Experian lands international contract with Fitness First

LONDON - Experian QAS has won a contract to supply its QAS Pro address validation tool to gym chain Fitness First.

Fitness First, which operates across Europe, Asia and Australia, will use Experian's software to validate international addresses and international bank accounts so that membership applications are processed quickly and new customers can start using the club's facilities straight away.

Experian Payments' Bank Wizard software will validate bank account information to ensure that direct debit mandates are set up correctly.

QAS Pro and Bank Wizard have been deployed in Fitness First Clubs throughout France, Italy, Spain, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and Belgium.

In 2009, they will be rolled out in Australia, Germany, the UK and Asia, as Fitness First delivers a programme to standardise its membership management and billing platform across all the countries in which it operates.

Steve Homan, chief information officer at Fitness First, said: "We are passionate about our customers having a positive membership experience and that means getting their vital information right first time.

"Experian was an obvious choice because of its global presence and the fact that its products are first class and easy to integrate and maintain."