IRRV Alert November 3 2008

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Post Office awarded card account contract

 

 

 

The Post Office has been awarded the contract to continue providing the Post Office Card Account (POCA), Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell announced today.

The Government announced in December 2006 that there would be a successor to POCA, and a tender process was started.

However, in order to support a viable Post Office network, the decision has been taken to cancel the competitive tender. Consequently a new contract has been awarded to Post Office Ltd. The contract will run initially from 2010 to March 2015, with the possibility of an extension beyond that.

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions James Purnell said:

“I firmly believe that this is the right decision for our customers, the Post Office and sub-postmasters.

“The Post Office is a cherished national institution at the heart of many communities. The card account is an important source of income, and brings customers through the doors of Post Offices across the country.

“Global economic events have made people, particularly the most vulnerable in our society, more concerned about financial transactions. The Post Office is a trusted brand, and is seen as a safe, secure and reliable provider of services in these turbulent times.

“Now is not the time for the Government to do anything to put the network at risk, particularly as Post Offices are often the only providers of financial services in remote areas.”

Notes

  • The Post Office Card Account is a very straightforward account specifically designed to pay benefits administered by the Department for Work and Pensions, the Northern Ireland Social Security Agency, Service Personnel and Veterans Agency and Inland Revenue tax credits. Only benefits and pensions can be paid in and they are collected across a Post Office counter using a plastic card and PIN.
  • About four million people receive their benefits and pensions this way, including around two million pensioners.
  • The Government announced in December 2006 that there would be a successor to the Post Office Card Account and, based on legal advice at the time, the contract was put out to tender.

Media Enquiries: Liz Forster 0203 267 5122
DWP Press Office: 0203 267 5144
Out of hours: 07659 108 883
Website: www.dwp.gov.uk


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