What is it?

Benefits for the public sector

Payment by card is viewed by many public sector organisations as a standard payment mechanism and Visa payments are accepted at more than 900,000 locations in the UK - many millions more worldwide.

Visa is a convenient, efficient and secure way to accept payment, and has the potential for public sector organisations to save time, money and resources whilst delivering enhanced transparency, control and accountability of public spend.

The Government Merchant Acquiring (GMA) Framework Agreement of November 2007 made it easier for UK public sector organisations to accept payment from a wide range of card types, including Visa and other debit, charge or credit cards.

Card payments can be accepted for most revenue collections, such as:

• Fines and court fees
• Car parking
• Congestion charges
• Rent
• Planning fees
• Charity donations
• Hospital and dental fees

Benefits for suppliers

Suppliers paid by Visa include some of the best-known retailers in the UK as well as thousands of smaller businesses throughout the country.

And increasingly, suppliers to the public sector can now be paid by Visa.

In place of paper-based invoicing, Visa is a fast, easy and trackable payment channel.

Visa payments make cash flow faster, and reduce the need for operating funds.

Typically suppliers are paid within four days of processing the card transaction.