Tag Archives: contactless

Barclaycard Spending Index Up 9.2% Year-On-Year in July

Barclaycard Spending Index up 9.2% year-on-year in July shows talk of Government austerity drive having little impact on consumer spending.

Consumer spending on cards saw a near double digit increase in August compared to the same month last year, challenging concerns that talk of reduced public spending is already forcing consumers to be more cautious.

According to the new figures released by Barclaycard, the amount spent on debit and credit cards, in-store and online, increased by 9.2% in August compared to the same month last year, with new autumn sales, discounts and back-to-school spending helping to keep the retail sector buoyant. The rising cost of both food and cotton may also be starting to filter through to retail prices, meaning higher spending.

This month’s increase represents the fourth month in a row that the annual growth rate has increased by more than 9%, indicating anything but a dip in confidence.

The figures challenge recent reports of a consumer spending slowdown and reduced consumer confidence, suggesting that a gap exists between what consumers say about their financial prospects and how they behave, with spending on the high street remaining strong.

Stuart Neal, head of Barclaycard UK Payment Acceptance said: “With leading retailers warning that the Government austerity drive will keep the economy in the doldrums and hit consumer confidence hard, it is good to see a fourth month of increased spending.”

“While there is some cause for viewing the near future with a certain amount of trepidation, recent indicators are good. Confidence remains relatively high, but it will be important to see how spending fares when public spending cutbacks begin to hit people’s pockets, and not just the headlines.”

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Barclaycard Launches Barclaycard Platinum Purchase

Barclaycard has announced the launch of Barclaycard Platinum Purchase, the all in one solution for balance transfers and purchases.

Under the new scheme, Barclaycard customers can take advantage of twelve months interest free on credit card balance transfers, for a fee of just 2.9%. In addition to this, they will enjoy twelve months interest free on purchases, making the card a solution for customers who want to pay off an existing balance without being penalised by high charges on purchases.

At the end of the twelve month period, interest will be charged at 16.9% APR.

Barclaycard Platinum 0 Purchase credit cards are a good option for those wishing to make frequent purchases on their card such as petrol, food and travel. By offering this interest free period on both balance transfers and purchases, Barclaycard enables customers to effectively plan repayments and day to day spending over the twelve months.

Cardholders will also enjoy a range of associated benefits delivered by Barclaycard: from Barclaycard Freedom, the broadest rewards scheme in the UK, to revolutionary online account management with mybarclaycard and the exclusive music world of Barclaycard Unwind.

Barclaycard Freedom allows customers to earn and redeem reward money in pounds and pence in thousands of retailers across the UK without the need to carry additional cards or vouchers. Customers will also enjoy the flexibility of contactless technology: payments of £15 and under can be made by simply holding the card over the contactless reader, backed up by Barclaycard’s advanced security and fraud prevention measures.

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Launches New Prepaid Card

Barclaycard Commercial has announced the launch of its new Prepaid card, providing organisations with a simple way to improve efficiency and gain more control over their spending and the way funds are distributed.

The new card will benefit organisations by removing the need for them to rely on traditional paper-based methods of making payments, which are becoming increasingly costly, complicated and time-consuming. In addition to speeding up the process of managing funds, the new card will provide extra accountability and control, with the ability to implement bespoke spending controls.

The product has been used successfully by a number of clients for some time. One who has already benefited from this product is:

Adecco UK & Ireland – part of the Adecco Group, the world’s leading provider of HR solutions, with over 31,000 employees and 5,500 offices, in more than 60 countries and territories around the world. The Office Angels branches within the Adecco UK & Ireland group were sending out cheques frequently for petty cash purposes to their local offices. They adopted Barclaycard Prepaid to increase their control over their funds and to enable a much simpler and more efficient reconciliation process, and are now rolling this product out to their other brands.

Via EPR Network
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Barclaycard Contactless To Receive Consumer Awareness Boost

Barclaycard contactless is to receive a consumer awareness boost as EAT. and London branches of Subway both launch in-store marketing campaigns to highlight that customers can use contactless enabled debit and credit cards to make purchases of £15 and under.

Barclaycard Contactless To Receive Consumer Awareness Boost

The in-store ads and point-of-sale material have started appearing in EAT. with the aim of making the millions of contactless cardholders in the capital aware that they can make transactions quicker and easier. The marketing campaign and roll out of contactless in EAT. and Subway shops in London have been run in partnership with Barclaycard, the biggest provider of contactless debit and credit card payment terminals in the UK.

The campaign seeks to raise the profile of the contactless symbol, which is common to both the cards with the relevant technology and the retail outlets that are able to accept payment by contactless.

Rene Batsford, head of IT at EAT. said of the campaign: “We see contactless as a major product differentiator – we can say to customers that choosing to pay contactless in EAT. will give you valuable lunchtime minutes to spend away from queues. But whilst we have the technology, thanks to Barclays and Barclaycard, we now feel we have to help inform customers how contactless works and some of the benefits that they can expect.”

Julie Pottier, services purchasing manager at Subway, believes that the future is contactless: “Subway is proud to be involved with the first generation of contactless payments and pleased to be part of a payment revolution that is making life easier and quicker for consumers. Subway is sold on the innovation, and we now want to educate our customers that contactless exists, how it works and where they can use it.”

Stuart Neal, head of UK payment acceptance, Barclaycard, said: “We are working with our retailers to champion contactless, helping raise consumer awareness of a step change in payment technology. With so many consumers already able to pay without the need to enter their PIN and more retailers discovering the benefits of adopting contactless payment, educating customers this year is going to be key, as the technology becomes more commonplace.”

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Barclaycard Retail Card Spending Index Shows April Spending Was Flat

Barclaycard Global Payment Acceptance has released new data that shows spending on credit and debit cards in April was broadly flat with a slight increase of 0.8% from March. Barclaycard Payment Acceptance processes credit and debit card transactions for 87,000 businesses across the UK. Whilst the monthly increase was flat, the year-on-year comparison with April 09 showed an increase in credit and debit card spending at UK retailers of 8.9%.

Barclaycard Retail Card Spending Index Shows April Spending Was Flat

During April, Barclaycard Payment Acceptance saw transactions peak at 12.19pm on Saturday 3rd April, with 340 transactions per second being processed. However, the busiest day for transactions overall was the 30th April, which was the Friday of the May Day bank holiday weekend when 12.7 millions transactions were processed.

The Barclaycard Retail Card Spending Index is the most comprehensive index of its kind and is based on spending on all credit and debit cards across a wide range of retail sectors, at retailers that use Barclaycard to process their credit and debit card transactions – about a third of UK businesses.

Commenting on the data, Stuart Neal, Head of UK Payment Acceptance said: “We’ve seen a much lower increase in retail card spending in April, although it’s still positive news for retailers following the 18% increase we saw between February and March. Looking forward to next month, I’d expect credit and debit card spending to be broadly flat again.”

In addition to the monthly spending index, Barclaycard has also released early figures for May, covering the May Day bank holiday weekend. Overall, debit and credit card spending over that weekend was down slightly (1.4%) on the same bank holiday period in 2009.

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Barclaycard Announces Major New Partnership With Wembley Arena

Barclaycard has announced a major new partnership programme with Wembley Arena. The partnership sees Barclaycard’s 10.4 million UK customers gaining preferential access to tickets and onsite exclusive benefits at the world renowned venue.

Barclaycard Announces Major New Partnership With Wembley Arena

Gary Twelvetree, Barclaycard’s Global Brand Director said, “Wembley Arena is one of the best-known and respected venues in the British music business and for over fifty years it has played host to some of the greatest music acts of all time.”

“So the opportunity to link our own customer benefit programme, Barclaycard Unwind with Wembley Arena was irresistible. This partnership is part of our wider involvement in the music and entertainment business alongside existing title sponsorships Barclaycard Mercury Prize and Wireless sponsored by Barclaycard. We have resisted the temptation to create another corporate rock venue, so Wembley Arena retains hero brand status with ‘A Barclaycard Unwind Venue’ signoff underlining our commitment to providing enriched experiences for Barclaycard customers. As well as providing unique benefits for our customers, this partnership will allow us to showcase the latest payment technology such as contactless technology aimed at making payments simpler.”

Wembley Arena has recently undergone a £36 million redevelopment programme by owners Quintain Estates and Development plc and forms the centrepiece of the company’s substantial Wembley City redevelopment.

Quintain’s James Saunders said “The decision by Barclaycard to partner Wembley Arena demonstrates the calibre of the venue and the strength of its brand amongst the music loving public. Wembley Arena sits at the heart of the Wembley City development, which brings together retail, leisure, residential and commercial buildings in a world class entertainment district.”

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Barclaycard Figures Show Increase In Easter Credit And Debit Card Spending

The latest figures from Barclaycard Global Payment Acceptance, which enables 87,000 retailers to accept debit and credit card payments, shows spending was up 8.5% this year compared to last Easter. The figures which cover businesses traditionally associated with the Easter Weekend and who use Barclaycard to process their credit and debit card transactions, shows shoppers spent £205.5m in 2010 compared to £189.4m over the same weekend in 2009.

Barclaycard Figures Show Increase In Easter Credit And Debit Card Spending

Eating out was a popular choice with restaurants seeing a 13% increase in turnover on debit and credit cards compared to 2009. Other winners over the weekend included furniture and floor covering stores with spending up at 16.5% and 21.6% respectively. However DIY stores, a traditional beneficiary of the Easter weekend saw card spending staying flat with a slight increase of 1.5% on card spend compared to 2009.

Commenting on the data, Stuart Neal, UK Director of Barclaycard Global Payment Acceptance said: “The increase in overall spend is testament to customers wanting to get away or treat themselves over the four day weekend – with a significant increase in restaurants and holiday related activity. Unfortunately, it looks like garden centres were a victim of the weather with debit and credit card spending down 16.8% compared to 2009”.

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Barclaycard Rollercoaster Glides To Top Spot

Barclaycard’s rollercoaster campaign has topped the AdWatch list of current advertising campaigns, with 60% of adults questioned by Marketing Magazine recalling the advert.

Barclaycard Rollercoaster Glides To Top Spot

Launched on 22 January 2010, the advert tells the story of an adventurous and innovative commute to work – on a rollercoaster. Filmed in New York and Hollywood using the ‘Spidercam’, the process involved a real rollercoaster cart, 40ft of working track, and complex CGI to create a complete, realistic vision of a rollercoaster weaving in and out of the city’s skyscrapers.

This new advert follows on closely from the success of Barclaycard’s previous waterslide advert, which also used the Spidercam, which had not been used since Sam Raimi employed it to film sections of the Spiderman movies, in order to highlight the flexibility and ease of use which contactless payments provide for cardholders and retailers.

The TV advert, created by BBH and directed by Nicolai Fuglsig, is part of a wider campaign that will include online adverts and a social media campaign set to reach more than 10 million people using Facebook. Barclaycard also plans to launch a Rollercoaster download game later this year.

The contactless payment technology at the centre of the advert was pioneered by Barclaycard in the UK in 2007; now, over six million contactless enabled cards are in circulation in the UK, and over 20,000 retailers across the country now accept contactless payments.

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Barclaycard Platinum To Offer 0% On Balance Transfers Until 2011

Barclaycard Platinum has announced it is continuing to offer the lowest balance transfer fee on the market to new customers, with 0% on balance transfers until February 2011 and 3 months interest free purchases.

Barclaycard will charge new Platinum card customers a 2.9% handling charge to make the move and the balance transfer rate is available on transfers up to 90% of the customer’s credit limit. Purchases over the first three months will also be interest free, after this introductory period the typical interest will be just 15.9%.

Barclaycard Platinum will also enable customers to enjoy the freedom and flexibility of contactless technology, making payments of £10 and under possible with just a simple swipe. This is backed up by Barclaycard’s advanced security and fraud prevention measures.

In addition to the lowest balance transfer fee, the Barclaycard Goldfish credit card is also offering £30 of reward points if customers spend £100 a month for the first three months from account opening. Customers will also receive 0% interest on purchases for the first three months and the lowest interest rate of any rewards credit card in the UK.

Customers can apply for this offer online through the Barclaycard website.

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Barclaycard Reveals New Advert

Barclaycard has launched its much anticipated sequel to its famous waterslide commercial. The new advert tells the story of an even more adventurous and innovative commute to work – on a rollercoaster. The fast and exhilarating 60 second rollercoaster ride brings to life Barclaycard’s mission of making its customers’ (both retailers and consumers) lives easier through contactless payment technology.

Barclaycard Reveals New Advert

‘Rollercoaster’ takes forward the successful features of ‘Waterslide’, using a fun and engaging story of one character’s journey to work to promote the ease of using a Barclaycard. The advert begins with the character standing at the lift doors of his apartment block when a rollercoaster pulls up and takes him on a wonderfully smooth and liberating journey high above the clutter and congestion of the city below, only slowing slightly when he makes a contactless payment at the bakery en route to work.

Filmed in New York and Hollywood, the rollercoaster advert has been the most technical and complicated shoot to date in Barclaycard’s celebrated history of advertising. Utilising a real rollercoaster cart and 40ft of working track, the ad also features the first use of the ‘Spidercam’ in an advert since the camera was developed to film parts of the ‘Spiderman’ movies and complex CGI to help create a realistic vision of a rollercoaster weaving in and out of the city’s skyscrapers.

The four week campaign launched online on YouTube and Barclaycard’s Facebook page on the 22nd January with a 60 second advert and aired on television for the first time two days later. A 40 second version was introduced after the first week. The TV activity is part of a wider campaign that will include online adverts and a social media campaign set to reach more than 10 million people using the Barclaycard Facebook page as a hub for all new information about the commercial.

Following on from the success of the Waterslide iPhone game, Barclaycard will launch a Rollercoaster download game later in the year.

Contactless payment technology was pioneered by Barclaycard in the UK in 2007 with the launch of Barclaycard OnePulse. Now, all Platinum, Gold and Classic Barclaycards are issued with contactless technology and over five million are in circulation in the UK. Over 20,000 retailers now accept contactless payments throughout the UK.

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Barclaycard Reveals Christmas Spending Increased In 2009

Barclaycard Payment Acceptance reveals spending on credit and debit cards was up this Christmas compared with last year.

Barclaycard Payment Acceptance, one of the largest processors of debit and credit card transactions in the UK has announced that shoppers spent more on debit and credit cards from 19 December to 31 December 2009* compared to the same period last year. This new data from Barclaycard provides a snapshot of how customers of all UK banks and credit cards were using their cards over this period.

The data showed that the busiest day prior to Christmas Day for turnover came on the 23 December with £497m being spent. After Christmas Day, sales peaked on the 29 December with £376m being spent.

Other highlights from the data include:

– Total turnover over the period was £4,085m compared to £3,989m in the same period in 2008 – a 2.4% increase
– Post Christmas spending up in 2009 against 2008 – £1,683m versus £1,642m
– Christmas Day – £24m over 0.7m individual transactions processed
– Christmas Day transactions peaked at 12.08pm with 32 transactions a second
– Boxing Day saw an average credit card transaction of £72.46. This was largely driven by the DIY and electronic stores sectors
– Online retailers saw £9.5m of turnover on Christmas Day compared to £8.1m for Christmas Day 2008 – an increase of 17%

Marc Pettican, Head of Sales at Barclaycard Global Payment Acceptance said “Our retailers have seen an increase in turnover compared to the same period last year with over £4 billion being spent. We’ve also seen a stronger post-Christmas performance as shoppers take advantage of the sales discounts and consider the effects of the imminent VAT increase.”

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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.

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