The industry body UK Payments Council has accused Visa of
hindering access to cash and compel the use of only Visa cards in
London’s Olympics venues.
Ron Delnevo, Director of the Payments Council said:
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“The Olympics are going to be cash-starved by design. This is
plainly unacceptable in a world where 85%-plus of all transactions
continue to be made using cash”.
At the heart of the controversy is the replacement of 27 ATMs
that accept all of type of cards by eight Visa-only dispensers at
the Olympics sites.
Delnevo added:
“The Olympics do not belong to any sponsor, however much money
they have paid for brand awareness. The Games are meant to be a
celebration of the sporting prowess of men and women from every
corner of our planet.”
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By GlobalDataIn an official statement Visa said:
“Eight ATMs will be installed at London 2012 Olympic venues and
this year for the first time at an Olympic and Paralympic Games,
contactless payment technology will be implemented across the event
venues providing additional ways to pay.”
Contacted by CI, Visa declined to make further comments.
In March 2011, the Office of Fair Trade (OFT)
conducted an initial assessment of Visa’s sponsorship arrangements
with the London Organizing Committee of the Olympic Games and
Paralympic Games (LOCOG).
A spokesperson for the OFT told CI that its
position on the issue does not differ from the one expressed in a
statement in March 2011:
“Visa Europe has informally assured the OFT
that steps will be taken to ensure that prepaid Visa cards are
available to consumers who wish to make purchases at Olympic
sites.”
There are also concerns that Visa’s move might put extra
pressure on ATMs in the immediate vicinity of the Olympics sites as
consumers with non Visa products will need to withdraw cash before
entering the venues.
