Frequently Asked Questions
About contactless technology
What is contactless technology?
Contactless technology is a fast and easy way to pay for goods and services under£100 without entering a PIN. Contactless cards have an embedded antenna in the plastic so that when it is used at a contactless reader it securely transmits purchase information to and from the contactless reader. All you have to do is place your contactless card over the contactless reader to make the payment.
How does contactless technology benefit me?
It's faster and easier than other types of payment:
- You don't always have to carry cash or worry about looking for exact change when making small value everyday purchases at participating retailers
- You don't have to enter your PIN for payments under £100. You may have to on some occasions as a security measure to verify that you, the authorised cardholder, are still in possession of the card.
- There's no need to queue for so long as contactless speeds up the time it takes to make a payment
- You are in control because your card never has to leave your hand when making a payment at the reader
- You will have a record of all your everyday purchases on your account statement
How do I know if my card comes with contactless technology?
If you see the contactless symbol on your card it means that your card comes with this payment technology.
How can I get a contactless card?
Customers will automatically be issued a contactless card when their card is next renewed or replaced (subject to eligibility).
Making contactless payments
How do I use my contactless card?
- Look for the contactless symbol when paying for items up to the value of£100
- Touch the reader with your contactless card
- Confirm successful payment when you see the green light and hear the beep. For extra security you may occasionally be asked to enter your PIN.
Where can I use my contactless card?
You can use your contactless card wherever you see the contactless symbol. There are already lots of retailers in the UK that offer contactless payments.
Can I use contactless to get cash out at an ATM?
No, you can't get cash out of an ATM using contactless.
Can I use contactless to get cash back?
No, cash back is not available on contactless transactions. If you wish to receive cash back you can still use your card to make a standard Chip and PIN transaction.
How close does my card need to be to the reader?
You should hold your contactless card within a few centimetres of the contactless terminal. If you choose to keep multiple cards in your wallet or purse while paying, only one card will be read by the contactless reader. If you have multiple cards in your wallet or purse, the card read by the reader and the account charged may not necessarily be the one you intended. The surest way is to remove the card you want to use from your wallet or purse and hold it against the contactless reader.
Is there a limit on the value of goods I can purchase with my contactless card?
You can use your contactless card to pay for items up to the value of £100. For purchases over£100 you will need to enter your PIN.
Are there any fees for paying with contactless?
There are no additional fees for using your contactless card. However, standard fees and charges do apply.
How do I know when the payment has been made?
The card reader will indicate that the payment has been made - a green light and beep indicates successful payment.
Will I receive a receipt for my transaction?
Contactless payments are designed to let you make low value transactions quickly and conveniently. If you'd like a receipt to confirm the contactless transaction, just ask the merchant when you pay.
I carry more than one card in my wallet, which one will be used if I tap my wallet to the reader?
It's always a good idea to take your contactless card out of your wallet to touch the reader - this will make sure the right contactless card is debited. If more than one is placed on the reader, a red light will be shown on the reader to tell you the payment has not completed.
Can I use my contactless card abroad?
Yes, you can use your contactless card abroad just as you can in the UK. Contactless transactions will be accepted wherever the contactless symbol is displayed.Please be aware that the contactless transaction limit of£100 may vary depending on local limits (may be more or less).
Security of contactless payments
Is contactless technology secure?
Yes. Contactless uses the latest secure encryption technology (same as Chip and PIN) so you can feel confident when using it to pay for items. There is a maximum amount of£100 allowed per transaction and, from time to time, you will be asked to enter your PIN to verify you are the genuine card holder. If your card is lost or stolen, you're protected against fraud loss providing you take the kind of precautions we recommend and let us know as soon as you realise it's gone.
Could I unknowingly make a purchase as I walk past a reader?
No. The retailer must have entered the amount for you to approve first, and then your card has to be held within a couple of centimetres of the terminal for longer than half a second.
Could my card details be intercepted during a payment?
Contactless only works when a card is close to the card reader. This makes it virtually impossible for any details to be intercepted while in use. Also, each card reader contains security technology based on industry-wide standards.
Is there any chance that payments may be taken twice from my account?
No. Contactless card readers are only able to make one transaction at a time. As a safeguard, each transaction must be complete or void before another can take place.
How do I know that my payment information is secure?
The contactless technology platforms are based on secure EMV chip technology, which provides both data protection and transaction security via the use of keys and the latest encryption technology. Transactions are processed through the same payment network as EMV chip transactions.
Why don't I need to enter my PIN or sign for purchases?
To ensure that using contactless technology is as simple and convenient as cash, retailers that accept contactless payments do not require you to sign or enter your PIN for small purchases of under £100.
If my card is lost or stolen, can the person that finds it use it repeatedly?
If someone makes several contactless payments in a row, they'll be prompted to enter the card's PIN for security validation purposes. Contactless transactions are further protected by the fact that they can only be made on items totalling£100 or less. For transactions above that amount, the payee will be asked to make a Chip & PIN payment in the usual way. If your card is lost or stolen please let us know immediately and we'll cancel and replace it for you.
What should I do if my contactless card has been lost or stolen?
You should notify us as soon as possible by calling us on 03456 007 010. If anyone has fraudulently used your contactless card to make a transaction, as long as you have kept your details safe, you will not be responsible for any losses incurred.
Contactless payments in the TFL network
Can I use my contactless card for London bus journeys?
Yes, London buses now accept contactless cards.
How do contactless payments on London buses work?
London buses that accept contactless cards will have a sticker with the contactless symbol on next to the bus driver. To pay with contactless, simply touch the reader to pay in seconds - as soon as you hear the beep, and/or see a green light, your payment is complete. There's no need to find cash or top up your Pay As You Go Oyster card first.
Can I use my contactless card on the rest of the Transport for London network?
You will now be able to use your contactless payment card on Underground, overground, DLR and Tram.The cost of the journey will be no different from the current pay as you go Oyster fare. Full details can be found on the Transport for London website.
Can I use my contactless card and Oyster card interchangeably during a week?
Yes, you could use your Oyster card one day and your contactless card on another day in the same week.
How much is a single adult bus fare when I use a contactless card?
Please visit www.tfl.gov.uk for the latest prices.
What should I do if my contactless card has been lost or stolen?
You should notify us as soon as possible by calling us on 03456 007 010. If anyone has fraudulently used your contactless card to make a transaction, as long as you have kept your details safe, you will not be responsible for any losses incurred.
FAQs
How do I use my HSBC contactless debit card? ›
Contactless is:
Simply touch the reader with your contactless card to pay in seconds. No need to find cash and no hanging around at the till for change or receipts unless you need one. Contactless payments are safe and secure. You are 100% protected against fraud, just like you are with Chip & PIN payments.
You may have exceeded the limits for contactless payments.
To reset the limits for contactless payments, please just make the next purchase by inserting the card into the card reader and confirming the transaction by PIN.
Contactless payments are touch-free with no need to type in your PIN or hand over your card. Simply touch your card to the reader, listen for the beep, and your payment is securely processed.
How many times a day can I use my contactless bank card? ›Card issuers only allow five consecutive contactless transactions that can be made before a PIN is requested in order to prevent fraud.
How many times can you use contactless before it asks for your PIN UK? ›There isn't a daily limit for contactless payments. However, from time to time, when you shop using contactless payments, you'll need to put your card into the machine and enter your PIN to verify it's you, before you can use contactless again.
How do I use my contactless card for the first time? ›The first time you use your contactless card for a transaction, you'll be asked to use chip and PIN or sign for your purchase. Once you've done that, all future transactions can be contactless. You need to hold your card very close to the reader (around 2 – 4 centimetres) for it to work.
What are the disadvantages of contactless debit card? ›Potential security concerns
Because contactless payments require neither PIN nor signature authorisation, lost or stolen contactless cards can be used to make fraudulent transactions.
You can use your contactless card unlimited times per day. However, due to contactless payment security reasons, most banks limit the amount of contactless transactions to five per day, before a Chip & PIN authorisation is required. This number may vary from bank to bank, but most will limit you to five.
What do you do if contactless doesn't work? ›Make sure your phone is awake and unlocked. Hold your phone in a different way. Your NFC antenna could be near the top or middle of your device. Hold your phone closer to the payment reader.
What is HSBC contactless limit? ›Yes. Contactless uses the latest secure encryption technology (same as Chip and PIN) so you can feel confident when using it to pay for items. There is a maximum amount of £100 allowed per transaction and, from time to time, you will be asked to enter your PIN to verify you are the genuine card holder.
Do contactless cards require PIN? ›
Contactless transactions don't require you to enter a PIN, sign a receipt, or wait for your card to be processed in the chip card holder. You can make purchases in seconds.
Can a contactless payment go through twice? ›Being charged twice for one transaction when paying with contactless is highly unlikely. This is because once you've placed your card or smartphone on the card reader, the transaction is complete.
Why does contactless sometimes ask for PIN? ›If you make several payments in a row, we'll ask you to enter the card's PIN. This can help protect your account if your card is stolen, too. No one can spend more than the card's contactless limit in a single contactless transaction.
Do contactless cards have a limit? ›A contactless payment limit—also referred to as a cardholder verification method (CVM) limit—is the maximum amount a customer can pay with a contactless card before they are prompted for a signature or PIN verification. These limits are in place to help protect consumers from fraud.
What happens if you have two contactless cards in the same wallet purse? ›If you have two contactless cards in your purse or wallet and hold it over the reader, the payment will normally be rejected. However, to be safe you should remove the card from your purse or wallet before using it - as you would for any other payment.
Can 2 people use the same contactless card on the tube? ›Can I pay for more than one person with my contactless Barclays card on Transport for London (TfL) services? No, you can only pay for one person per journey with a single contactless card, just like with an Oyster card. Find out more about TfL's contactless card service.
What is the new contactless limit UK? ›HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) confirmed changes to its rules to allow for the contactless limit increase to £100 in March 2021.
Why is there an upper limit in contactless card? ›A contactless payment limit—also referred to as a cardholder verification method (CVM) limit—is the maximum amount a customer can pay with a contactless card before they are prompted for a signature or PIN verification. These limits are in place to help protect consumers from fraud.
How do I use my contactless card UK? ›Touch in at the start of your journey and touch out at the end on yellow card readers using contactless (card or device). Only touch in on buses and trams. Find out more about touching in and out. You can pay for someone else's travel with your contactless card or device if they're travelling with you.
Can you still swipe a contactless card? ›Yes. If you don't see the Contactless Symbol on the checkout terminal, you can still swipe or insert your contactless chip card, just like any other Visa card.
Do contactless cards work through wallet? ›
In most cases, your card does not need to be removed from your wallet for payment to be processed. However, it won't work if the card is in an RFID-shielded wallet or cover. Small purchases (usually under $50) won't need a PIN or signature but they may be required for larger transactions.
Can contactless cards be hacked? ›Researchers have found that the flaws in the payments system for some contactless cards could potentially allow criminals to steal hundreds of pounds in a single transaction.
Is contactless safer than chip and PIN? ›Safer than cash and no PIN required: contactless cards are among the safest forms of payment today. This is because it is extremely difficult for hackers to duplicate the one-time code that contactless credit cards generate for each transaction.
What can damage contactless card? ›Instead of a magnetic strip that you swipe, most credit cards now have an EMV chip that you insert into a card reader or even use to pay contactlessly. Luckily EMV chips aren't affected by magnets. However, scratches or prolonged exposure to water can cause damage or make them stop working altogether.
Why does my contactless only work sometimes? ›Your contactless card may not work if the merchant you've visited doesn't have the correct card reader, for example, or if you haven't yet activated the card, among other reasons.
Does contactless payment work without Internet? ›Yes, you can make contactless payments without an Internet connection. Yes, you can make contactless payments without an Internet connection. The only prerequisite for using myAlpha Wallet is the activation of NFC.
Why do Americans not have contactless? ›Many millions of dollars were spent globally on installing NFC card readers, issuing NFC cards and marketing. At that point a contactless card cost a substantial amount more (as much as $10 per card) than an equivalent non NFC card for the issuing bank, reducing banks willingness to issue on a mass basis.
Can you use contactless with no signal? ›You can continue to make payments with Contactless Mobile without a mobile network connection.
How do I use my contactless card at checkout? ›- Hold your card within 1–2 inches of the Contactless SymbolOpens Dialog on the terminal.
- Tap or hold your card flat over the Contactless Symbol, facing up, when prompted by the cashier or terminal. ...
- Your payment should be completed in seconds.
Do I have to activate my contactless card? When you receive your contactless card in the post, you'll need to make a Chip and PIN payment to activate it as you would with any other bank card before you use contactless for the first time.
Does contactless debit card require PIN? ›
For transactions up to ₹5000, just tap to pay using your contactless Visa card at a contactless payment terminal and there is no need for a PIN. For transactions above ₹5000, you can still tap to pay, but you will need to enter PIN to complete the transaction.
Which way do you hold your card for contactless? ›How do I tap my contactless chip card or payment-enabled mobile/wearable device at the checkout terminal? It works best when your contactless chip card or payment-enabled mobile/wearable device is held flat over the Contactless Symbol , versus held at an angle.
Do you tap in and out with contactless? ›Always use the same device or contactless card to touch in and out. For example, don't touch in with an iPhone and touch out with an Apple Watch or contactless card. Always touch out even if the gates are open.
What are the disadvantages of contactless cards? ›Potential security concerns
Because contactless payments require neither PIN nor signature authorisation, lost or stolen contactless cards can be used to make fraudulent transactions.
You can disable the contactless functionality on your debit card using the 'Card payment controls' within our mobile app. You can choose to toggle this functionality on and off in real time, preventing all debit card contactless payments including: Contactless purchases. Apple Pay and Google Pay when tapping your ...
Why is my contactless card asking for a PIN? ›If you make several payments in a row, we'll ask you to enter the card's PIN. This can help protect your account if your card is stolen, too. No one can spend more than the card's contactless limit in a single contactless transaction.
How do I withdraw money from contactless? ›- Find a contactless-enabled cash machine. ...
- Once you're at the ATM and bring your smartphone to within range of the machine's NFC reader.
- Key in your PIN code and enter the amount you'd like to withdraw.
- Take your cash—that's all there is to it!
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.
Is contactless safer than Chip and PIN? ›Safer than cash and no PIN required: contactless cards are among the safest forms of payment today. This is because it is extremely difficult for hackers to duplicate the one-time code that contactless credit cards generate for each transaction.
Can card skimmers read tap to pay? ›As long as there are card swipes of any kind, there will be skimmers. Here's why, skimmers read a card's magnetic strip, this is what happens when you swipe a card. When you tap a card with a chip or insert just the chip part of the card, the skimmer doesn't work because there's no magnetic strip to read and record.