New Ipsos MORI research released today reveals an exceptionally high level[1] of customer satisfaction with leading payment collection network, PayPoint. Over 500 consumers across the UK were polled about their PayPoint customer experience after they had used the service.

The results reveal that PayPoint customers are visiting their convenient PayPoint agent more frequently and increasing the number of bills they pay. This is good news for retailers, as separate statistics show that that 58% of PayPoint users also buy other goods and spend more on an average basket, 22% more than the average basket spend in the convenience sector.

Over 15,000 convenience stores, newsagents, supermarkets and petrol forecourts across the UK now have PayPoint terminals. The convenience of the service was cited as a primary reason for customer satisfaction; along with long retailer opening hours and the quick and easy service.

The survey highlights:

• Two thirds of PayPoint customers currently use the service once a week or more, demonstrating that the great majority of customers are frequent users of PayPoint and therefore frequent visitors to the store in which it is located. 
• Since 2002, the average customer is now paying more types of bill at each visit showing that customers are becoming more committed to using PayPoint terminals to pay their bills and as such regular store visits are more likely.
• The most important reason for paying bills at PayPoint is the convenience of the stores – three quarters of all PayPoint customers mention it.  This is good news for local outlets supplying their local community and also for stores located in busy areas, such as shopping malls where traditionally, PayPoint outlets have not been located.
• PayPoint customers are happy with the PayPoint service – 97% say they are very or fairly satisfied.

Andrew Gunn from, Ipsos MORI who conducted the research commented:

“The 2006 Ipsos MORI customer satisfaction survey shows very high levels of satisfaction among PayPoint’s customers - 97% say they are either very or fairly satisfied with the overall service they receive.  This is not a one-off result; we measured the same high levels in 2002.  Customers continue to appreciate the convenience of PayPoint outlets and the range of different payments that can be made.”

Mike Igoe, PayPoint Retail Director, said: “We are delighted with the results – as it’s a big positive for the business but also highly beneficial for our retailers as it shows how much customers value the service in their local stores. Our challenge now is to maintain these high standards and to continue to improve and innovate through the range of services we offer. I would like to thank our retailers for their hard work and effort in providing the PayPoint service.”

- Ends -

Enquiries:

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

About the Research:
Ipsos MORI conducted 531 interviews with customers who had made a transaction at a PayPoint counter and, for comparison purposes, 515 interviews with customers who had paid a household bill at the Post Office within the last seven days.  Interviews were conducted face-to-face across the UK between 15 May and 9 June 2006.

Notes to Editors:
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.

[1] The same level as recorded in MORI research carried out in 2002