Patrick McLoughlin

Conservative Party | West Derbyshire

PayPoint

West Derbyshire’s Member of Parliament, Patrick McLoughlin, has expressed concern about the new system for payment of bills now that the government plans to close many small post offices. 

Mr McLoughlin said,

“Utility companies, such as Severn Trent Water, now advise customers with payment cards to use a PayPoint outlet, rather than pay at the Post Office.  Indeed, customers are charged an additional fee if they do not use a PayPoint. 

“Unfortunately, there are only eleven Paypoint outlets throughout the whole of my constituency, based mainly in towns.

“Not everyone can drive and nor do they have access to Paypoints locally.  It is therefore is difficult to see how this new method is supposed to be more convenient.  Of course, it also further undermines the future of rural sub-post offices, coming on top of the withdrawal of the facility to buy television licences from post offices.”

Mr McLoughlin has asked PayPoint plc if any further Paypoints are planned for West Derbyshire, particularly for the more rural areas.