PayPoint, the leading payment collection network, today announces a new partnership with ParentPay, the service that allows parents to make secure payments to schools and school suppliers.

ParentPay is used by thousands of parents every week to make safe and convenient payments to schools, which in turn has allowed hundreds of schools across the UK to benefit from vastly reduced administration, improved cash flow and a safer place for staff and pupils.

PayPoint has partnered with ParentPay to help create a cashless environment for school children. Instead of sending children to school with cash or cheques to pay for meals, trips and music lessons for example, parents can now top up their ParentPay swipe card at their local PayPoint outlet over the counter using cash. Alternatively, parents can go online to a secure website to pay money to their child’s school using their debit or credit card.

There is a minimum payment of £3 on the card for each top-up and PayPoint agents will earn 1% uncapped commission on each transaction. At present there are approximately 1,500 ParentPay cards in circulation in the Croydon, Kent, Newquay, Hounslow and Kenilworth areas. There are plans in place to roll this scheme out nationwide.

Mike Igoe, PayPoint Retail Director commented: ‘We are very impressed by the concept of ParentPay and are delighted to be working with them. Our retailers will benefit from increased footfall into stores with parents using the service, and more importantly parents can be reassured that topping up their ParentPay card at PayPoint outlets, will mean their children can relax in a safer environment at school.”

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Enquiries:

PayPoint Press Office         
Helen Crossley and Kate Simpson
020 7553 4111
Helen.crossley@mischiefpr.com / kate.simpson@mischiefpr.com

Notes to Editor:

PayPoint is a leading payment collection network of over 15,000 outlets used, primarily, for the cash payment of bills and services and prepayments for mobile telephones and energy meters.

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 800 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.

PayPoint listed on the London Stock Exchange in September 2004.