New credit card text service from Mint

September 24, 2006

By Peter Kenny

Mint has today launched a new service to its cardholders. Mint customers will have the option of paying their credit card bill through text messages.

A UK first, this innovative service allows Mint credit card holders the option of paying their monthly balance by using a registered debit card.

Designed to meet the needs of the modern, time limited, consumer this new text service is a step up from similar text based facilities offered by other credit card companies.

Although other banks and credit card companies allow customers to check their balances through a text service, Mint have gone one stage further by offering a unique option for their customers.

Mint cardholders who register for this service will receive a text message, which will coincide with their monthly statement. The message will inform the customer of the current balance and minimum payment required. The customer can simply reply to the text message with the amount they wish to pay. Mint will send a further confirmation request, which the customer will have to respond to with a ‘YES’, is they require the payment to be processed.

Any Mint customers wishing to partake in this service have to register a mobile phone number as well as a debit card where payments will be taken from. Cardholders will also agree to a security code word.

According to a survey commissioned by Mint, 27 per cent of people asked said they were too busy to pay bills using traditional means and over 37 per cent said they found bills a ‘hassle’

Managing Director of Mint, Jerry Toher, said, “'Given the fast pace of modern life it seemed important for Mint to find a clever way for people's money to work around them, rather than the other way around.”