PayPoint is a leading specialist payments collection network used, primarily, for the cash payment of bills and services and prepayments for mobile telephones and energy meters. PayPoint commenced 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) and four water companies. Since then, PayPoint has successfully added to its founder Client base, grown its Retail Agency network, developed new services and now has many new Clients.  It handles over £11 billion from over 600 million transactions annually for more than 5,000 clients and merchants.

Retail networks

The PayPoint branded retail network in the UK numbers over 23,500 terminals located in local shops (including Co-op, Spar, McColls, Costcutter, Sainsbury’s Local, One Stop, Londis and thousands of independents). Collect+, a joint venture with Yodel, formerly Home Delivery Network Limited, provides a parcel collection and drop off service at more than 4,600 PayPoint retailers. Its ATM network numbers more than 2,500 ‘LINK’ branded machines across the UK, mainly in the same sites as PayPoint terminals.

In Romania, the branded retail network numbers over 6,600 terminals located in local shops, processing cash bill payments for utilities and mobile phone top-ups. In the Republic of Ireland, over 500 outlets in shops and credit unions process mobile top-ups and bill payments.

Diverse client portfolio
PayPoint's Clients include many of the UK and Ireland's major energy, cable, mobile and fixed line telephony companies. The Client list also extends to numerous water companies, local authorities (for rents and council taxes), housing associations and a growing transport and travel base. Clients pay fees for each payment collected.

Retail agents
PayPoint's Retail Agents include convenience stores, newsagents, forecourts, off licences and supermarkets. Multiple Retail Agents account for about half of PayPoint's Retail Agency network including selected stores with Co-ops, One Stop, Spar, Londis, Costcutter, Texaco, Somerfield and many other regional retailers. The balance is stores under independent ownership or within smaller groups. PayPoint processes, on average, over 8 million Consumer transaction payments per week. PayPoint provides the necessary technology, training and merchandising free of charge to Retail Agents who earn commission for each payment they take. PayPoint has an active database of over 10,000 prospective Retail Agents who have either registered interest or applied to become a PayPoint Retail Agent. 

National coverage
PayPoint believes, based on its internal mapping systems, that over 95 per cent. of UK households are situated within one mile in urban areas or five miles in rural areas of a PayPoint Retail Agent. MORI research conducted in September and October 2007 indicated that 98 per cent. of PayPoint's Consumers were satisfied with the PayPoint service including 81 per cent. of Consumers stating they were very satisfied. The service is provided free of charge to the Consumer.

ATM business development
PayPoint has recently joined LINK as an Independent ATM Deployer (IAD). PayPoint's ATM service was launched in August 2003 and has grown by on average approximately 50 installed machines per month to 1,950 as at 25 March 2007. Consumers pay a surcharge for each cash withdrawal.