Contactless not recognised

fb1969

Thanks, I've just downloaded the first NFC Tools app from the play store.  Switched on NFC and when prompted for "Approach an NFC Tag" I put the card by the phone but nothing happens, I guess that confirms the contactless function has died.

noh

fb1969 said:

Thanks, I've just downloaded the first NFC Tools app from the play store.  Switched on NFC and when prompted for "Approach an NFC Tag" I put the card by the phone but nothing happens, I guess that confirms the contactless function has died.

It does appear that the contactless function has ceased working on that card
Just to confirm that your app and phone can read a NFC tag have you got any other cards that you know to work ie debit cards store cards etc?

fb1969

Just tried a debit card and that gets no response either.  It worked for contactless the last time I tried it, and isn't kept near my phone.

Just been out to check the card after the phone didn't read it, it worked fine.  So maybe the phone's NFC isn't working!

Ballard

colsten said:

fb1969 said:

" Why not use ApplePay or GooglePay for your contactless transactions?"

Personal preference I'd prefer not to use either of those. 

What is your objection?

I’m not the OP but my objection to these payment methods is that a small percentage of each transaction goes to Apple or whomever. I would rather this (admittedly generally small) amounts were to stay in a U.K. company than go to a huge foreign company which has more money than it knows what to do with. 

I should point out that I’ve nothing against other countries but just don’t want to pay them money needlessly.

molerat

colsten said:

RG2015 said:

colsten said:

Why not use ApplePay or GooglePay for your contactless transactions?

What is the relevance of this to the OP's question about their contactless card ceasing to work?

Update: Okay, I have re-read the first post and I can see this as a solution, but it does not answer why two cards have lost their contactless function.

Sometimes, life is too short to pursue a given issue, and thinking out-of-the-box might pay off. Since the OP clearly has their phone with them them when they want to make contactless payments, one obvious solution is using the Apple/Google-pay functionality. But sigh, it seems  the OP would rather cut off their nose to spite their face.

I am out.

Maybe they have a Tesco card and an Android phone.

Or a Virgin credit card.

fb1969

whitesmith said:

did you specifically use 'unlock card' at the atm or just check balance

Update.  This morning I put the second card in an atm and did 'unlock pin' - and it has worked four times since.  No further forward as to why or how this has happened to two cards, if anything the mystery is deeper, but hopefully I won't have to keep ordering new cards.

Murmansk

I don't know much about the relationship between the chip on the card and the magnetic stripe and how they are connected but I seem to remember you saying the phone case had a magnetic catch? Could it be that the magnetic stripe has been corrupted and that somehow affects the chip's ability to do contactless.

I'm wondering if the fact that the mag stripe has been damaged makes the bank's systems think the card has been interfered with and so they stop it working for contactless?

fb1969

My thoughts all along have been either the magnet or the phone is doing something to the card.  I've used the same case all along, the tag is a bit worn now which would put the magnet fractionally closer to the car - but that has been the only change since I've had the case.

It's as if the card doesn't have contactless in it when it stops working. I was surprised when it started working again.

born_again

fb1969 said:

Posting this here rather than "techie stuff".

I keep my credit card in a standard mobile phone case next to the phone, phone on the right and card on the left with a covered magnetic fastener.  From March this year until a week ago I was using it with few problems but suddenly it stopped being recognised as a contactless card - no payment rejection or anything, just the terminal not 'seeing' the card, it was as if I was just waving a piece of cardboard at the reader.  This first happened on a bus but then did the same at a couple of supermarkets.  I ordered a new card and while waiting for it I have been using a different credit card (different bank, and now Mastercard as the first was Visa), keeping it in the same place the first one lived in.

This second card has now done exactly the same after less than a week. Paid contactless ok in a car park, but gone to use it on a bus and again it was like I was waving a piece of cardboard at the terminal.  I then tried at a couple of supermarkets and again there was no response from the terminal.   I rang the card provider and they can see no issues with my account in anyway.  There is no visible damage to the card and both have been kept in the same place next to my phone.  

Wondering if anyone has experienced anything similar and what can be done to fix it?  There is nothing wrong with my accounts, I haven't exceeded any contactless limits - it is more like the contactless feature has suddenly disabled itself.  I'm not aware of the contactless feature being wiped for being next to a phone or a magnet. but am lost as to what is causing this.

Had the same thing on my Santander CC. Contactless did not work, Chip & pin did not work either. All other cards in wallet OK.

Solution. Order a new card. Works Ok now. So guess something messed the chip & contactless side.

fb1969

Second card worked fine on the bus today after yesterday's pin unlock.  Not sure when I will "risk" putting a card by my phone, maybe when the replacement for the second card turns up.  Neither card has had a problem with chip and pin.