Foursquare and AmEx team up on discount deals

The location-based social networking service has yet to take off as fully in the UK as it has in the US—but this move will do its prospects no harm. The scheme asks American Express cardholders to securely sync their cards with their Foursquare account, then check in to access offers. The savings are then automatically credited to their AmEx account a few days after they pay for their food and drink with their card—removing the need for paper or mobile-based vouchers and codes.

Chains to have signed up to the new initiative include Bella Italia, Café Rouge, EAT, Nando’s, Pizza Express and Strada. All are offering £10 cash back on purchases of £10 or more, except Eat, which will give £5 back for purchases of £5 or more. The deals are limited to one per person per place and are available to personal rather than corporate cardholders.

The UK launch follows a similar initiative that was launched in the US last year. It also represents another step in the direction of mobile-based payment systems.

Julie Hay, head of credit cards at American Express, said: “This partnership with Foursquare is a first for our UK Cardmembers at a time when value-driven Brits are becoming increasingly tech savvy. It's a perfect way to get hassle-free discounts."

Launching the new offers, American Express pointed to research that suggests 53% of UK adults makes greater use of vouchers and discounts than they did a year ago. Consumers spend an average of 45 minutes a week seeking out money-off deals, it claims, while 78% of British adults say they are more likely to use a restaurant if it offers a deal.