User:James dawson/sandbox

PayPoint is an international leader in payment technologies, offering solutions for everyone from consumers and financial services companies to retailers, utilities, media, e-commerce, gaming and government clients. The company has been listed on the London Stock Exchange since 2004 and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 Index.

History

The PayPoint network was set up in 1996 with the aim of providing a convenient place for customers to load gas and electricity onto their prepayment energy meters in cash. First tested in Northern Ireland [2], the system was expanded to London in 1997 [2] and in 1998, British Gas prepayment meter customers were able to charge their Quantum smart cards at PayPoint retailers. By 1999, the network had achieved national coverage, with terminals in 7,500 retailers throughout the UK, and in 2000, Vodafone became the first mobile phone network to enable their customers to top up their pay as you go mobile phones at their local convenience store.

Following continued growth and public listing, in 2006, the company became the exclusive cash payment network for the BBC’s TV Licence fee. By the end of 2014, PayPoint’s UK retail network totalled 28,200 retail outlets, with over 99% of the UK’s urban population living within one mile of a PayPoint terminal, and within five miles in rural areas. PayPoint also operates retail networks in Romania and Ireland.

In November 2006 and February 2007, PayPoint acquired online payment service providers Metacharge [4] and SECPay [5] respectively. These ventures were merged and rebranded as PayPoint.net, providing a secure debit and credit card payment system for online retailers. In September 2010, PayPoint completed the acquisition of Verrus, a leader in pay-by-phone parking payment solutions in North America and Europe under the brand name, PayByPhone. In May 2014, the decision was taken to merge PayPoint.net and PayByPhone under a single identity, PayPoint Mobile and Online. A new group brand was also unveiled, as well as a new range of multi-channel payment solutions. In February 2011, Collect+ a parcel sending and collection service, was launched as a joint venture between PayPoint and Yodel. This service is available through almost 6,000 of the PayPoint retail network and allows customers to collect and send packages at their own convenience at a local store. The service handles over 20 million parcels a year.

Retail payments & services

•	Cash payments at any one of 28,200 UK PayPoint outlets, 500 in Ireland and 9,000 in Romania •	Allows customers to settle gas, electricity and water bills, pay for a TV licence, Council Tax, social housing rents, fines, financial services (insurance, savings,  loans, rentals), road tax or to top up pay as you go mobile phones (range of services available differs by country). •	Top up gas or electricity cards/keys that are inserted in prepayment energy meters in the UK.

•	Loading of prepayment debit cards (generally used for payment for goods and services bought online), such as Ukash and Paysafecard.

•	In-store ATMs connected to the LINK network in the UK.

•	Collect+ parcel service - a convenient way to collect, send and return parcels, including a click & collect service for online purchases.

•	In the UK and Romania, send and receive cash internationally through money transfer, in association with Western Union.

Mobile and online payment solutions (PayPoint Mobile & Online)

•	Multi-channel payment solutions for retailers – desktop, laptop, tablet, mobile, mPOS.

•	Fully customisable mobile payment solutions.

•	Innovative payment methods including (UK) PayCash, a unique solution for merchants wanting to accept cash payments for mobile, online and call-centre transactions; customers download a receipt and pay in cash at a PayPoint terminal in a shop, at which point the merchant is notified that payment has been made and it is safe to despatch the goods.

•	Payment gateway service for SMEs and independent retailers.

•	Advanced fraud management and intelligent reporting solutions.

•	Complete parking payment solutions via PayByPhone, an international leader in mobile technology for parking and urban mobility.

Competitors

Rivals to PayPoint’s retail networks include the Post Office Ltd (in the UK), Payzone and An Post's PostPoint network (in Ireland) all of which offer similar services. International competitors to PayByPhone include RingGo and Parkmobile, both part of Parkmobile LLC, a US-based group.