Non 'Contactless' credit cards are available!

71 Posts

in Credit cards
As many (but by no means all) will know, many banks will upon request issue the customer with a Debit card that does NOT have the insecure 'Contactless' payment function enabled (they DO keep increasing the spending limit dont they
). What is less well appreciated is that some issuers will now provide the customer with a CREDIT card that likewise is 'NON contactless'. This is very useful if losing your card (and all the subsequent cancellation hassle that creates) is a worry to you. Vanquis and Santander are two providers that will provide their customers with a non contactless CREDIT card upon request. No firm (to my knowledge) offers you an 'opt out of contactless' option during the application process - you have to contact them afterwards.

0
Latest MSE News and Guides
Childcare budget boost
More support for children from nine months and those on Universal Credit
MSE News
Replies
Usually you can switch on/off contactless, set the limit if on, control ATM, Online, In Person and importantly swiping features as well.
No need to limit yourself to a could of options when the world has moved on and what you want is generally available anyway.
So once cut it won’t work contactless……
Lloyds, RBS and Natwest at least also do it. Pretty general to me and far easier than being limited to the banks that still do non contactless cards you have to specifically request.
As for cutting where the contactless symbol is. Would work I guess if that is where the RFID chip actually is and you do enough damage to it to render it non functioning.
Before the shielding wallets became popular there were a lot of instructions online about how to disable contactless. Apparently there is an aerial which runs around the card and if you snip it it doesn't work. What I remember seeing was to cut a small notch out of the card.
I've no idea if it works or not - I like contactless.
The only problem I've had with it is that I have too many cards and my wallet used to set off the theft alarm in some shops, including Lidl and Sainsbury's. I've started leaving some of them at home.
Therefore, someone must of obtained my card details when I used chip and pin (probably during my holiday in Mexico). You can avoid contactless if you like, but scammers are pretty smart and will always find a way. No payment method is 100% secure. Barclaycard ultimately refunded me the fraudulent transactions to the penny, and issued me a new card. It was minimal hassle.
As has been previously mentioned, the best way you can prevent fraud is to use Google Pay or Apple Pay as these apps use tokenisation which I believe is the most secure way to pay.
In sum:
1- stop spreading nonsense myths about contactless;
2 - just pick the best credit card for your needs;
3 - use Apple Pay or Google Pay where possible.
Edit: And there also this:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/news/2021/09/how-to-set-a-cap-on-your-contactless-limit-if-you-want-to-avoid-/
Load the First Direct app and log in - Select the top left Hamburger Icon - Cards - Set Limits and Controls
On the debit card it can control:
ATM Withdrawals
Daily Limit
Contactless Transactions
Online Transactions
Pin and Swipe Purchases
Gambling Transactions
You can also Freeze the whole card and manage the PIN on the Cards page in the app
Has been available for more than a year or two in the First Direct app.