Member Article

Berridge Taxis hails card payments

Oakham based firm, Berridge Taxis, has become the first cab company to take card payments with Verifone in the Rutland area. Operating since the 1970s, the cab company has decided to move with the times and enable customers to pay with plastic as well as cash.

With public services on Transport for London’s network now entirely cashless and research showing that debit cards now account for nearly £30 in every £100 spent*, it seems the time is right for businesses of every size and locality to provide appropriate payment methods.

Berridge Taxis normally deploys its card payment service on airport runs, but now has extended its card payments service provided by Secure Taxi for evening customers, putting an end to lengthy waits at cash points, as Trevor Kyte, owner of Berridge Taxis, explains:

“Taking card payments in taxis has a number of benefits. Our drivers are self-employed so the money from fares goes straight into their accounts with less time spent banking cash. For the customer, the transaction is quick and simple with no scramble for coins and notes. And, because the terminals run off GPRS, it means that even in rural spots within the county which have limited mobile signal, we’re still able to process payment.”

“There is also an important safety element for both parties,” Kyte continued. “Taking card payments means drivers carry less cash in their vehicles, while passengers can have more flexibility when booking a cab late at night, meaning they are less likely to walk home.”

David Russell, Sales Director at Secure Taxi, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting a local business like Berridge Taxis, which has been a mainstay of the community for over 30 years. By providing the company with the means to take card payments we are helping it keep up to date with changing technology and ensuring it continues to offer a first class service to customers.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by David Russell .