WALTHAM, Mass. — Global Partners LP is implementing PayByCar, a pay-by-text service, at all 30 Alltown gas stations in Massachusetts. The technology will allow fuel customers to pay without having to use cash, a credit card or a mobile app.
Those with E-ZPass toll transponders who register for PayByCar on the PayByCar website will be able to pay for their fuel using their transponders without having to touch the gas station keypad. Vehicles without a toll transponder can use PayByCar’s non-toll sticker to enroll.
“Following the success of PayByCar’s first in the nation breakthrough test pilot program at Alltown of Westborough last year, we are proud to expand our pay-by-text service throughout Massachusetts,” said Kevin Condon, CEO and founder of Framingham, Mass.-based PayByCar.
Upon entering a participating gas station, PayByCar recognizes a car’s transponder and sends a text to the customer’s smartphone. The customer then replies to the text with the pump number and PayByCar automatically turns that pump on, registers the transaction, charges the card and sends the customer an e-receipt.
“We’re living at a time when contactless payments are increasingly important,” said Mark Cosenza, senior vice president of Global Partners and owner of Alltown convenience stores. “We’re excited to offer drivers not only the convenience of simple and quick transactions, but also the added safety and peace of mind during the age of COVID-19."
The technology will soon be available for other kinds of transactions such as paying inside convenience stores and at car washes, drive-thrus and restaurants in 2021. Since PayByCar’s launch, the company has reached a non-toll services pilot agreement with the E-ZPass Group in 2018 that allows the PayByCar product to leverage the transponder devices E-ZPass drivers already use to pay for highway tolls across 18 states—a service the agency group calls “Driven by E-ZPass.”
- Global Partners is No. 27 onCSP’s 2020 Top 202 list of c-stores by store count.
Waltham, Mass.-based Global Partners has nearly 300 company-owned c-stores, including Alltown and Alltown Fresh. PayByCar became available at four Alltown locations in Marlborough, Framingham, Wellesley and Westborough Mass., with the 26 more Massachusetts locations rolling out in 2021.
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