Queens Park Rangers FC in conjunction with catering provider Azure, part of the Elior group, goes live with a new contactless payments system from HSBC Merchant Services, wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Payments, the largest independent payment processor in the UK. The Visa contactless technology enables consumers to simply touch the reader with their cards and pay in less than a second. The technology is expected to help reduce half time queues.
Football fans are expected to experience a faster service when purchasing their half-time pie and pint due to the system’s ultra quick transaction times and new integrated technology. The new system has been introduced into 6 locations around the Stadium and from February 2011 onwards will be phased into a further 11 locations.
The kiosks, which previously accepted cash payments only, now accept contactless payments through the new electronic payments system. The Club is currently planning to launch a QPR FC issued pre-paid card for fans to use within the Stadium and out on the high street.
HSBC Merchant Services plans to roll out the system to other football stadiums, music venues and festivals, allowing customers to benefit from faster transactions at high-capacity events.
Darren Wilson, CEO, HSBC Merchant Services said:
“We identified the need for faster services at venues such as QPR where thousands of customers are waiting to be served in a short space of time. Replacing cash payments with HSBC Merchant Services’ new contactless system will improve the speed and accuracy of payment transactions.”
HSBC Merchant Services’ payments system uses semi-integration technology for its payment terminals in conjunction with till manufacturer Bleep(UK)PLC. The semi-integration technology improves transaction times by removing the need to double key transaction amounts and providing a dedicated internet line for payments.
Louise Herridge, General Manager at Azure added:
“We are excited to be involved in this project. We are expecting to see a positive impact on sales and customer satisfaction as a result of serving customers more quickly.”
Mark Austin, Head of Contactless, Visa Europe commented: “This partnership is another important milestone for contactless payment acceptance in the UK. Football stadia present a great opportunity to demonstrate the convenience, speed and security benefits of contactless payments and we are delighted to be working with QPR FC and their fans. We are firmly committed to the ongoing rollout of Visa contactless technology to match the critical mass of over 11m contactless enabled Visa cards now in the hands of UK consumers.”
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About HSBC Merchant Services
HSBC Merchant Services LLP is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Global Payments Inc.
Global Payments Inc. (NYSE: GPN) is a leading provider of electronic transaction processing services for merchants, Independent Sales Organizations (ISOs), financial institutions, government agencies and multi-national corporations located throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, and the Asia-Pacific region. Global Payments, a Fortune 1000 company, offers a comprehensive line of processing solutions for credit and debit cards, business-to-business purchasing cards, gift cards, electronic check conversion and check guarantee, verification and recovery including electronic check services, as well as terminal management.
Megan Rex
Fleishman-Hillard
Tel: +44 (0)20 7395 7049
E-mail: megan.rex@fleishmaneurope.com
Alan O’Sullivan
Fleishman-Hillard
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7395 7017
E-mail: alan.osullivan@fleishmaneurope.com
About Visa Europe
In Europe, there are over 399 million Visa debit, credit and commercial cards. In the 12 months ending March 2010 those cards were used to make purchases and cash withdrawals to the value of €1.4 trillion. 11.2% of consumer spending at point of sale in Europe is with a Visa card, and more than 70% of that is on Visa debit cards.
Visa Europe is owned and operated by more than 4,000 European member banks and was incorporated in July 2004. In October 2007, Visa Europe became independent of the new global Visa Inc., with an exclusive, irrevocable and perpetual licence in Europe. As a dedicated European payment system it is able to respond quickly to the specific market needs of European banks and their customers - cardholders and retailers - and to meet the European Commission’s objective to create a true internal market for payments.
Visa enjoys unsurpassed acceptance around the world. In addition, Visa/PLUS is one of the world’s largest global ATM networks, offering cash access in local currency in over 200 countries.
For more information, visit www.visaeurope.com.
