Prepaid contactless wristbands debut in UK
Prepaid contactless wristbands were used for the first time in the UK last weekend at the Isle of Wight Music Festival.
Distributed to people in the VIP enclosure on a first-come, first-served basis, the Mastercard PayPass prepaid wristbands were pre-loaded with £30, which could be used to purchase food and drinks with a tap of the wrist.
Research conducted amongst those using the technology at the festival found they were their preferred payment method. Respondents said they were quicker (96%) and easier to use (98%) than credit or debit cards, while a 100% said they would to use the wristbands again to pay at other festivals, concerts and sporting events.
John Giddings, Isle of Wight festival promoter, said: “Festivals are all about a great shared experience – the music, bands, food and drink all add to the atmosphere. New innovations such as this really add to the experience. I’m proud to have pioneered the wristbands at the Isle of Wight and hope to see them developed further at future events.”
Hany Fam, President of MasterCard UK & Ireland, said: “The project was really the first part of testing consumer acceptance of a truly ‘cashless’ environment, which has been much talked about in the festival world. With the willingness of John to allow us access to his audience and the invaluable assistance of Central Catering, we have made some significant steps towards achieving this goal. We look forward to extending the PayPass prepaid wristbands to provide access as well as payments at more festivals and events across the UK.”
