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Fear and apathy ‘take heat out of PayPoint boycott’

The man behind the social media storm blasting PayPoint’s commission cap cuts says “fear and apathy” are stopping retailers making a stand.

In less than two weeks, more than 500 retailers have joined the PayPoint Pay Fair Facebook group launched by Gloucester newsagent Marcus Bergin, with many taking to the page to rally support.

However, despite dozens of retailers proclaiming they would boycott the payment services provider last Friday, retailers told RN they believed many had backed down due to fears their customers would go elsewhere for the service or that their terminals would be removed.

“I think people are scared of losing PayPoint,” Mr Bergin said. “And some retailers have fallen for the spin about what the terminal can do for their business.”

Edinburgh retailer Abdul Qadar turned his terminal off on two occasions on Friday after his brother received a call from PayPoint demanding he switch it back on. He told RN he believes more retailers would speak up if the NFRN pledged to support retailers who are fighting PayPoint.

NFRN chief executive Paul Baxter said: “The NFRN has already been leading this fight from the front and is going to continue to do so. We will always support any retailer who wants our help with PayPoint.”

The NFRN has already been leading this fight from the front and is going to continue to do so. We will always support any retailer who wants our help with PayPoint

Mr Bergin, whose fight against PayPoint made it into his local paper, said he “refuses to make a loss anymore” and will continue to write to PayPoint directors. He also believes more retailers need to be made aware of what is happening with PayPoint.

The father-of-four is calling on all retailers to display a poster he has put up in his store asking PayPoint customers to make an additional purchase because he is making a loss every time he processes a transaction. He says 90% of his PayPoint customers are now making an additional payment, up from 12%.

See RN’s 22 May issue for more news on how retailers are reacting to and dealing with PayPoint’s commission cap cuts

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