Ukash has started its services in Canada, through a deal with VendTek Systems under its brand Now Prepay. Reportedly, Ukash will be available from 4,000 point of sale terminals in Ontario, before expanding to a total of 15,000 outlets across Canada by the end of the year. Ukash has said that its e-cash services will bring easy, controlled and anonymous online cash payments to everyone including those without credit or debit cards from anywhere in the world.
Ukash has added that its vouchers will be available in 25, 50, 75, 100, 150 denominations of Canadian dollars. Users will receive a voucher containing a 19-digit code which can be used to pay at online merchants.
Mark Chirnside, CEO of Ukash, said: “North America is a territory with huge potential for the Ukash proposition. High rates of unbanked consumers at this time, largely due to poor credit history and immigrants unable to get bank accounts, means that there is a growing number of cash consumers who want to spend online. Canada is a key territory for the Ukash proposition and working with Now Prepay will give us the prominence needed to expand our availability across Canada before launching in other countries across the Americas.”
Doug Buchanan, president of VendTek, said: “Ukash offers an electronic cash payment source and an important solution for people who are looking for an alternative to credit cards. We have been interested in an on-line payment product for our network and Ukash has an e-commerce payment solution that is an excellent fit with our network. We are very excited to partner with them to enable money transfer services over the Now Prepay network in Canada.”
