Contactless payments go live in Liverpool this week, both in shops across the city and on Stagecoach's 200 strong bus network, as MasterCard and RBS WorldPay roll out 'Tap & Go' payment technology.
From this week, consumers will be able to use their MasterCard PayPass and Maestro PayPass contactless-enabled credit and debit cards to pay quickly, safely and conveniently across the city.
RBS WorldPay and MasterCard will open a Contactless Café to celebrate the launch of 'Tap & Go' payments in Liverpool and showcase the technology's benefits to consumers and local retailers. The Café - open for one day only - will be located in Williamson Square on Tuesday 27th October 2009, from 8:00am.
Hany Fam, General Manager, MasterCard UK & Ireland, said: "PayPass has already revolutionised the way consumers make everyday payments in London and other major cities around Europe and our research suggests that it will do the same in Liverpool. We're proud to be the first payments brand in the UK to introduce contactless bankcard payments to both public transport and other retailers, potentially making millions of consumers' lives easier."
Matt Rowsell, Head of Business Development, RBS WorldPay explains: "In the same way that chip and PIN has revolutionised the way we pay, contactless is the future of payments. Liverpool's retailers are leading the way, pioneering this technology to deliver faster, more secure and convenient payments."
The rollout of contactless payments follows a recent MasterCard poll that shows Liverpool's shoppers demand greater speed and convenience when making payments - nearly two thirds (61 per cent) are frustrated by queuing and refuse to stand in line for longer than five minutes (66 per cent).
More than half (52 per cent) said they tended to carry either no change or less than a tenner with them at any one time, with a similar number (51 per cent) saying that they found it frustrating looking for a cash machine.
A contactless enabled Stagecoach Merseyside bus will also be parked in Williamson Square, to mark the fact that Stagecoach has become the first public transport operator in the UK to offer passengers the chance to use a bankcard to make on-board payments for travel. The one-year trial also represents the first significant extension of MasterCard's 'Tap & Go' way to pay outside London.
Managing Director of Stagecoach Merseyside, Stephen Riggans, said: "We are proud to once again be leading the way by introducing highly innovative projects to benefit our customers. This new state-of-the-art technology will make bus travel in Liverpool faster and more convenient than ever before and we believe it will help attract more people on to our greener, smarter bus services.
"Customers can use their PayPass credit and debit cards on every Stagecoach Merseyside bus - all it takes is a tap of their card and off they go. Travelling with Stagecoach has never been easier."