CardSafe seeks fast growth

More than 1,000 pubs and other outlets are now using the CardSafe scheme to beat the prospect of credit-card fraud.

CardSafe is a toughened plastic unit that holds up to 10 credit cards in a locked drawer. The customer is given the key to the drawer so they know their card is safe.

The system's owner CardSafe Limited has reported "another solid year of growth in 2007", which "means the company is ready to expand faster across the UK".

Punch Taverns, JD Wetherspoon and Barracuda are among the operators that currently use CardSafe.

CardSafe sales director Chris Holloway said: "Although the product is being used in pubs, clubs, hotels, golf clubs, swimming pools and even Harvey Nichols and Thorpe Park, we have to spread the word about this product to a wider customer base.

"It has proved its worth

in some pretty tough

environments and we are delighted that this product is getting the recognition it deserves."

Lee Forbes of the Mill Tavern in Haslemere, Surrey, who has used CardSafe for more than three years, said: "My customers feel secure in handing over their credit or debit cards because they know there isn't going to be any cloning or fraudulent behaviour going on."