Knowledge Base & Transparency

Frequently Asked Questions Across All Services.

Clear, transparent answers regarding commercial electricity, gas, merchant card terminals, business finance loans, and corporate telecoms.

Business Energy (Electricity & Gas)

How does Beta Energy Direct make money if your comparison service is free?
We operate as an independent Third Party Intermediary (TPI). When you choose a tariff and sign a contract, the chosen supplier pays us an introduction commission built into the contract unit rate or standing charge. In accordance with Ofgem guidelines and the TPI Code of Practice, all commission details are 100% disclosed in writing upon request before contract signing.
Will our electricity or gas supply be interrupted during the switch?
No. The physical infrastructure—underground pipes, overhead lines, substations, and meters—is operated and maintained by your regional Distribution Network Operator (DNO). Switching suppliers is purely an administrative transfer; there is zero risk of supply downtime.
What is the difference between fixed-rate and flexible pass-through tariffs?
A fixed-rate contract locks in your unit price (p/kWh) and standing charge for 1, 2, 3, or 5 years, providing total budget certainty against wholesale market spikes. A flexible pass-through contract purchases blocks of energy on wholesale spot markets, which benefits large half-hourly users who can shift high-draw operations to off-peak periods.
Why have commercial standing charges increased so dramatically recently?
Under Ofgem's Targeted Charging Review (TCR), residual network transmission and distribution charges (DUoS and TNUoS) were shifted from volumetric consumption rates to fixed daily standing charges. We audit client meter banding to verify your premises are not misclassified into a higher tariff band.
Can Beta Energy Direct help with 100% green renewable power?
Yes. We can tender your requirements specifically with suppliers providing 100% REGO-backed (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin) electricity and certified green gas offsets, enabling your business to fulfill Net Zero and ESG reporting standards.

Business Finance & Commercial Loans

What is the difference between an unsecured loan and a secured business loan?
An unsecured business loan (£5,000 to £500,000) requires no physical collateral such as property or machinery, making approval faster (typically 24–48 hours). A secured business loan requires pledging a commercial asset or property, unlocking larger loan values (£50,000 to £5M+) with lower interest rates and extended repayment terms up to 25 years.
How does a Merchant Cash Advance (MCA) work?
A Merchant Cash Advance provides an upfront cash sum linked to your future customer debit/credit card sales. Instead of fixed monthly bank payments, you automatically repay an agreed percentage (typically 8% to 15%) of your daily card terminal revenue. If trade slows down during a quiet week, your repayments decrease proportionally, protecting cash flow.
What assets can be financed under Asset Finance?
Asset finance covers hire purchase and finance lease agreements for commercial vehicles, manufacturing machinery, CNC lathes, printing presses, commercial catering appliances, and IT server infrastructure. This preserves operating capital while providing tax efficiencies under UK capital allowances.
How fast can a Working Capital Loan be deployed?
Our alternative commercial lending panel can evaluate your recent bank statements and business accounts to provide in-principle decisions within 4 hours, with funds credited directly into your UK business account within 24 to 48 hours.

Business Card Terminals, POS Systems & Cashback Cards

How do you help businesses reduce card processing fees?
Most merchant statements contain non-transparent markups: authorization fees, minimum monthly service charges, and non-compliance fines. We audit your turnover and switch you to interchange-plus pricing or fixed blended rates with zero PCI compliance penalties and zero monthly terminal rental on qualifying volumes.
What happens if our broadband goes down while using a card machine?
All our portable and mobile merchant terminals feature automatic 4G Roaming SIM Fallback. If your local Wi-Fi drops out, the terminal seamlessly transitions to the strongest available UK mobile network (EE, Vodafone, O2, Three) without interrupting customer payment flow.
Can your POS systems integrate with our current accounting software?
Yes. Our smart EPOS systems integrate with Xero, QuickBooks, Sage, Shopify, and standard retail/hospitality inventory management tools, reconciling daily takings automatically.
How does the Business Cashback Card work?
The Business Cashback Card allows your company to earn automated cash rebates (typically 1% to 3%) across routine operational expenditures—including supplier invoices, advertising, SaaS tools, fuel, and travel—credited back directly to your balance.

Business Telecom (Internet, Phone & VoIP)

What is the UK PSTN copper switch-off and how does it affect our business?
BT Openreach is permanently decommissioning legacy copper PSTN and ISDN telephone networks. Every business operating landlines, red-care alarm systems, or fax lines must upgrade to cloud-based VoIP and full-fibre digital broadband. We handle the entire number porting process with zero downtime.
Can we keep our existing business telephone numbers when moving to VoIP?
Yes, 100%. We coordinate porting all your geographic (01/02), non-geographic (03/0800), and direct-dial extensions into your hosted cloud PBX with zero missed customer calls.
What is the difference between standard FTTP broadband and a Leased Line?
FTTP (Fibre to the Premises) is a shared, contended connection where speeds can fluctuate at peak neighbourhood usage times. A dedicated Ethernet Leased Line provides 1:1 uncontended, symmetrical bandwidth (identical upload and download speeds up to 10Gbps) backed by a 99.99% uptime Service Level Agreement (SLA) and 4-hour fix guarantee.

Have a Specific Question About Your Contract?

Our Manchester utility consultants are on hand to audit your contracts and explain any tariff, term, or rate clause with complete transparency.

Request Free Consultation Call Freephone (0800) 999-1060