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How does contactless work? expandable section
Contactless technology makes paying for anything up to £100 smooth and simple. Just look out for thecontactless symbol when you’re ready to pay, then hold your card close to the reader within - 2-4centimetres. As soon as you hear the beep or see a green light, the payment should be complete.
When you first use your contactless card, you’ll be asked to set it up by paying with chip and PIN or signing for the purchase. This is a one time confirmation for security reasons. Once you’ve done that, yourfuture transactions can be contactless. If the cost of the payment is more than £100, you’ll need to usechip and PIN instead.
As a security measure, you might sometimes be asked to type in your PIN for a transaction under £100.This can happen if you’ve made several contactless transactions in a short space of time.
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How will I know if my card is a contactless card? expandable section
To check whether your credit or debit card is contactless, look out for the symbol on the card. It’s fourlines, curved and increasing in size from left to right, on the front or back of your card. You might noticeit’s similar to the Wi-Fi symbol.
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Where can I use contactless? expandable section
You can use contactless cards anywhere you see the contactless symbolwhich is the same as thesymbol on your card. Many shops, restaurants and businesses will have this clearly displayed at the till, oron their card readers.
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How many times can you use contactless in a day? expandable section
You can use a contactless card as many times as you like within a dayso long as each purchase is under£100. Just bear in mind that you may be asked to use chip and PIN after using contactless a few times in arow. Don’t worry, it’s just an extra security measure to check it’s you making any payments.
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Can I use contactless abroad? expandable section
Yes, you can use your contactless card abroad. The technology is used globally, so wherever you see thecontactless symbol, it should be available.
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How secure are contactless payments? expandable section
Any debit or credit card with the contactless symbol has the same anti-fraud protection as your regularchip and PIN cards.
If you lose your card or it is stolen, you are protected against fraud loss. You’ll just need to let us know assoon as you realise your card has gone missing.
You might also be asked to insert your contactless card into the reader and enter your PIN every now andagain. This is a security measure that can help make sure the card is being used by the right person.
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Will I get charged twice if I double tap on the reader? expandable section
No, there’s no need to worry about mistaken double payments. Contactless technology is set up to makesure a second tap isn’t registered, and you’re only charged for the transaction once.
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What happens if I try to pay for goods over the contactless limit of £100? expandable section
It’s not possible to make a contactless payment of over £100 with a contactless card. You have to insertyour credit or debit card into the reader and type your PIN number, or you might be asked to do a swipetransaction.
Different limits might apply when using Apple Pay or Google Pay.
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When do contactless payments appear on my statement? expandable section
Usually, contactless card payments will show up on your bank statement within a few days after thetransaction. You can check to see if it’s showing up in your pending transactions before then.
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What if I don't want a contactless card? expandable section
Our cards are now contactless as standard. If you don't want a contactless card, you can now use our app tofreeze contactless transactions.
The quickest way to stop contactless transactions is to freeze them in our app.
If you want to request a card that is not contactless you can message us online or call us to order one.
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Can I use contactless on Transport for London (TfL) services? expandable section
Yes, contactless can be used on Transport for London services.
Find out more abouthow to use contactless on TfL services.
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Is using contactless to pay secure? expandable section
Absolutely. Your contactless card has the same anti-fraud protection as regular ‘chip & pin’ cards. If your card is lost or stolen, your card has protection against fraud loss, provided that you inform us as soon as you realise your card is missing. For added protection, you will occasionally be asked to enter your PIN when making a payment and your PIN will always be needed for payments of over £100.
FAQs
Why does my contactless keep getting declined? ›
Payments may be declined because: Your bank has declined a previous transaction and your card/device is blocked. Your bank hasn't approved the transaction. The card has not had a chip and PIN transaction for a period of time.
What are the disadvantages of contactless cards? ›Because contactless payments require neither PIN nor signature authorisation, lost or stolen contactless cards can be used to make fraudulent transactions.
How to stop contactless cards from being skimmed? ›Don't keep your cards in easily accessible pockets or bags which will draw pickpockets' attention. Line your wallet or cardholder with tin foil to block scamming devices from reading your card. If you don't fancy the DIY approach, there are products like RFID readers available which do the same thing.
Why won't my contactless payment work? ›Your NFC antenna could be near the top or middle of your device. Hold your phone closer to the payment reader. Hold your phone close to the payment reader for a few more seconds. Move your phone out of range of the payment reader for a few seconds and try again.
Why does my card keep getting declined even though I have money? ›Your card may be declined for a number of reasons: the card has expired; you're over your credit limit; the card issuer sees suspicious activity that could be a sign of fraud; or a hotel, rental car company, or other business placed a block (or hold) on your card for its estimated total of your bill.
What is the issue with contactless cards? ›Solution: Try cleaning your card with a soft cloth or tissue and try again. If that doesn't work, try inserting the card into the terminal and entering your PIN number. If the problem persists, contact your card issuer for assistance.
Do contactless cards stop working? ›There are also security measures that minimize fraud from lost or stolen cards. The number of contactless transactions is limited before having to reset in the card in contact mode, or the card will automatically stop functioning.
How many times can you tap a contactless card? ›You can use a contactless card as many times as you like within a day so long as each purchase is under £100. Just bear in mind that you may be asked to use chip and PIN after using contactless a few times in a row.
Is contactless safer than chip and PIN? ›Contactless payments are secure. You enjoy the same 100% fraud protection on contactless payments as your normal Chip & PIN transactions. For security purposes, you'll occasionally be asked to enter your PIN when making a contactless payment.
How do you tell if your card has been skimmed? ›You won't know that your card has been skimmed until you see unusual transactions, which is why it's important to regularly monitor your account and review card statements. You can also set up card alerts to get emails, texts or app notifications for new transactions.
Can my debit card be scanned while in your wallet? ›
Similarly to card skimming, card scanning is a type of payment card theft where the fraudster with a scanning device gets close enough to your bag or wallet to scan your card number. This type of fraud is enabled by the fact that today's payment cards typically work on Radio Identification Frequency (RFID) technology.
Do skimmers work if you tap to pay? ›Use tap to pay or contactless pay whenever you can. These methods are usually safer because the skimmer can't grab your card info like it can when you slide or dip. This uses Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, which only works over a very short distance (a few centimeters).
Why contactless payment is bad? ›Instead of skimming, the biggest security issue with contactless credit cards will involve physical possession of the card. No PIN or signature is typically required when using contactless payment, so if your card is lost or stolen it could be used by someone else without easy detection.
Why does my contactless card keep declining? ›Your card issuer has declined payment
This may be because your bank account doesn't have enough money to pay for your journey. If this happens you'll need to get your card reauthorised. You can do this in two ways: Contact your card issuer.
Incompatible card machine
Sometimes the merchant's card machine simply does not support the contactless payment method. Technical glitches can also hinder functionality, even if the device typically processes tap-to-pay transactions.
It may be due to the physical card, the linked account, a connection issue or merchant error. The following are some common reasons which may assist you to understand why your transaction may have declined. The card may be damaged, preventing the terminal from reading the chip or magstripe.
Why is my contactless not working on my iPhone? ›Tap Download and Install if there is an update available. Step 2: Check if the card you are using is supported by Apple Pay and the merchant. Some contactless cards may not be accepted by certain terminals. You can also try switching to a different card in your Apple Wallet and see if that works.
Why is my Apple Pay declining? ›The card is not recognized in your country. Insufficient balance or account in arrears. Account suspended for suspected fraud (not necessarily by you) Error in card number.