Tag Archives: contactless payments

Barclaycard Freedom Celebrates First Birthday

Barclaycard Freedom, the loyalty scheme from Barclaycard, celebrates strong figures on its progress since launch one year ago. The scheme has encouraged Barclaycard Freedom cardholders to spend on average 14% more in launch partner stores than other credit card customers.

There are now one million active Barclaycard Freedom customers earning and redeeming Reward Money across over 20,000 coalition partners. Over the last 12 months, the average value redeemed has doubled. Joint promotions have driven much of this growth, with cardholders who have benefited from retailer special offers spending over two and a half times more than cardholders who have not taken advantage of the credit card benefits.

Over the last year, both large and small retailers have seen a rise in custom from Barclaycard holders as a result of available Reward Money, with the average amount of Reward Money being redeemed month-on-month almost doubling. Shell service stations have seen a 15% rise in linked sales from Barclaycard Freedom cardholders and, in smaller independent retailers over a quarter (27%) of Reward Money was earned and redeemed.

Sarah Alspach, marketing director of Barclaycard Freedom, said: “Since launch last year, economic conditions have been creating a pinch on shoppers’ wallets with resulting falls in high street spending. Barclaycard Freedom has been benefiting Barclaycard credit card holders and providing value for money for retailers, while delivering double digit growth in spending. We believe it is a programme that is good for shoppers as they earn pounds, not points and it is helping drive business for our coalition partners. Indeed, footfall, together with the insight we can provide, will be a crucial element in helping our partners navigate the next 12 months.”

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Announces 100 EAT Stores Across The UK To Go Contactless

Barclaycard has announced that EAT, a leading sandwich, soup and coffee shop, will rollout contactless technology and payment across its entire network of 100 stores from mid November. The rollout of contactless follows a successful pilot project in 24 London based EAT stores over the past 18 months.

The rollout, which began in March 2008 and will be completed by mid November, will see contactless payment available in EAT stores in a range of towns and cities across the UK including Manchester, Birmingham, Oxford and Cambridge. These stores join Barclaycard’s ever-expanding contactless payment network, with more than 9,000 outlets now accepting contactless payments across the UK.

Contactless allows customers to purchase items of £10 or under without the need to enter a PIN or sign, with customers requested to enter a PIN occasionally for added security.

Dan Salmons, Director of Payment Innovations at Barclaycard commented: “Contactless is the future of payments and we believe that contactless payment, via card or mobile phone, is one of the safest and most secure ways to pay. We welcome this rollout as it demonstrates how both consumers and retailers are benefiting from the convenience of quick, secure payments with contactless. Consumer feedback highlights the growing demand for contactless and we expect EAT to be amongst the first of many major retailers who will become contactless enabled over the coming months.”

Rene Batsford, Head of IT at EAT commented: “For the last 18 months we have accepted contactless payments in over 30 stores in London, and the success and feedback from our customers meant the decision to rollout contactless across our entire network, was an easy one to make. Customers across all our stores can now benefit from a fast, secure way to pay.”

Barclaycard and Barclays have issued over four million contactless enabled credit cards since Barclaycard OnePulse credit card launched in September 2007 and have the highest market share of contactless terminals in the UK. Other well-known brands such as Prêt a Manger, Coffee Republic, the National Trust, Books Etc and Yo Sushi also accept contactless payments.

Via EPR Network
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