MBNA and Mastercard launch europe’s first Tap&Go payment system
Manchester City football club became the first in europe to launch a ‘tap&go’ payment system in it’s stadium for season ticket holders.
MBNA, Manchester City footbal club and Mastercard have worked together to launch Paypass a contactless card which can be used to make payments inside the stadium on match days and gain access to the stadium.
The Manchester City FC Mastercard Prepaid Seasoncard with Paypass will replace the season ticket that supporters currently use. The trial will last until the end of the season with bars and stands in the selected North Stand Level 2, accepting Tap&go payments for purchases under £10. Card holders just tap their card against the PayPass reader, the idea is to reduce queing times, which can only be a good thing!
Manchester City fans can top up their prepaid cards as they would do with a pay as you go mobile phone, they can also use the card anywhere that accepts contactless and Chip & PIN payments where the Mastercard PayPass logos are displayed. Of course City fans can add funds online at www.mcfc.co.uk via PayZone points at retailers or over the phone on 0870 062 1894.
General Manager for MasterCard Northern Europe, John Bushby, said:
“In a European first, a single piece of plastic will enable football fans to gain access to and make payments at their home ground. A tap of your MasterCard PayPass card takes less than 1 second and our extensive experience in US stadiums has already shown the time and cost efficiencies this technology can bring to both fans and onsite retailers, in terms of the speed, convenience and safety of contactless payments, compared to cash.”
There are more than 20 million payments under £10 in the UK every year, worth around £200 million a year. Paypass is a new faster, safer, more convenient alternative to cash payments under £10.