No Cash, No Problem, Klarna’s Card Makes U.S. Debut

Klarna, a leader in global payments and shopping services powered by artificial intelligence, has now opened its waitlist to U.S. consumers for its newly introduced Klarna Card. This card, facilitated through WebBank, is designed to offer users a range of payment flexibilities, accessible both online and in physical retail locations. Users benefit from zero foreign transaction fees, making it an excellent choice for international use.

Sebastian Siemiatkowski, Co-Founder and CEO of Klarna, expressed excitement about the launch, emphasizing the card’s transparency and the absence of hidden fees. He highlighted that the card supports various payment methods and offers cashback rewards when utilized via the Klarna app, promoting smarter financial management among consumers.

Recent data from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York indicates that credit card debt in the U.S. reached a record $1.13 trillion in 2023. Klarna’s new offering contrasts traditional credit models by providing a pay-later option that includes interest-free payments if settled within the monthly billing period or paid early. This model not only facilitates better budget management but also encourages responsible spending.

Integration with the Klarna app enriches the shopping experience, offering seamless transactions and a user-friendly interface for managing purchases and payments. The card also allows up to 10% cash back at selected merchants, further enhancing user benefits.

As reported by TechCrunch, Klarna’s U.S. launch marks a significant expansion for the Swedish fintech, which competes with major players like Apple and Robinhood in the credit sector. The no-annual-fee card, compatible with major digital wallets like Google Pay and Apple Pay, is part of Klarna’s broader strategy to embed flexibility in consumer payment options and to offer alternatives to traditional revolving credit.

David Fock, Chief Product and Design Officer at Klarna, noted that the card is a direct response to consumer demand for flexible payment solutions that align with modern spending habits. The option to spread payments over several months, subject to interest rates competitive within the BNPL sector, catifies this consumer-first approach.

As Klarna continues to grow its U.S. market presence, it aims to provide a financially sound alternative amid rising credit card debts, aligning with consumer trends towards more sustainable financial products.

This article is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional financial advice. Please consult with a qualified financial advisor or lawyer in your jurisdiction before making any financial decisions based on the content provided.

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Post-Brexit: data protection
Card processor sends sensitive data to wrong address
24 August 2022

Worldline SA subsidiary Payone GmbH has been accused of breaching data protection rules after it sent sensitive employee payroll information to the wrong address by accident. The Worldline Group holdS a 60% stake in the Frankfurt based company who have a small UK market presence.

In June 2021, one of Payone GmbH’s ex UK employees (the data subject) received a “potential data breach notification” from the firm advising him that his salary, National Insurance data, nationality (Special Category Data) was amongst various bits of information sent to an incorrect home address.

This included personal information such as the former employees name, age and address.  It also included details such as the date of birth and the amount of annual work bonus he received in his bank account amongst other identifiable data.

Payone GmbH confirmed that this document was sent out in error following an employee making a mistake when re-entering data processed by their third-party payroll provider.  The error arose when the employee was fulfilling an Article 15 GDPR request. The error was spotted by the data subject when he noticed in an email version of the document that the postal address was incorrect. An attempt to notify Payone GmbH of the error went in vain as the document was already irretrievably despatched.

The data subject was alarmed with the incident which exposed him to the possibility of fraudulent activity, amidst reasonable fears his data could end up on the dark web and used by criminals.  Habitually resident in the UK he complained to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) in June 2021. He similarly raised the concern in Germany via The Hessian Commissioner for Data Protection and Freedom of Information (HBDI).

The ICO reprimanded Payone GmbH for the error in their final decision letter.
Similarly, the HBDI cited a violation of Article 5(f) of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) relating to integrity and confidentiality.

The ICO stated in their July 2021 findings that Payone GmbH, “should take steps to ensure that all personal data records are accurate and up to date. Holding inaccurate information, such as addresses, does increase the risk of personal data breaches and poses risks to the security of information”.

The HBDI confirmed in their October 2021 findings that Payone GmbH had taken remedial action. They concluded that a monetary fine would not be imposed on Payone GmbH as they had taken technical and organisational steps in response to the data breach. Data subjects could now request their data in an autonomous portal.

The GDPR, which came into effect in 2018, gave the Information Commissioner’s Office greater powers to tackle data breaches. The new ‘UK GDPR’ charts its own course after Brexit whilst seeking to maintain EU GDPR adequacy.  In extreme scenarios, organisations face penalties of up to £20m or 4 per cent of their global worldwide turnover, whichever is more.

In the years prior to GDPR, the ICO fines were capped at £500,000.

The data subject said: “I am just glad I spotted it; they were going to resend the document again to another wrong address. Prior to Brexit the process would have been commenced via the ICO who in turn would liaise with the HBDI on the data subjects’ behalf; but I found myself communicating with both authorities separately which was an additional step but in the end was surprisingly
effective. Unfortunately, Payone GmbH again sent my incorrect address to the
Workers Pension Trust in January 2022, and documents yet again went to the wrong address. In my opinion they have not learned from the first time and my complaint is sitting with the ICO yet again”.

The former employee is pursuing a remedy under Article 82 UK GDPR via
the Court’s of England & Wales.

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