Starting next summer, music festivals in the UK will go entirely cashless, according to which4u.co.uk.
The new payment method will most likely involve preloaded contactless wristbands, which will act as both tickets to the event and as contactless payment devices, allowing concert goers to purchase concessions, merchandise and gain access to fairground attractions.
Two “well known” UK festivals have already signed on to the cash free scheme for summer 2011, reports which4u.
Barclaycard will be demonstrating the technology at this year’s Wireless Festival in London, and Download Festival says it is “trying out” the new technology before next year’s event.
Festival Republic, which manages some of the biggest events in the UK including Reading and Leeds festivals, also successfully introduced the technology at last year’s Hove festival in Norway.
In addition to relieving the burden of carrying cash for concertgoers, the new technology is expected to reduce theft and fraud by festival staff workers, speed up sales and provide greater security for access control.
Additionally, the new system will allow users to transfer any unused cash on the wristbands back to their bank accounts, and if the wristband is lost or stolen, the customer can freeze their account, rendering it unusable.
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