Prepaid Cards Research Articles

Low-Income Consumers and Payment Choice

Low-income consumers are not only constrained with spending, but also with the type and variety of payment methods available to them. Using a representative sample of the U.S. adult population, this short article analyzes the low possession (adoption) of credit and debit cards among low-income consumers who are also unbanked. Using a random utility model, I simulate the potential consumer welfare gains associated with policy options suggested in the literature to provide unsubsidized or subsidized debit cards, or subsidized prepaid cards to this consumer population. Simulation results show the relative improvement in consumer welfare among all three policy options.

PENGARUH KUALITAS PRODUK, HARGA, DAN PROMOSI TERHADAP LOYALITAS PELANGGAN

The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of product quality, price, and promotion on customer loyalty on Smartfren prepaid card users in Denpasar City. This research was conducted in Denpasar City by using a sample size of 100 people with a probability sampling method. Data collection was obtained by the results of questionnaires using a scale as measured by a Likert scale. The data analysis technique used in this study is multiple linear regression analysis techniques. The results of the study proposed that product quality has a positive and significant effect on customer loyalty in Smartfren prepaid card users, prices have a positive and significant effect on customer loyalty, and promotion has a positive and significant effect on customer loyalty on Smartfren prepaid card users in Denpasar City.
 Keywords: product quality, price, promotion, customer loyalty
 

The benefits and challenges of cash transfer programmes in Greece, with a focus on protection

Abstract Introduction This qualitative study evaluates cash transfer programmes (CTPs) in forcibly displaced populations, specifically in Greece. There is a focus on protection, encompassing health, gender, child protection and disability. The Greece Cash Alliance, run by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), currently supports 63,853 individuals with cash via a pre-paid card. This study provides insight into challenges encountered by implementers of cash programmes in Greece, and the potential protection issues faced with the changing climate of the cash programme in Greece. Methods A literature review of academic and grey literature and semi-structured key informant interviews with stakeholders including Non-Governmental Organisation and United Nations agency staff were performed. Key informants were identified through purposive sampling. An inductive thematic approach was taken in analysis. Results Main emerging themes included the benefits and challenges of CTPs and their role in protection. Challenges included the mobile, heterogenous population and benefits included economic development in Greece and restored choice to beneficiaries. With regards to protection, informants reported a positive impact through allowing refugees to meet their basic needs and prioritise other needs and CTPs providing consistent access to refugees which could allow identification of protection risks. However, protection was not considered in the design of all CTPs. Conclusions Due to the multi-sectoral nature of the response, there is no standard integration of protection into cash programmes. Cash programming offers unique, regular contact with beneficiaries and chances to identify protection risks that are not always utilised due to minimal staff training in protection. Cash assistance in Greece allows people to meet their basic needs and gives people space and funds to prioritise other needs such as health and education, inherently improving their protection status. Key messages With cash assistance growing in popularity in humanitarian programming, consideration of protection is important as it can improve the health, safety and dignity of beneficiaries. In Greece the cash programme was only designed to meet basic needs but broader effects on protection were seen.

Choice Architecture to Improve Financial Decision Making

We exploit the principles of choice architecture to evaluate interventions in the market for reloadable prepaid cards. Participants are randomized into three card menu presentation treatments—the market status quo, a regulation-inspired reform, or an enhanced reform designed to minimize attribute overload—and offered choices based on prior structural estimation of individual preferences. Consumers routinely choose incorrectly under the status quo, with tentative evidence that the regulation-inspired presentation may increase best card choice and clear evidence that the enhanced reform reduces worst card choice. Welfare analysis suggests the regulation-inspired presentation offers modest gains, while the enhanced policy generates substantial benefits.

Building a Research Model for Mobile Prepaid Phone Cards: An Evidence of Telkomsel in Bengkulu

The growth of telecommunication companies has led to competition in getting the customers to buy their data plan through the purchase of prepaid card. However, little is known on the factors that influence mobile phone users’ decision to purchase prepaid card. This study aims to examine the effects of product quality, promotional strategy, and price on the intention to purchase prepaid car, which can be used by prepaid card providers to attract more users in purchasing prepaid card for their mobile phones. An online survey method was used to collect data, and 123 questionnaires were properly completed and submitted by mobile phone users in the Telkomsel mobile telecommunication market. Data was tested using a PLS-based Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results of this study indicate that there is a positive and significant effect on product quality, promotional strategy and price on purchase intention.

Unconstitutionality of the Government Emergency Ordinance no. 62/2019. Citizens' Rights, Liberties of all Buyers of Prepaid Phone Cards

The Romanian Ombudsman has notified the Constitutional Court over a recent emergency ordinance of the government (Government Emergency Ordinance no. 62/2019) which changed the legislation emergency calls and electronic communications, the institution announced on Thursday. The executive order forced all buyers of prepaid phone cards to present their IDs upon acquisition. The Ombdusman said it found that the ordinance was breaching citizens' rights, liberties and duties and the initiator had to provide better motivation, proof of extraordinary circumstances that would match the restraining of rights. The ordinance was published last week. It says prepaid cards would not be sold unless ID is provided when purchased starting January 1, 2020, while those who already hold such phone cards would no longer benefit of services starting September 1, 2020 unless they provide their personal data. The data would be stored by the state's special telecoms service STS for 5 years. The ordinance also introduces much bigger fines for false alarm to emergency phone number 112 starting next month. The changes were hastened in the wake of a major criminal case in which a kidnapped teenager was murdered in the southern town of Caracal this summer, despite her calling to the emergency number repeatedly to call for help. The case was mostly blamed on the incapacity of authorities to react in due time and efficient manner.

ІНСТИТУЦІОНАЛЬНІ АСПЕКТИ РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ ІННОВАЦІЙНИХ ФІНАНСОВИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ У КОНТЕКСТІ РОЗВИТКУ КРИПТОВАЛЮТ

ІНСТИТУЦІОНАЛЬНІ АСПЕКТИ РЕГУЛЮВАННЯ ІННОВАЦІЙНИХ ФІНАНСОВИХ ТЕХНОЛОГІЙ У КОНТЕКСТІ РОЗВИТКУ КРИПТОВАЛЮТ

Consumer Use of Multiple Payment Methods

This article investigates the degree to which buyers choose to diversify their use of payment methods for in-person purchases. Some buyers use only one payment instrument. Others combine the use of mostly cash, credit, and debit cards, and a few paper checks and prepaid cards. To each survey respondent, I apply three concentration and inequality measures over the use of payment instruments. Results show that the average and median degree of consumers' payment concentration only slightly decline with payment volume and exhibit almost no correlation with consumer demographics.

The impact of electronic payment on electronic shopping decision in Jordan

Rapid changes in the world of the Internet have led to changes in the electronic markets, especially the speed of information creation compared to normal markets, the reduction of the time between the search and the product, and the ability of the seller and buyer to deal with each other despite the distance between them, The electronic shopping decision depends on the method of payment. This study attempts to measure the effect of e-cards on the decision of e-shopping in Jordan through four aspects, namely: use and reliability, trust and safety, type of e-card and perception. The study reiterated that there is a positive relationship between the use and reliability of electronic cards and the decision of electronic shopping, where the use of electronic cards increases the decision of online shopping, the study also concluded that the type of electronic card and payment method affects the electronic purchase decision (credit card, debit card, prepaid card, cash on delivery).

The short- and long-term impact of an incentive intervention on healthier eating: a quasi-experiment in primary- and secondary-school cafeterias in Brazil.

To assess the short- and long-term effectiveness of a lottery incentive intervention to promote the purchase of healthy products in school cafeterias. A quasi-experiment in which students' purchases in intervention schools were analysed in a pre-post analysis and also compared with a control school in a difference-in-differences model. A hierarchical linear model assessed the mean number of promoted healthy products purchased daily per participant before (twenty-six weekdays), during (nine weekdays) and after (twenty-eight weekdays) the intervention period. Sex, age and prior purchasing behaviour served as covariates. Convenience sample of school cafeterias using a debit-card payment method that allowed for the assessment of students' purchasing behaviour.ParticipantsStudents who used the pre-paid card to buy snacks at the school cafeteria. A total of 352 students (208 in intervention schools and 144 in control school) were included in the final analyses. The incentives programme significantly increased the purchase of promoted healthy products during (v. before) the intervention period in intervention schools (P<0·001), especially among younger children (P=0·036). Among the students who purchased the promoted healthier products during the intervention, there was an increase in total number of purchased products (healthy non-promoted, but also of less healthy products). Sex and past consumption behaviour did not influence the response to incentives in the short term. On average, no long-term effect was observed. Long-term and negative spillover effects must be taken into consideration for a complete understanding of the effects of incentives on healthier eating.

Consumer Use of Multiple Payment Methods

This article investigates the degree to which buyers choose to diversify their use of payment methods for in-person purchases. Some buyers use only one payment instrument. Others combine the use of mostly cash, credit, and debit cards, and a few paper checks and prepaid cards. To each survey respondent, I apply three concentration and inequality measures over the use of payment instruments. Results show that the average and median degree of consumers' payment concentration only slightly decline with payment volume and exhibit almost no correlation with consumer demographics.

Do electronic loyalty programs still drive customer choice and repeat purchase behaviour

Retaining loyal customers and changing inactive ones to be active are major challenges that service organisations currently face. One serious question to which mobile phone service providers need to find a suitable answer is how to drive loyal customers' behaviours to become involved in different electronic loyalty schemes to promote repeat buying and extend customer-supplier relationships. To answer such questions, four electronic loyalty programs have been tested, namely electronic points, prepaid card discounts, free additional credit and free additional minutes and/or messages within the mobile phone service purchase setting. A quantitative approach employing a self-administered questionnaire has been used to collect the study data. Data was collected from 478 customers who participated in one of the mobile phone loyalty programs mentioned earlier. Structural equation modelling (SEM) statistical modelling was employed to test both the study model and the developed hypotheses. Generally, the study found that e-loyalty programs drive loyal customers' choices and repeat buying. Substantial information about testing the sub-hypotheses is explained in more detail in this article.

A study of women's perception towards digital payments with special reference to Udupi Region

In today's era, one cannot think about the success of any service industry including banking industry without information technology. The most recent technological advancement is the evolution of Digital Payment System. Government of India has started to promote and to create the awareness Programme towards the cashless and paperless transactions through digital payment system. One of the important part of the population is the huge pool of women's which are still so far away from adopting and accepting new type of digital payment system. In this paper, we focused on those aspects which influence on women's force to adopt the digital payment system as well as to measure their perception and approach towards it. Digital Payment System is a payment mechanism which facilitates the acceptance of electronic payment for online transactions. To promote the digital payment system, government started a campaign called the Digital India. The digital India Programme is a foremost programme of the government of India with a visualization to change India into a digitally empowered culture and knowledge economy. As part of promoting cashless business and converting India into less-cash culture, various modes of digital payments are available like internet banking, mobile wallets, banking card, USSD, AEPS, UPI, banks pre-paid cards, point of sale, mobile banking, micro ATMs, etc. These all are the new modes of transactions without actual existence of the cash in hand. The awareness campaigns are implemented only in the urban areas. With this service we save our time by carrying out banking transactions at any place and at any time, from our home or office, all we need is internet access. Although, women live in urban area due to migration for work but most of them are not a part of the awareness programme because they are illiterate and their poor life style. Digital payment system is completely based on the modern technology which includes electronic means and internet. Due to unawareness, lack of education and poor living condition, the women are not able to fulfill the basic requirements for availing the facility of digital payment system.

The Influence of Celebrity Endorser and Attitudes on Advertising towrads Attitudes on Brand and Repurchase Intention

The purpose of this research was to analyze the effect of celebrity endorser and attitude toward advertising on attitude toward brand and repurchase intention. This research used design explanatory. Population were IM3 prepaid card customers in Surakarta. The sampling technique was convenience sampling with 100 respondents. Techniques of data collection used observation, documentation, questionnaires and literature study. Analysis used validity test, reliability test, t-test, f-test, R Square test and path analysis. The results showed that celebrity endorser significant affected on attitude toward brand. Attitude toward advertising significant affected on attitude toward brand. Celebrity endorser significant affected on repurchase intention. Attitude toward advertising significant affected on repurchase intention. Attitude toward brand significant affected on repurchase intention. Celebrity endorser and attitude toward advertising affected on attitude toward brand simultaneous. Celebrity endorser, attitude toward advertising and attitude toward brand affected on repurchase intention simultaneous. The coefficient of determination of total results (R2) was 59,0% so repurchase intention can be explained variable celebrity endorser, attitude toward brand within attitude toward brand as a intervening variables and the remaining 41.0% was explained variables outside the model. Celebrity endorser is a proven direct and indirect effect on repurchase intention.

E-money: opportunities for quick payments and risks of their use for illegal purposes

E-money is widely used in cross-border commercial relations. It can increase the speed and cut cost of payments for business. At the same time e-money can be used for laundering funds gained by criminal ways and for terrorism financing. FATF member-states use provisions of the legislation about fighting criminal incomes’ legalization in respect to e-money issuers. These countries also underline that special risk for criminal incomes’ legalization can be caused by anonymous money and pre-paid cards. Therefore, many countries fix in their national laws measures that ensure realization of risk-oriented approach directed at minimizing risks of money laundering and terrorism financing. For example, the EU develops amendments to the directive aiming at elimination of risks dealing with use of e-money and pre-paid cards for legalizing criminal incomes. The authors propose measures aimed at improvement of legislation about fighting money laundering and terrorism financing to minimize respective risks in using e-money. At the same time the necessity to develop conditions for extending possibilities of remote identification was pointed out, as it was envisaged by the program ‘Digital Economics of the Russian Federation’.

PENERAPAN METODE TOPSIS DALAM MENENTUKAN PEMILIHAN KARTU PRABAYAR HANDPHONE GOBAL SYSTEM FOR MOBILE (HP GSM)

Prepaid Card is a card that can only be used if there is a nominal number of pulses or data packets first. This card has an active period that varies depending on the policies and programs of each provider. Many card users are still confused about choosing a prepaid card that is good for use, so they really need information that can be used as a reference in choosing a prepaid card. In this study conducted to analyze a selection of prepaid cards using the TOPSIS (Technique For Order of Preference By Similarity To Ideal Solution) method in determining alternative choices for all prepaid card users, using several assessment criteria, namely: Cost (C1), Feature Completeness (C2), Signal (C3), Promotion / Advertising (C4), and Service Quality (C5). And also by using 6 alternatives, namely: Telkomsel (A1), Axis (A2), IM3 (A3), XL (A4), US (A5), and 3 (A6). And the results of this study were ranked first, namely: 3 (A6) as the first rank with a value of 0.5286 followed by XL (A4) with a value of 0.5238 as the second rank, and Telkomsel (A1) with a value of 0.5027. IM3 (A3) with a value of 0.4988, Axis (A2) with a value of 0.4765, then the last US (A5) with a value of 0.1905. It is hoped that this research can provide a better input to all prepaid card users.Keywords: TOPSIS, decision support system, pematang siantar, prepaid card

A comparative analysis of the prepaid card laws/regulations in Nigeria, the UK, the USA and India

PurposeThis paper aims to compare the prepaid card laws/regulations in Nigeria, the UK, the USA and India with the aim of determining the best approach to regulating prepaid cards, that is the approach that promotes financial inclusion and also makes the product less attractive for money laundering.Design/methodology/approachThis paper relies mainly on primary and secondary data drawn from the public domain. It also relies on documentary research.FindingsThis paper makes the following findings and recommendations: Nigeria has the best approach to regulating providers of prepaid cards. Nigeria’s approach could foster financial inclusion and at the same time mitigate the money laundering risks associated with prepaid cards. Nigeria’s approach is not too strict like the Indian approach and it is not too relaxed like the UK and the USA approach. Operators, including mobile/telecommunications operators, wishing to operate money transfer schemes in Nigeria are allowed to do so with approval from the Central Bank of Nigeria and in strict conjunction with licensed deposit-taking banks or financial institutions. The UK, the USA and India are recommended to adopt Nigeria’s approach. The UK and the USA have the best approach to regulating agents of prepaid cards. Both countries require prepaid card providers to maintain a current list of agents and make it available to the relevant authorities upon request. The approach allows regulatory agencies to effectively monitor and supervise prepaid card agents. India and Nigeria are advised to clarify their approach regarding the regulation of prepaid card agents. The prepaid card laws/regulations of those countries should be modified to specify if the agent of a prepaid card provider is required to be licensed or registered by a competent authority or if the prepaid card provider (the principal) is required to maintain an updated list of agents which must be made accessible to a designated competent authority, when requested. The new changes will afford regulatory authorities the opportunity to effectively monitor and supervise prepaid card agents. India’s approach to thresholds would preclude most individuals in the intended target market from accessing basic financial products, as most people typically do not have residential addresses that could be confirmed by reference to formal documentation. India should adopt the “risk-based approach” and not the “wholesale de-risking approach”.Research limitations/implicationsGiven their low-risk characteristics, closed-loop cards, specifically cards which do not allow reloads or withdrawals, remain outside the scope of this paper.Originality/valueAlthough there have been researchers who adopted the comparative approach like Jean J Luyat and Will Cain, the comparative approach adopted by those researchers was not detailed enough and also was not aimed at seeking to answer the research question in Section 1 of this paper. Both writers focused on only the aspect of financial inclusion making the whole research a one-sided approach. Jean J Luyat focused on “how regulation had an impact on the development of prepaid cards in Japan and Europe”. He was able to discover that prepaid cards were growing rapidly in Japan but not gaining acceptance as a payment method in the European Union (EU) and France. He aligned such growth in Japan to different factors including regulation. He stated that Japan had a simple and flexible regulatory framework compared to the EU and France which have a complex regulatory system with strict prudential requirements. Nothing was said about the money laundering aspect of such regulation and neither was anything said about thresholds and other optional recommendations canvased by the Financial Action Task Force. The Electronic Money Directive referred to by Jean J Luyat has already been repealed and a second Electronic Money Directive is in place. A comparative approach is adopted in this research seeking to compare the approach in Nigeria with that of the UK, the USA and India. Each of these countries adopted different approaches. The results are to help answer the research question in Section 1 of this paper. The countries were selected on the basis of how strict their regulatory regime is. India’s regulatory regime is the strictest while the UK and the USA are the most lenient. Nigeria is caught in between strict/lenient.

单用途预付卡的监管途径

The number of claims related to hardly canceling the single-use prepaid cards has risen. Judicial practice has characterized them as cash coupon or debt vouchers, but it should be more precisely defined as trust vouchers. To solve the problems of hardly canceling the card, the existing regulatory measurement, such as establishing the filing system, do not effectively work. Because such measurement only limits the maximum prepaid amount of money of single-card but lacks the supervision on the funds, the guarantee insurance is not popularized, so the fund trust and financing insurance should be established to supervise single-use prepaid cards.

ANALISIS PENGARUH PARTISIPASI PENYUSUNAN ANGGARAN DAN KOMITMEN ORGANISASI TERHADAP KINERJA APARAT PEMERINTAH DAERAH DENGAN GAYA KEPEMIMPINAN SEBAGAI VARIABEL MODERATING

Indonesia is a country with more than 250 million people, spread over thousands of islands stretching from Sabang Island to Irian Jaya Island. Residents in their quest for a better life, will migrate to other islands. This actual condition becomes a great opportunity for telecommunication companies through mobile operators to gain profit. Various innovations are made and offered to users with different purposes and approaches. The consumer himself is a very distinctive person and carries his identity as part of a tradition. They will carry the identity of that tradition and culture along with its migration. In kehidpannya, humans need a communication channel in the form of mobile operators in accordance with the style and personal characteristics. This study aims to determine the influence of cultural factors on the purchase decision of prepaid cell phone prepaid card. The research method used in this research is correlation method, with multiple regeresi analysis tool and processed by using SPSS 2017. This research use sample with 95 kuisinoner which can be used. Based on the results of regression with t test and F test can be concluded that cultural factors have a positive and significant impact on the purchase decision process prepaid prepaid card, while the results of F test, indicate that cultural factors and social factors together positively influence the purchase decision consumer.

Alternative Methods for Studying Consumer Payment Choice

The study of consumer payment choice at the point of sale involves a classification of payment methods such as cash, credit cards, debit cards, prepaid cards, paper checks, and electronic payments withdrawn from consumers' bank account. I describe alternative methods for studying consumer payment choice using some machine learning techniques applied to consumer diary survey data. The results are then compared to the more traditional logistic regression methods. Machine learning techniques have advantages in generating predictions of payment choice, in visualization of the results, and when applied to high-dimensional data. The logistic regression approach has an advantage in interpreting the probability that a buyer uses a specific payment instrument.