E-Clear: Company background and latest news

Shortly before Christmas, credit card processing firm E-Clear was thrust into the spotlight by its involvement in the failures of Globespan and Allbury Travel Group.

E-Clear is now embroiled in a legal battle with Globespan administrators PricewaterhouseCoopers and faces debt disputes with Totally Travel and Go Travel, which claim they are owed £200,000 and £300,000 respectively.

 

What is E-Clear?

 

E-Clear operates in a financial middle ground. It facilitates the passage of customers' credit card payments to merchants, i.e. its travel firm clients.

 

Merchant acquirers (banks that process payments) are increasingly wary of the travel sector, and the credit industry is facing greater liability thanks to a confused ATOL system and a scaling back of ABTA's protection role. Those conditions have created a niche in which firms such as E-Clear – which are prepared to take on greater risks than major merchant acquirers – can grow.

 

 

E-Clear in the news

 

News stories

 

Comment and analysis

• E-Clear in the spotlight [Travolution]
• Are credit cards still the travel trade's 'flexible friend'?
• The cost of consumer protection is worth paying

 

 

E-Clear online

• Official website
• LinkedIn profile