Donations

Donations: Terms & Conditions

CookingBites is an independent, ad-free community that relies on member support to cover hosting, software, and security costs. Donations help keep the site running smoothly, safely, and without intrusive advertising. The following Terms and Conditions explain how donations work and what they support.

  • Voluntary contributions: Donations are entirely voluntary. You are under no obligation or expectation to donate in order to participate fully in the site. The “Donate” button exists for members who wish to help sustain the community. Every contribution, large or small, makes a real difference.
  • No influence or privileges: Donating does not grant any special status or influence over how the site is managed, hosted, or moderated. Donations are a gesture of support, not a purchase of membership benefits or decision-making rights.
  • Use of donations: All donation funds are managed by the site owner and used solely for the ongoing operation, maintenance, and security of CookingBites. Spending priorities may vary depending on needs, but always relate directly to running the forum.
  • No refunds: Donations are final. To avoid confusion: there are no refunds. If you leave the forum or your account is closed for any reason, donations cannot be refunded in whole or in part. The only exception is if an accidental duplicate payment occurs during a single transaction.
  • Multiple donations: You may donate as often as you wish. Each donation is treated as a separate voluntary contribution under these same terms.
  • Agreement to terms: By donating, you confirm that you understand and agree to these conditions. These terms are not exhaustive and may be updated periodically.

Where Your Donation Goes

Every dollar or pound donated helps cover the essential running costs that keep CookingBites online and secure. Typical ongoing expenses include:

  • Hosting and software platform: Monthly hosting and licensing with XenForo (US $100 per month) which provides the core forum software, backups, and technical support.
  • Domain name renewal: Annual registration and protection of www.CookingBites.com.
  • Email and notification services: Fees for our outbound mail server, which delivers registration emails, notifications, and password resets reliably.
  • Anti-spam and security services: External services that detect and block spam registrations, malicious logins, and known abusive IP addresses.
  • IP reputation and geolocation lookups: Subscription APIs used for moderator tools, spam filtering, and security monitoring.
  • Software add-ons and plug-ins: Around 18 – 20 licensed add-ons that enhance the forum (e.g., Donate add-on, Featured Threads, Countdown Timer, Media Gallery, Ignore Threads/Members, and anti-spam tools). Add-on costs range from roughly US $15 to £45 each, with renewal schedules from quarterly to annually.
  • SSL/TLS certificates: Encryption certificates that secure your connection to the site.
  • Maintenance and upgrade fees: Periodic updates, troubleshooting, and compatibility fixes to keep the site stable and secure.
  • Payment processing fees: PayPal and banking transaction charges automatically deducted from each donation before funds are received.

Donation Options

  • One-off donations: You can donate any amount at any time using PayPal or a credit/debit card. No login is required if you prefer to pay as a guest.
  • Monthly (automatic) donations: Members can also set up a recurring monthly donation that continues automatically. This option can be started or stopped at any time through your PayPal account or directly from the donation panel. If the currency or amount you wish to donate monthly is not listed, please send a direct message to SatNavSaysStraightOn, and it can be added for you.

Questions and Answers

  • Can donations be anonymous?: Yes. Tick the “anonymous” box when donating, and your name will not appear publicly.
  • Do I need a PayPal account?: No. You can donate via credit or debit card without logging into PayPal: simply follow their on-screen instructions.
  • Can I donate without using PayPal?: Yes. Established members with a UK or Australian bank account can arrange a direct transfer. Please send a private message to SatNavSaysStraightOn for details.
  • Can I donate in another currency?: Certainly. If your preferred currency isn’t listed, contact SatNavSaysStraightOn via private message so it can be added.

Last updated 12 November 2025

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