UK Contactless payment limit increases to £30

[xxMATTGxx]

UK residents can now make contactless payments of up to £30 without the need for a PIN.

The increase from the prior limit of £20 means that people will be able to use phone-based payment services like Apple Pay, as well as contactless cards, for a wider range of transactions across the country. The UK Cards Association, which decided on the change, says that £30 covers common usages like an average supermarket spend, as well as most payments made in pubs, cinemas, gift shops, and elsewhere.

The question remains how long this limit will last. Apple Pay has no transaction limit in the US, the only other country where it's available, but the iPhone guarantees an extra layer of security. In the UK, many people also use contactless cards that work without any other authentication, so the limit is in place to prevent easy fraud and theft if the card is lost. Some retailers have been operating terminals with a higher transaction limit for Apple Pay, but today's move raises the bar across the nation.

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2015/9/1/923...d-to-30-pounds


Some good news for us Brits who use contactless payments or Apple Pay!

[Cerinacy]

Some shops aren't accepting the £30 limit just yet as the software on the card machines needs to be upgraded and some retailers in the UK haven't done this just yet.

[Hannah]

Unless anyone loses their card - then someone can willingly spend £30 each transaction rather than the initial £20 before the card holder realises their card is no longer in their possession.

I've always been paranoid about losing my card purely because of its contactless feature. It's much more difficult to spend on a card when you need a pin to make purchases.

[Kyle]

What do you guys use contactless to pay for primarily?

[Hannah]

What do you guys use contactless to pay for primarily?

When a little corner shop has contactless and doesn't give me the option to pay with chip and pin

[xxMATTGxx]

Some shops aren't accepting the £30 limit just yet as the software on the card machines needs to be upgraded and some retailers in the UK haven't done this just yet.

Yeah the article does state it will take a couple of weeks for it to be widely adopted.

Unless anyone loses their card - then someone can willingly spend £30 each transaction rather than the initial £20 before the card holder realises their card is no longer in their possession.

I've always been paranoid about losing my card purely because of its contactless feature. It's much more difficult to spend on a card when you need a pin to make purchases.

I guess you have a point but you are probably protected by your bank. This is from the Visa contactless payment page:

What if a Visa contactless card gets lost or stolen? Isn’t it like writing a blank cheque to a fraudster?

No. Although it looks very simple to make a transaction, Visa contactless cards are protected in many different ways.

Each participating contactless bank sets a limit on the number or value of Visa contactless transactions that can be made before a cardholder is asked to do a normal chip and PIN transaction. If you are a regular user of Visa contactless, you may have noticed this happening – as, every now and then, you will be asked to verify your transaction with your PIN to prove that it is you in possession of your card.

And, just like any other Visa transaction, your bank is routinely looking out for any unusual transactions that may show that it is not you using your card. You will get the same level of protection as any other Visa Debit or Visa Credit transaction. And, if your card is lost or stolen, the card will be blocked by your bank instantly.

If your card is lost or stolen you should notify your bank as soon as possible. If anyone has fraudulently used your contactless card to make a payment, providing you take reasonable precautions to protect your card and let your bank know as soon as you realise it’s gone, you will not be responsible for any losses incurred (subject to your bank’s terms and conditions).

What do you guys use contactless to pay for primarily?

I use it anywhere that accepts contactless.

[Tom]

I think it's good that they've raised the limit! I do use contactless where possible but it's only mainly available in food places I go to. When it's available in places like Sainsburys, etc. I would probably use Apple Pay a lot!

[Joe]

I only use it when I can't be bothered so this is a decent addition!

[MKR&*42]

Very happy about this, wondered when they were gonna raise the limit

[Hannah]

I guess you have a point but you are probably protected by your bank. This is from the Visa contactless payment page:

I dunno, how much proof are each of the bank going to want before reimbursing losses? Banks don't like giving you your own money, let alone paying for losses. :rolleyes: