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Ukash® enters Romanian market in new partnership with PayPoint

Partnership offers Romanian consumers a safe and secure way to pay online

Bucharest, 10 April 2013 – PayPoint Romania, the main retail-based cash and mobile payment operator in Romania, has signed an agreement with Ukash®, the international e-money market leader, to enable consumers across the country to use cash to make payments online. Ukash® works by exchanging notes and coins for a voucher containing a unique code which is entered on a website when making a purchase. It operates in a number of consumer markets, including shopping, gift cards and online entertainment, and can be used to pay on thousands of websites worldwide safely and conveniently.

Romanian consumers will be able to purchase Ukash® vouchers at any of PayPoint’s 7,000 terminals in neighbourhood stores across Romania.

The value of online transactions in Romania increased by 24% in 2011 to 158.9 million Euros*, making this a huge growth market. However, consumers in Romania remain reluctant to use credit or bank cards when transacting online. An estimated 75% of online shopping and spending is actually completed using alternatives to card payments. The facility to be able to convert cash to Ukash® in order to be able to shop online is, therefore, an important initiative to support the growth of e-commerce in Romania.

“Ukash® is a very real alternative to paying online by credit or debit card, allowing people to use cash online without having to reveal their personal financial information,” explains David Hunter, chief executive of Ukash®. “It is the ideal solution for anyone concerned about online fraud or those without a bank or credit card, allowing them to pay and shop online at thousands of locations globally.

“Our partnership with PayPoint gives us an established network of terminals across Romania, helping Ukash® establish itself as a leading e-commerce payment provider in this growth market and enabling Romanian consumers to make online cash payments for a range of consumer goods.  We believe Ukash® offers PayPoint users in Romania the ultimate in convenience and protection when shopping online.”

Mugur Dogariu, Managing Director of PayPoint Romania, adds: “With the significant growth in online shopping in Romania, we believe PayPoint with Ukash® offers consumers access to an online payment system that’s safe and convenient by converting cash to e-money. Our partnership with Ukash® is part of our commitment to responding to the needs of our customers, by offering them a diverse range of payment methods.”

Ukash is regulated by the UK’s FSA (Financial Services Authority) and enables consumers to use cash online without having to reveal personal financial information. In order to make a payment at one of the thousands of online merchants worldwide that accept Ukash® as a payment method, users simply enter the unique 19 digit code that comes with each Ukash® receipt. Ukash® is a safe and convenient way to make online transactions, with the company extending its global network further via this partnership with PayPoint Romania.

*Source:  Romcard

END

For further press information please contact the Ukash Press Office at HSL: 

Wendy Harrison, Jenny Thorneywork or Clare Watson.  0208 977 9132.[email protected]

ABOUT PAYPOINT ROMANIA

In Romania, PayPoint officially launched its bill payment service under the PayPoint brand in August 2008 and expanded its client portfolio by signing partnerships with a range of companies in service sectors including utilities, financial - insurance, cable TV and mobile telecom. In Romania, the branded retail network numbers over 7,000 terminals located in local shops and, currently, PayPoint has signed contracts with 55 major customers in telecommunications, utilities and financial services, of which 44 are contracts for payment collection services, including, in the utilities sector: GDF SUEZ Energy România, E.ON Gaz Distribuţie, E.ON Energie România, E.ON Moldova Distribuţie, Petrom Distribuţie Gaze, Congaz, Enel Energie, Enel Energie Muntenia, Electrica Furnizare Transilvania Nord, Electrica Furnizare Transilvania Sud, Electrica Furnizare Muntenia Nord, Apa Nova Bucureşti, ApaVital Iaşi, Aquatim, CEZ Vânzare, Gaz Sud, Grup Dezvoltare Reţele, Wirom Gaz, Hargaz, Raja Constanţa, C.R.A.B., Apa Canal Ilfov, Compania de Apa Buzau, Hidro Prahova, Apa Nova Ploieşti, Salubris Iaşi; in the telecommunications and cable sector: Cosmote Romania, Orange Romania, Vodafone Romania, Romtelecom, UPC Romania, Zapp, Akta TV, NextGen Communications; in the banking sector: Allianz-Tiriac, Citibank Romania, EOS KSI Romania, Garanti Credite de Consum, Patria Credit, UniCredit Consumer Financing, Campion Broker, Top Factoring; cosmetics sector: Oriflame and AVON. PayPoint also offers top-up services for all mobile operators (Cosmote, Orange, Vodafone, Zapp), for landline operators providing international calls and Internet Service Providers. PayPoint’s clients include Nobel and Worldtelecom (Number One). For Focus Sat, PayPoint provides recharge vouchers for DTH service users; consumers can also pay for Voyo subscriptions in PayPoint stores.

PayPoint offers the Western Union® Money Transfer service through its terminals to enable consumers in Romania to send and receive money internationally or domestically within Romania.)

The company also has important partners on the e-money market (paysafecard group and Ukash®).