE?: At any of the 6 Top-Up Stations (at Info Stand, at Alchemy Circle; Central Plaza; Dance Temple; Funky Beach; Sacred Fire);

Via any of the 8 Self Top-Up Stations (Walking Gate, Being Fields; Gardens, Info Stand and ATMs, and also right beside the Top-Up Stations of Sacred Fire, Dance Temple, Alchemy Circle and Info Stand);

Via any of the 5 mobile Top Up Stations available accross the festival;

Via your Wallet, which you can access through the Boom App or via the widget below.

WeezPay widget
10. CAN I TOP UP WRISTBANDS OTHER THAN MINE?: Yes, but only after you have entered the festival;

When a Boomer (whether it is an adult or a kid) arrives at the gates, they receive a wristband that is automatically associated with their ticket, Boomer ID and an account (that may or may not have been created from 3 July on);

If you’re a parent and wish to associate your kid’s wristbands to your account, you may do so by changing the settings of your account at the Info Stand Top-Up Station.
11. WHAT METHODS OF PAYMENT ARE ACCEPTED TO TOP UP MY BALANCE?: Bank notes are accepted at Top-Up Stations only;

Card is accepted at Top-Up Stations, Self Top-Up Stations, on the Boom App and in the Cashless Dashboard.

Accepted cards are: Visa and MasterCard.

MBWay is accepted at Top-Up Stations only.
12. WHAT ARE THE MINIMUM & MAXIMUM TOP UPS?: If you’re topping up with bank notes: the minimum top-up is 5€;

Please note: Top-Up stations do not accept coins;

If you’re topping up with a card: the minimum top-up is 1€;

The maximum balance you can have is 250€.
13. HOW CAN I CHECK MY BALANCE?: In your wallet, which you can access via the Boom App (Pocket menu) or Cashless Dashboard;

On any of the 6 Top-Up Stations;

On any of the 8 Self Top-Up Stations;

Whenever you are purchasing something.
14. HOW CAN I CHECK MY TRANSACTIONS/SPENDINGS?: To know about your top-up transactions:

Check your Wallet on the Boom App or on the Cashless Dashboard;

Check the email associated with your Boomer ID. You will receive an email with each cashless transaction you do.

To check your spendings:

Check the Pocket menu on the Boom App or directly on the Cashless Dashboard.
15. HOW CAN I GET AN INVOICE?: If you need invoicing with a personal tax number or an entity’s tax number, you need to register and create a Wallet with the details that need to go on the invoice;

Boomers who use cashless without adding their tax number details will still receive an invoice for each purchase, but the invoice will be issued to a general consumer;

All invoices are generated on your account dashboard, which you can access via the Pocket menu on the Boom App or via Cashless Dashboard.

If you need an invoice for a purchase at a Restaurant or Boom Corner, please ask for it before payment.
16. CAN I GET REFUNDED FOR THE AMOUNT I DIDN’T USE AT THE FESTIVAL?: Yes. Refunds have a €0,20 service fee;

Refunds can only be made for amounts superior to €0,50 cents, due to banking regulations;

This means that you should have at least €0,70 cents in your wristband to ask for a refund;

You can opt to donate your outstanding balance to specific non-profit organisations: CERAS (wildlife recovery centre), IdanhaCulta, Kosmicare Association, LAFIV - Liga dos Amigos da Freguesia de Idanha-a-Velha;

Refunds can be solicited from 30 July to 14 August, via your the Pocket menu on the Boom Festival App or via Cashless Dashboard;

Refunds will be processed within a three-week time frame. Each refund will depend on the time that a Boomer’s bank takes to process the transaction/refund, so please have this in mind.
17. HOW CAN I GET REFUNDED?: Refunds can be solicited from 30 July to 14 August, via the Boom App (Pocket menu) or via Cashless Dashboard;

Refunds have a €0,20 cost for Boomers;

If you have an account configured with a card, the refund will be made directly to the card that was last used on your account;

If you don’t have a card associated with your account, you will be asked to provide a card to which the refund can be made. This will be the case for each Boomer who has topped up their cashless account at the Top-Up Stations or Self Top-Up Stations at the festival, regardless of the method of payment used.
18. HOW CAN I GET HELP IN CASE OF A TECHNICAL ISSUE?: If you have an issue with your wristband, ask for support at the Info Stand Top -Up Station (check the festival map);

If you have an issue with a Self Top-Up Station, ask for support to the closest bar staff.
19. WHAT IF THE TRADER/BAR/FOOD VENDOR CHARGES AN INCORRECT AMOUNT?: If you were charged the wrong amount or if you were charged for the incorrect item, please ask for support with the manager of the place where the mistake occurred.
20. DO KIDS ALSO GET A RFID WRISTBAND?: Yes.

DATA PROTECTION

21. CAN THE TECHNOLOGY BE USED TO TRACK MY MOVEMENTS?

22. IS MY CASHLESS WRISTBAND DATA SAFE?

23. HOW DO YOU ENSURE THAT GDPR REQUIREMENTS ARE MET?

24. IF I MAKE AN ACCOUNT/REGISTER, WHAT DATA DO YOU COLLECT?

25. WILL MY DATA BE PASSED ONTO THIRD PARTIES?

26. HOW LONG IS THE DATA STORED?

27. CAN I ERASE MY DATA?

28. ARE RFID CHIPS SAFE?

29. WHAT HAPPENS IF I LOSE MY WRISTBAND?

If you’ve registered an online cashless account:

If your wristband is lost or stolen we can block the lost or stolen wristband and transfer your unspent money onto a new wristband for you.

Please go to the Info Stand Top-Up Station and ask for a new wristband. You’ll be asked to show your photo ID and given a new wristband. You will be credited with the last known balance from your wristband.

Boom Festival cannot be held responsible for any balance spent between you losing your wristband and the festival issuing you with another one.