As the PayPoint row continues to run, two more “switch-off” dates have been announced by retailers.

A group of retailers are planning to collectively switch off their PayPoint terminals on 8 and 9 September in protest at the move to reduce caps on commission.

The group plans to decline all top-ups with the exception of gas and electricity so as not to inconvenience elderly or vulnerable customers.

The last co-ordinated switch-off in early May resulted in PayPoint suspending a number of accounts.

However, not all retailers believe switching off terminals to be the best course of action.

One store owner who did not wish to be named said: “It’s all becoming a bit unprofessional and, to be honest, I don’t feel that the first switch-off really achieved anything. Obviously, I’m angry at how we are being treated, but I believe that the best course of action is to simply stop promoting the service.

“I have taken down all signage and advertising and I don’t mention PayPoint unless customers ask for it. In the end, PayPoint will see that with no retailer support to push it further, growth will simply stop.”

PayPoint announced the first of what it called a “new programme of retail service improvements” last week, including a new freephone number for its call centre. The move follows a consultation into potential improvements in the light of recent reductions to the commission cap.

PayPoint chief executive Dominic Taylor said: “We have been keen to engage and have listened carefully to our retailers and are determined to ensure that we communicate better and operate in a supportive way to front-line retail requirements.

“This important call centre change is the first of a number of new initiatives to address directly the concerns raised by retailers.”