Contactless Cards Stopped Working

ThemeOne

I have two contactless debit cards which I'd started to use a fair amount as I found it a very convenient way to pay.

However, suddenly they both stopped working (apart from on London Transport). I phoned the bank for the one I used more, but they seemed to have no idea, and said they would send me a new card. Well guess what, the new one doesn't work either (apart from on London Transport).

Can anyone throw any light on why these cards should stop working? Just to clarify, I don't get a "Card declined" message or anything similar when I try to use them, it's as though the terminal simply hasn't seen the card.

SnowTiger

ThemeOne wrote: »

I have two contactless debit cards which I'd started to use a fair amount as I found it a very convenient way to pay.

However, suddenly they both stopped working (apart from on London Transport). I phoned the bank for the one I used more, but they seemed to have no idea, and said they would send me a new card. Well guess what, the new one doesn't work either (apart from on London Transport).

Can anyone throw any light on why these cards should stop working? Just to clarify, I don't get a "Card declined" message or anything similar when I try to use them, it's as though the terminal simply hasn't seen the card.

How many retailers?

Most contactless cards work off-line; but some are online only, meaning that the terminal has to authorise your transactions. Perhaps your cards only work online?

Some retailers still have a £20 contactless limit. I was in Morrisons last week. My shopping cost just over £20. I proffered my contactless card to the reader, but the shop assistant said they hadn't been updated to the new £30 limit yet.

ThemeOne

So far it's been all retailers I've tried, and I've never gone anywhere near even the old limit of £20. Mostly these are the same retailers I used to use when the cards were working OK.

Because the reader gives no error message I'm in the dark as to what's going on.

I imagine the Tfl contactless readers don't authorise online, which is why it still works there.

Nebulous2

Do you ever use them with a pin?

Contactless cards need to be authorised occasionally by using chip and pin or by putting them in an ATM. I think it is every 15 times or so.

It limits the bank's exposure if they get stolen.

Sharon87

Try the above. Go to an atm and put your pin and check a balance. Then try at one of the shops you can't use it in.

TFL only works because it's not possible to put a pin in at the barriers. But usually a shop will say you have to insert your card if it doesn't work.

Try it and see.

Biggles

Sharon87 wrote: »

Try the above. Go to an atm and put your pin and check a balance.

That doesn't work; you need to withdraw cash (any amount) to reset the contactless. Either that or make one payment by CnP.

ThemeOne

With the replacement card, apart from using it on Tfl which seems to be a different story, I've used it once at an ATM for a balance check, and once in a shop where contactless failed, so entered my PIN instead.

Maybe it'll work on the next attempt.

Of course it still doesn't explain why the old card, and the card from my other bank stopped working.

planteria

the fact that it's not recognising the card at all ties in with the idea that it won't work after you use your PIN... if you reach a block where the account needs PIN verification it guides you/retailer to insert your card, not just doesn't recognise it.

if the cards certainly worked before then perhaps there is something physically going on which is disabling the contactless feature:think:

planteria

....but then they wouldn't work on the tube either_pale_... really not sure.

ThemeOne

planteria wrote: »

the fact that it's not recognising the card at all ties in with the idea that it won't work after you use your PIN... if you reach a block where the account needs PIN verification it guides you/retailer to insert your card, not just doesn't recognise it.

if the cards certainly worked before then perhaps there is something physically going on which is disabling the contactless feature:think:

Sadly that's the conclusion I'm coming to. I read elsewhere that poor manufacturing means contactless doesn't work on a lot of cards, but that would surely be from day one.

Perhaps the technology simply isn't as robust as it's made out to be.

It's ironic since so many people are complaining they're had contactless "forced" on them, and don't want to use it. I want to use it, yet apparently can't get a card that works!

reclusive46

Biggles wrote: »

That doesn't work; you need to withdraw cash (any amount) to reset the contactless. Either that or make one payment by CnP.

You can go to an ATM and unlock your PIN (Even if it isn't locked), and this does the trick.