The FINANCIAL -- For the first time this year, Isle of
Wight Festival goers will have the opportunity to experience the
benefits of automatically topping up their contactless prepaid
MasterCard PayPass wristbands and also using them to access the event.
As part of a trial, 13,000 ticket holders will receive PayPass wristbands before they come to the event, making entry to the site and grabbing a bite to eat even easier.
With the use of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, data is transferred safely and securely from the tag attached to the wristband to the contactless readers installed in many locations around the festival. For purchases of £20 or less, all users have to do is simply tap their PayPass wristband on the reader, removing the need to dip a card, enter a PIN or provide a signature.
According to MasterCard Worldwide, ticket holders can also experience the added convenience of auto top-up this year, a function that loads between £10 and £50 up to three times per day, when a wristband balance drops below £20. The maximum total load allowed on any wristband throughout the festival is £500, with any unspent funds getting refunded back to customers at the end of the event.
When running low on funds, or following an auto top-up, users will also receive a handy automatic text message which includes their current wristband balance to help track their spending. Special mobile balance readers will also be available at designated customer service points, allowing wristband holders to simply tap to see their current balance.
Marion King, President of MasterCard UK & Ireland, said: “Building on the success of the last two years, MasterCard is continuing to enhance the festival experience for music fans, by using our innovation to enable simple, safe and smart payments. This year’s trial is the latest milestone in the journey towards a truly ‘cashless’ environment, as festival goers look to spend less time queuing and more time enjoying their favourite bands.”
The popularity and reach of PayPass continues to grow rapidly, with cards and devices issued for use at more than 557,000 merchant locations in 41 countries worldwide.
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