Coronavirus - any way to activate new contactless card without using chip and pin first?

trex227

I would go to a cash machine (rather than chip and pin at a till) and wipe the keys with anti-bacterial wipe before using

nick74

Another alternative would be to buy your own card terminal like iZettle, insert your new card and pay yourself 1p. That should then free up the card to be used contactlessly at other retailers.

Or you could do what I do, carry round a bucket of Jeyes Fluid and dunk your card in it after each use ;-)

Dandytf

Migster said:

I think you should be able to add it to Apple Pay / Google Pay on your phone and use it contactlessly that way, without the need for a Chip & PIN first.

I tried via Chrome card+iphone- didn't work in petrol station until next time after I previously used card+pin.

20aday

Have you a card reader from the likes of NatWest etc? Granted it might not recognise all cards but at least you'd know that it hasn't been used by too many people!

Tildaplum

trex227 said:

I would go to a cash machine (rather than chip and pin at a till) and wipe the keys with anti-bacterial wipe before using

Not sure why you would bother doing that as anti-bacterial wipes do not kill viruses.

Wellard_Mann

Migster said:

I think you should be able to add it to Apple Pay / Google Pay on your phone and use it contactlessly that way, without the need for a Chip & PIN first.

My experience is that doesn't work, at least not with an MBNA credit card. It works fine on Google Pay but I did have to do a Chip and PIN first.

2e0arr

when you are offered the pip and chin keyboard threaten with health and safety at work act for an unhygenic keyboard LOL

john1002

with regard Apple Pay and contactless I have done this with various cards and as long as Card is activated(telephone or website depending on provider) I’ve never had to use chip and pin to allow contactless to be activated, also using this method means that you don’t have the £30 soon to be £45 limit set as long as the retailers terminal has been updated and I have never had to enter my pin for more than set number of transactions that some cards say may happen. Always use Apple Pay to pay