Western Union SwiftPay‚ Service Offers Teens Accessible Prepay Option for Wireless Phones

Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) is helping teens make wireless phone use easier to pay for through its SwiftPay‚ cash-based replenishment service.

DENVER, (PRWEB) April 17, 2002 -- Keeping on top of whats happening with friends and family has propelled six million teens to own wireless phones, according to Teenage Research Unlimited. In fact, a large portion of teens consider wireless phones a "must have" item. Parents also agree that wireless service is essential for daily communication and for safety/emergency reasons. Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC) is helping teens make wireless phone use easier to pay for through its SwiftPay‚ cash-based replenishment service.

Teenagers sometimes find it hard to purchase wireless phones because of their lack of credit , forcing them to rely on parents to co-sign for wireless service, which is not always required in a prepaid arrangement. According to the Strategis Group, 61 percent of teens have bank accounts, but only 12 percent have any kind of transaction card. Prepaid wireless service gives teens with no access to a transaction card an accessible way to pay for their wireless phones. Now, Western Union has made it more convenient for teens to replenish -- or "recharge" -- their prepaid wireless service with its SwiftPay payment service. Parents, as well as teens, are able to refill account minutes by simply visiting one of the Western Union agent locations to send a cash payment.

   "Based on a survey we conducted in 2001, only 17 percent of the teen respondents between ages 13 and 17 are on prepaid wireless calling plans, but 57 percent think prepaid makes more sense for them. By 2007, we project 35 percent of teens to be connected to a prepaid phone," said Ozgur Aytar, with the Strategis Group. "Its important to teens to be in constant communication with friends, and its important to their parents that their kids have cell phone access in case of an emergency. Prepaid payment options like the SwiftPay payment service allow parents to provide a wireless phone for their teens without the worry of excessive bills and lengthy contracts."

The SwiftPay payment service is a quick, inexpensive way for teens to replenish their prepaid wireless service by utilizing Western Union to send cash payments to their service providers. Teens can enroll with their wireless phone provider and choose to make their payments at any of the nearly 40,000 Western Union agent locations by using the SwiftPay payment service. Western Union agent locations are great for the busy teen because they are located in neighborhoods and around town at places such as gas stations and grocery stores, many of which are open 24 hours a day.
   
To send a payment using the SwiftPay payment service, customers simply present an account number (assigned by the participating service provider) to the Western Union agent and a cash payment. In many cases the account number matches the wireless number, therefore simplifying the process for teens and eliminating the need for a PIN number. The payment is sent within minutes. Most wireless providers notify customer of their account balance before every call via a recording that states available minutes.
   
"My son is a senior in high school and has been using SwiftPay for the last year," said Keith Diveley, senior vice president and general manager for Western Union SwiftPay. "As a parent, prepaid payment services like SwiftPay help teach my son how to better manage his money and give him the independence and security of having his own wireless phone."
   To find the nearest Western Union agent location, call 1-800-325-6000 (press 2, then 1) or visit the companys Web site at http://www.westernunion.com.

About Western Union Financial Services, Inc. and First Data

Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), is an international leader in consumer money transfer services. Consumers can quickly, safely and reliably pay bills and transfer money around the globe using the companys proprietary money transfer network. Western Union and its subsidiary, Orlandi Valuta, together make up one of the worlds largest money transfer networks with a total of approximately 120,000 Agent locations in more than 185 countries and territories. Famous for its pioneering telegraph service, the original Western Union dates back to 1851 and introduced electronic money transfer service in 1871. For more information, please visit the companys Web site at www.westernunion.com.

First Data Corp., with global headquarters in Denver, helps power the global economy. Serving approximately 2.8 million merchant locations, 1,400 card issuers and millions of consumers, First Data makes it easy, fast and secure for people and businesses to buy goods and services, using virtually any form of payment: credit, debit, smart card, stored-value card or check at the point-of-sale, over the Internet or by money transfer. For more information, please visit the companys Web site at www.firstdata.com.