SIX Payment Services (Europe) S.A., the international provider of card-based payment solutions, and Diners Club Italia S.r.l., which belongs to Discover Network and Diners Club International, today announced the signing of a long-term merchant acquisition agreement for Italy. The purpose of the agreement is to promote the acceptance of Diners Club and Discover cards in Italy.
The agreement closes a gap that SIX Payment Services has had in its card acceptance range in Italy. Henceforth, SIX Payment Services will support the acceptance of the Diners Club Card and Discover Card in 16 European countries. By doing so, it is adding an additional major card brand to its product range in Italy, which currently consists of the Visa, MasterCard, UnionPay and JCB credit cards, along with V PAY and Maestro debit cards.
Commenting on the deal, Christian Ceroni, SIX Payment Services, Country Manager Italy, said: “We’re delighted with this agreement, as it strengthens our position in Italy and as an international, cross-brand acquirer which offers payment solutions internationally from a single source. Our aim is to offer our merchants freedom of choice and the additional acceptance of Diners Club and Discover cards makes this possible.”
Antonio Calegari, General Manager of Diners Club Italia, commented: “With this agreement, we have taken another important step towards expanding our presence in Italy. With SIX Payment Services, the central contact point for the acceptance of the Diners Club credit card in Europe, the option of paying with our card will now be ensured.”
Diners Club, a premium credit card used by more than eight million cardholders worldwide, is welcomed by over 14 million merchants in 185 countries today. More than 50 million cardholders rely on Discover Card, which is accepted by around eight million merchants in the US and Mexico.
Merchants who decide to activate Diners Club automatically will also accept Discover cards under the same terms and conditions. “By simultaneously accepting both Diners Club and Discover cards, merchants can tap into a lucrative new group of customers and thus great sales potential” adds Christian Ceroni.
The processing of Diners Club and Discover cards by SIX Payment Services will be possible starting April 2013. Interested merchants can already receive an offer from SIX Payment Services today and sign a corresponding agreement.
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