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Debit Cards

Business, Financial, Financial Services, Financial Solutions, Money

Marston’s Inns Selects SecureTrading To Improve Online Booking Experience

Marston’s Inns, part of Marston’s Plc has selected SecureTrading, the UK’s leading independent payment processor, to manage its online customer accommodation booking, which will lead to a raft of business improvements.

Using SecureTrading’s payment services, Marston’s can manage its web operations in house and monitor reservations more closely, while the system enables customers to take advantage of promotions on a pre-booked basis.

Jemma Milton, Digital Manager at Marston’s Plc, said: “As well as offering full PCI-compliance, it was important for the payment gateway to keep customers on our website to underline our professional service and brand. Thanks to SecureTrading, we can now measure occupancy rates as a result of our stronger value driven offers.”

Marston’s had previously used third party websites to process payments but SecureTrading’s system integrates fully with the existing website, ensuring customers stay in contact with the brand throughout the secure payment transaction and take advantage of offers such as discounts on
meals. SecureTrading’s enhanced payment gateway enables Marston’s to react to customer ‘no-shows’ more promptly and operate efficiently.

Tim Allitt, Head of Sales and Marketing at SecureTrading, comments: “Marston’s has an impressive pedigree and we are delighted to provide its payment gateway. Our secure system enables Marston’s to get closer to its customers and analyse
reservation data.”

A recent trading statement reported that Marston’s had enjoyed a like-for-like sales increase in the 23 weeks to 10th March of 3.5%.

Via EPR Network
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Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Financial, Financial Information, Financial Services, Insurance, Insurance Services, Security

Eight Million Chip And PIN Pals At Risk Of ID Fraud

New research from LV= home insurance has revealed that in the past 12 months, more than eight million adults have given their chip and PIN details to someone else to make a purchase on their behalf or get money from a cash machine for them – with a quarter (24%) of these falling victim to fraud. One in three Brits (34%) say they have been asked to pay for goods or take money out on someone else’s behalf.

According to the research, 20% of card holders have given out their card and pin number to someone else. 85% of these have done so in the past year. According to the Office of National Statistics, the resident population of the UK is 52,042,000. Therefore 52,042,000 x 0.20 = 10,408,400 and 10,408,400 x 0.85 = 8,847,140.

Experts warn that by sharing PIN numbers with others, card users are exposing themselves to fraud and seriously weakening the security of the chip and PIN system.

Businesses themselves need to pay closer attention as 98% of people who have used someone else’s card said they were not caught, leaving retailers open to being targeted by fraudsters.

To help assist the growing number of people affected by ID fraud, LV=’s home insurance policy now includes free access to an Identity Fraud Helpline, staffed by specially trained expert advisors who will explain what to do if you think you may have been a victim of identity fraud.

ID fraudsters can quickly clock up many thousands of pounds of purchases by cloning a card and banks may refuse any kind of refund if the card owner has shared their PIN with others.

This is because in the event of ID fraud, card users sharing details may be considered to have acted ‘without reasonable care’ by banks who will then refuse to pay out to cover stolen funds.

The most common location for ‘borrowed’ cards to be used is at a cash machine. For those people passing on their card details for someone to buy something on their behalf almost one in ten (9%) have told someone the details over the phone, 7% have written them down, 6% have given them face to face in a public place and a few have even sent the details to someone in an e-mail or text message.

John O’Roarke, managing director of LV= home insurance, said: “It’s concerning to see the numbers of card-holders who are so lax with their card details, even if they are sharing them with their friends and family. We would strongly urge all card-users not to tell anyone their PIN number. Not only does it undermine the security of your account and increases the risk of ID fraud but also card holders could end up out of pocket if they are found to have shared their card details.

“We’d urge any customers who think they might have become a victim of identity fraud, to call our Identity Fraud Helpline for help and support.”

Via EPR Network
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Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Financial, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

Virgin Money Has Launched A ‘Pay Monthly’ Tariff As Part Of Its Virgin Prepaid Mastercard

Customers can decide which tariff to pay depending on how often they use the card to ensure they get the best deal. Customers will be able to choose from either ‘pay as you go’, or the new ‘pay monthly’ option.

‘Pay monthly’ prepaid card customers will pay a monthly fee of £4.75 per month, but will not incur any UK transaction fees.*

Both cards can be loaded free at the Post Office, or free by debit card or direct transfer, while a credit card load fee of 2.5% (with a minimum of £2) exists on both cards (restrictions may apply). Express top-ups at Pay Point locations are available, with a 2.75% fee applying to both cards. A start-up fee of £9.95 exists on both cards and customers can switch between the two tariffs once the card is set up, and then once every 4 months.

Grant Bather, spokesman at Virgin Money, said: “Pre-paid cards allow the user to set a limit on their expenditure and in the current climate could be a good option for people looking to budget. With users only able to spend what they have topped up onto the card, the prepaid option could be particularly useful for parents keen to give their children some money, or for those worried about over spending.

“The cards are easy to top-up and cardholders can get discounts from a range of Virgin companies including Virgin Experiences and Virgin Wines, as well as access to discounted vouchers for High Street stores including Sainsbury’s, Boots and Debenhams.”

About Virgin Prepaid Mastercard:
The Virgin Prepaid MasterCard® is issued on behalf of PrePay Technologies Ltd by Clydesdale Bank PLC pursuant to a licence by MasterCard® International Incorporated. MasterCard® is a registered trademark of MasterCard® International Incorporated. Prepay Technologies is authorised and regulated by the Financial Services Authority. 360money is a registered trademark of PrePay Technologies Ltd.

* Customers will be charged a flat fee of £1.50 for cash machine withdrawals in the UK or overseas. A fee of 2.95% on foreign transactions is also in operation. The ‘pay as you go’ pre-paid card includes a transaction fee of 2.95%, with cash withdrawals also charged at 2.95%. Card transactions and withdrawals overseas both incur a charge of 3.5%.

Via EPR Network
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Credit Cards, Debit Cards, Financial, Financial Services, Money, Personal Finance

Pre-paid cards are set to take a major slice of holidaymakers annual spending on plastic this year as tourists bid to keep summer spending under control, Virgin Money believes

Over £20 billion* spent on plastic overseas by UK travellers each year, Virgin Money says. Worries about the soaring cost of living and rising debts will boost the popularity of the cards, which enable customers to spend overseas and withdraw money but not to run up debts, Virgin Money says.

Currently up to 40 pre-pay cards are available on the market with more providers expected to launch over the coming months.

Virgin Money analysis** shows average one-off application fees for the cards are £7.08 with some firms charging as much as £19.95. However customers also need to be aware of monthly fees.

Around 40% of providers charge a monthly fee to users ranging from £1 to £5.95 while customers also need to take into account fees on spending and overseas use when budgeting for holiday spending. Typically debit and credit cards charge handling and commission fees for overseas usage which can add up to as much as £5.95 for a £100 withdrawal.

Virgin, which was among the first to launch into the market with its Pre-Paid MasterCard in July last year, has already seen strong interest from customers and expects the market to continue to grow.

Virgin Money spokesman Grant Bather said: “Everyone needs to keep their spending under control as the credit crunch and soaring inflation take a big bite out of household budgets.

“Pre-paid cards remove the temptation to run up debt while you’re on holiday as you can only spend the amount that is loaded on your card. They’re a good discipline to get into to avoid the risk of the sun going to your head and burning up your bank balance on holiday.

“And they can be more secure to carry than cash as if you lose the card you can get a replacement sent out. Plus if you really do lose control of your finances relatives or friends can load the card up with emergency cash.”

The Virgin Prepaid MasterCard charges a £9.95 application fee but unlike other cards does not charge a monthly fee. Customers can load it up for free by debit card, at Post Offices or through a bank transfer. There’s a 2.95% charge each time you use it in the UK rising to 3.5% when you use it overseas for transactions or to withdraw cash.

Customers also qualify for a range of discounts including 10% off at zavvi, first month free with Virgin Media, 10% off Virgin Wines (for over 18s), a free month’s membership at Virgin Active gyms, 20% off at Virgin Experiences and 10% off Virgin Car, Home, Pet and Annual Travel Insurance.

To apply online go to uk.virginmoney.com/virgin/prepaid-card

*APACS
**Virgin Money research

Via EPR Network
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