Contactless limit may increase to £100

[Deleted User]

od244051 said:

It is a very very bad idea. Why? 

. People will forget what they are spending. As £10, £83 there, soon adds up.
. Fraud
. Accidentally using the wrong card in error and people may not get that sorted out and occur bank charges.
. People forget their PINs

What the banks could do is to let customers to set their contactless limits. Either on the bank app or ringing the call centre. If anyone has poor finances, the bank can set a low limit.

I do wish people would know their PINs! Sometimes the banks randomly request the next payment is a chip n PIN. Customers have a go at us for this, it’s nothing to do the shop! They would have had the same problem if they visited another place! Please remember your PIN. You don’t need to use the PIN issued randomly by your bank. Choose a number which is easy to remember- eldest child’s birthday, childhood phone number, mum’s birthday, wedding anniversary etc. But not year of birth or your birthday.

None of those are arguments against £100 limit

£10 here or £43 there, soon adds up. £10 here or £30 there, soon adds up. Or just monitor your spending like normal people

Fraud - someone who stole a card could easily run around spending £30, £45 here or there. It's fairly difficult to quickly and repeatedly buy £100 of things in a way that won't raise suspicion and criminals won't risk CCTV or easily traceable fraud.

People might use the wrong card on a £45 limit, if spending on the wrong card might incur charges, don't take it out with you?

People forgetting their pins is nothing to do with the card limit and would happen if the limit was £10 or £1000

Speedbird676

dr_adidas01 said:

RG2015 said:

As per title.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-55826118

In Australia it was already set at $100 and when I was there in February last year I used my Australian NAB card quite frequently and it was great being able to use it for such large amounts. 

I do use Apple Pay a lot as it does allow you to spend more than the £45 contactless limit on cards. 

I think raising the limit to £100 is a great idea especially for those that do use contactless a lot. 

The thing I like about the Australian system is contactless+pin, ie: if a transaction is over $100 you can still just tap and will then be prompted for your PIN. You don't have to remember if it's under $100 to tap and if it's over $100 to insert the card.

Their limit has been temporarily raised to $200 during COVID.

jbrassy

Everyone here seems to be worried about fraud. Most banks/credit card companies nowadays let you freeze your card within the app if you lose it. Further, if you spot fraudulent activity on your statement, the bank will refund you the money. Finally, there's nothing stopping you using Google or Apple Pay which adds a layer of security to contactless. 

soulsaver

jbrassy said:

Finally, there's nothing stopping you using Google or Apple Pay which adds a layer of security to contactless. 

Phone needs NFC to Google Pay.
Some otherwise excellent budget smart phones don't have it.
eta 'otherwise'.

naedanger

williewonder said:

I think this is a bad idea. If I were to lose my bank card a criminal could easily spend upwards of £500 of my money in multiple transactions. There should be an option on banking apps to turn off the contactless capabilities.  

But I thought the customer's liability was still limited to £50. 

If money is taken from your account without your permission, the Payment Services Regulations will ensure your bank refunds you.

However, for transactions made before you have reported your card as lost or stolen, you will be liable for the first £50, although some banks may waive it.

Source: https://www.moneysupermarket.com/money-made-easy/q-and-a-all-you-need-to-know-about-contactless-payments/

molerat

Speedbird676 said:

The thing I like about the Australian system is contactless+pin, ie: if a transaction is over $100 you can still just tap and will then be prompted for your PIN. You don't have to remember if it's under $100 to tap and if it's over $100 to insert the card.

I like that idea.  Does that also work when exceeding the number of transactions between PIN entries ?  Get fed up with "card declined" when simply needing the PIN confirming.

njm123

Think they need to let people set their own limit or opt out of contactless payments if they wish - without penalty or having to jump through hoops at their bank to get a contact only card.

Otherwise we're always caught up in argument between those groups for who it's convenient and those concerned about the fraud risks.  

Any change in limit is likely to be accompanied by an increase in the amount of fraud the banks expect customers to cover or at least an increasing reluctance from banks to cover the first X pounds.    Which could cause serious problems for those hit by a fraud that can't just write off the £50, £100 like those who want ever higher limits,  especially as the groups that could be harder hit by a fraud are probably the ones a bank it less sympathetic to so they are less likely to get a full refund.

born_again

naedanger said:

williewonder said:

I think this is a bad idea. If I were to lose my bank card a criminal could easily spend upwards of £500 of my money in multiple transactions. There should be an option on banking apps to turn off the contactless capabilities.  

But I thought the customer's liability was still limited to £50. 

If money is taken from your account without your permission, the Payment Services Regulations will ensure your bank refunds you.

However, for transactions made before you have reported your card as lost or stolen, you will be liable for the first £50, although some banks may waive it.

Source: https://www.moneysupermarket.com/money-made-easy/q-and-a-all-you-need-to-know-about-contactless-payments/

Banks do not hold people liable for contactless. 
As far as we go the £50 limit was juncked years ago as it was pretty pointless. Customer just complained and got the money back.

As I said before the issue is even with a facility in a app to block the card. Many people simply do not realise that they have lost the card (put it back in pocket, but miss... Someone pickpockets them etc...
Fraudsters that do this spend up to the limit. It's only someone that has picked up a lost card that will chance a small amount.

huw01

njm123 said:

williewonder said:

I think this is a bad idea. If I were to lose my bank card a criminal could easily spend upwards of £500 of my money in multiple transactions. There should be an option on banking apps to turn off the contactless capabilities.  

Mine do have the option to freeze cards within them  with Lloyds - not checked the others.    I know Santander can send alerts but only for debits over £50 - and that may change with the Contactless limit, also they only allow changes to be made from the website not the app.

 Having looked in the cards section on the Santander App, for my Santander Cards which are Mastercard it allows me to freeze the card  and also block contactless payments and/or internet transactions. It won't let me do it on my Santander Visa Debit card and says it's only avilable on cards issued my Mastercard.

IvanOpinion

od244051 said:

It is a very very bad idea. Why? 

. People will forget what they are spending. As £10, £83 there, soon adds up.
. Fraud
. Accidentally using the wrong card in error and people may not get that sorted out and occur bank charges.
. People forget their PINs

What the banks could do is to let customers to set their contactless limits. Either on the bank app or ringing the call centre. If anyone has poor finances, the bank can set a low limit.

I do wish people would know their PINs! Sometimes the banks randomly request the next payment is a chip n PIN. Customers have a go at us for this, it’s nothing to do the shop! They would have had the same problem if they visited another place! Please remember your PIN. You don’t need to use the PIN issued randomly by your bank. Choose a number which is easy to remember- eldest child’s birthday, childhood phone number, mum’s birthday, wedding anniversary etc. But not year of birth or your birthday.

Disagree ... The current limit is a bit low. and it is moving with the times .. and hopefully it gets rid of that vile filthy unhygenic coins and notes.

BTW your suggestion for PINs are very weak and exactly what any hacker would try. 
My elderly mother struggles with PIN numbers so I taught her a system whereby every card had a different PIN and she doesn't actually have to remember any of them.  On the front of the card is a 16 digit number split into groups of 4.  All you have to do is work out a pattern for example the first number from each of the 4 groups gives you a 4 digit PIN (although I would recommend something a bit more intricate).  If you need a 6 digit PIN then add a couple of digits from elsewhere on the card.  A quick glance at the card will remind you of the PIN.