AMEX contactless payments not working??

TheBigBad

Has anybody else experienced this?

I first noticed it with my Barclaycard cashback card after they changed from Visa to AMEX/Visa. The AMEX one has the contactless symbol but just does not work, I always have to put card into reader and enter pin.

I have just got the Virgin Atlantic Black AMEX/Visa combo and am having the same problem.

SammenForLivet2

I've found this too - with My Duo Account, where the American Express Contactless function seems to be a little temperamental in comparison to the MasterCard. After three declines (which then require me to put the card back on the Chip and Pin Device), I was surprised to find that it worked fine in Boots, today (The Cashier didn't give me a choice, she just took my card and pressed the contactless option), so I presume that Amex contactless may be slightly different to the normal contactless service, and might only work in selected locations.

TheBigBad

I have only tried it in McDonalds to be honest. Just seemed odd that the AMEX card never works but the Visa linked to the same account does.

platterfish

This has happened to me too, I also can't get it to work with my Barclaycard, I've used it with the pin no problems.

mike347928

My Barclays Amex used to work a few months back on contactless at supermarkets, doesn't anymore (I thought it was just the terminal being temperamental). It does work as an oystercard sucessfully.

reclusive46

For me Amex contactless generally works but some terminals are not loaded with American Express ExpressPay, so it won't always work. From personal experience, it has worked at all Boots (Since November 2013 when the machines were updated to take Amex contactless, M&S, Tesco (if your Tesco has it), Nandos and pretty much any independent shop that has contactless and takes Amex (most bank owed machines are already loaded with ExpressPay). It generally works at most McDonalds terminals (In some restaurants, some terminals will work in the same one but not others) but some are not loaded. American Express has been working on this and if you tweet them a location they will get merchant services to try and fix it.

Some notable locations where Amex contactless does not generally work are Starbucks, Weatherspoons and Poundland.

20aday

I've got a Lloyds Bank Choice AmEx/MasterCard duo and have found it to work ok for contactless payments in both Boots and Marks and Spencers.

Having said that one or two times in Boots the terminal has rebooted forcing me to pay by PIN.

InsideInsurance

Its to do with the touch terminal and if it supports AmEx or not.

As has been said, Boots, Sainsburys, Waitrose, my local pub and a fair number of other places do support it and it works as reliably as any other touch card I have. On the other hand Pret, Eat and Starbucks dont support it for AmEx but do for other cards so either you Chip & Pin the transaction or use another card