Halifax card freezing question

moneywow1

Doesn't stop "Transactions where merchants don’t request prior authorisation e.g. some contactless payments."

What does it mean by *some* contactless payments? I don't know why they can't just stop all payments...

Ergates

moneywow1 wrote: »

Doesn't stop "Transactions where merchants don’t request prior authorisation e.g. some contactless payments."

What does it mean by *some* contactless payments? I don't know why they can't just stop all payments...

Offline contactless payments - where the merchants terminal isn't (currently) networked, so can't query authorisation before carrying out the transaction. E.g. if you used your card to buy a sandwich on a plane in flight.

moneywow1

Ergates wrote: »

Offline contactless payments - where the merchants terminal isn't (currently) networked, so can't query authorisation before carrying out the transaction. E.g. if you used your card to buy a sandwich on a plane in flight.

Thanks.

So if I freeze my card, and someone finds/steals it and uses it for a transaction like this, would I be covered and get my money back?

[Deleted User]

If your card is used without your consent, you're not liable in any case. It's nothing to do with 'freezing'.

deadendwaterfall

Ergates wrote: »

Offline contactless payments - where the merchants terminal isn't (currently) networked, so can't query authorisation before carrying out the transaction. E.g. if you used your card to buy a sandwich on a plane in flight.

I thought there's no such thing as offline contactless payments, all contactless payments must be online?

jonesMUFCforever

deadendwaterfall wrote: »

I thought there's no such thing as offline contactless payments, all contactless payments must be online?

I believe that is the aim but for now it is allowed - the alternative would be pay cash for your sandwich or starve.

Terry_Towelling

deadendwaterfall wrote: »

I thought there's no such thing as offline contactless payments, all contactless payments must be online?

You are correct that the Card Schemes' rules have been changed to require that all 'contactless' transactions go online for approval before they are processed. However, just because the rules have been changed doesn't mean that they will always be complied with. Where a retailer contravenes rules like this and where the transaction is uncollectable (due to fraud, bad debt etc) there will be a Chargeback right to return the debt to the retailer's processing bank.

Moneywow1, stop worrying, you get your money back for contactless transactions where your card is lost and stolen - but do try not to lose it in the first place. A tip for contactless payments is to make sure you keep the card in your possession when making the transaction - do not hand it over to the retailer to do it for you and always check the amount is correct before tapping your card on the terminal - you'd be surprised how many people don't do this.

Ergates

deadendwaterfall wrote: »

I thought there's no such thing as offline contactless payments, all contactless payments must be online?

There are, I believe, still some exemptions. For instance, TFL payments.

Terry_Towelling

Ergates wrote: »

There are, I believe, still some exemptions. For instance, TFL payments.

It would be interesting to see how these exceptions have been written into the Card Schemes' rules. Anyone out there with access to a set of rules who can quote chapter and verse?

born_again

Terry_Towelling wrote: »

Anyone out there with access to a set of rules who can quote chapter and verse?

Given how many pages they run too.... Not much chance.
TFL do seem to go for authorisation most of the time. Biggest ones that do not are things like purchases in flight or on board ships.
As they only seem to come through once the terminal transactions are downloaded.

Terry_Towelling

born_again wrote: »

Given how many pages they run too.... Not much chance.
TFL do seem to go for authorisation most of the time. Biggest ones that do not are things like purchases in flight or on board ships.
As they only seem to come through once the terminal transactions are downloaded.

Volume I, Chapter 6 VIOR (well worth a read - good for Compliance case intelligence) used to be where Visa held all of its Merchant requirements. Can't recall what section of the EU regs any exceptions would be in, neither can I recall which of the UK Domestic chapters holds domestic exceptions to International/Regional Merchant procedures.

One thing I would say for sure is that none of the Op Regs would grant exceptions to Merchants by name. Even if the UK Domestic rules did grant an exception to certain sectors, that would only apply to situations involving UK cards too.