Western Union SwiftPay Service Offers College Students Convenient Cash Control Alternative

Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), has made it more convenient for students to replenish -- or "recharge" -- their prepaid wireless phone with its SwiftPay‚ cash-based payment service.

DENVER, (PRWEB) April 17, 2002 -- Teenagers entering college are now learning how to maintain desired services they are accustomed to at home by establishing good budget management systems while away. Today, millions of students in the United States now own wireless phones and many are choosing prepaid services to help manage their budgets and eliminate contract obligations. Finding time and a location to replenish minutes can be tough when juggling classes, part-time jobs and busy social calendars. However, Western Union Financial Services, Inc., a subsidiary of First Data Corp. (NYSE: FDC), has made it more convenient for students to replenish -- or "recharge" -- their prepaid wireless phone with its SwiftPay‚ cash-based payment service.

SwiftPay is a quick, inexpensive payment alternative that provides students a convenient way to replenish prepaid accounts using cash. Students can enroll for a prepaid plan with most major wireless phone providers and can send their cash payments using the SwiftPay payment service at nearly 40,000 Western Union agent locations nationwide. Many agent locations are located on and around college campuses, and some are open 24-hours a day, seven days a week, making it a good fit for busy college students to refill wireless minutes at their convenience. In addition to the expansion of Western Union agent locations, SwiftPay enables parents to replenish their students minutes from home by simply visiting one of the Western Union agent locations.

Prepaid services are quickly gaining popularity. According to The CPR Group, 15 percent of wireless customers between the ages of 18 and 34 have a prepaid wireless account. And, this number is expected to grow for reasons including money management, no service contract, inability to attain traditional service due to lack of credit and its affordability compared to traditional wireless plans.
"My son is a senior in high school and will be starting college in the fall," said Keith Diveley, senior vice president and general manager for Western Union SwiftPay. "As a parent, prepaid payment services like SwiftPay help me teach my son how to better manage his money and give him the independence and security of having his own wireless plan."

To send a payment using the SwiftPay payment service, students and/or parents 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 telephone number, therefore eliminating the need for a card or PIN number. The payment is sent within minutes. Most wireless providers notify customers of their account balance before every call via a recording that states available minutes.
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.