PayPoint, a leading branded payment collection network, has signed a deal with Arriva to sell bus tickets through its national network of cash payment terminals in over 11,000 newsagents, convenience stores, supermarkets, garages and off licences across the UK.

The contract is PayPoint’s largest in the transport ticketing sector since it entered the sector in November 2002 and PayPoint is the only payment collection network to sell bus tickets nationwide through shops and stores.

Under the PayPoint service adults, students and children will be able to buy weekly and four-weekly tickets without having to complete forms or provide photographs.

Arriva expects boarding times to be faster as a result of passengers no longer needing to pause to look for change when they get on the bus. However, customers who prefer to buy their day and weekly tickets from the bus driver will continue to be able to do so.

The partnership follows a successful trial of weekly and four-weekly bus tickets at Arriva’s Scottish bus operations and those in Cheshire. The service is now being rolled out to the southern counties and the North East, with the remaining Arriva operating areas set to follow by Easter 2005.

In operation since 1996, the PayPoint system now handles around 4.5m customer payments a week, and collects over £2.3bn a year for over 400 clients across the UK and Ireland. PayPoint’s established nationwide retail payments network provides an attractive low-cost off-vehicle ticket network with exceptional urban and rural coverage.

Dominic Taylor, Chief Executive of PayPoint, said: “PayPoint is working with Arriva to make it easier for customers to purchase bus tickets, whilst bringing benefits to our retailers at the same time.  We expect this new service to be extremely popular with customers as many of them are regular bus passengers and most PayPoint outlets are located in residential areas.”

Catherine Mason, Customer Services and Marketing Director for Arriva's UK Bus division, said: "We believe this represents a significant improvement to the service we offer customers, especially as so many of the shops and other outlets with a PayPoint service are within just a short walk of an Arriva bus service.

"Many of our customers will already be familiar with the convenience of topping up their mobile phones or paying their BT, gas or electricity bills at PayPoint outlets. Now they can buy their bus tickets at the same time."

About PayPoint
PayPoint is a leading branded payment collection network used, primarily, for the cash payment of bills and services and prepayments for mobile telephones and energy meters. There are over 11,000 retail outlets using PayPoint’s payment terminals.

PayPoint began trading in 1996 and initially collected payments through its network of retail agents for its founder client investors, who included British Gas, BT, BBC TV Licensing, London Electricity (now part of EDF Energy) and four water companies.

It now has more than 400 clients including many of the UK and Ireland’s major energy, cable, mobile and fixed line telephony companies. Its blue chip client list also extends to numerous water companies, local authorities and housing associations and a growing transport and travel base.

Enquiries
Paypoint:
Finsbury
Don Hunter  020 7251 3801

Arriva
Kate Flint  0191 520 4106
Head of Media Relations