MSE Poll: Should the contactless card spending limit be increased?

Former_MSE_Karl
Former_MSE_Karl Posts: 175 Forumite
First Post I've been Money Tipped! Newshound! Best Buy Bear
in MoneySaving polls
Poll started 19 March 2019
Two in five card payments are now made using contactless – up 31% in 2018. Yet the maximum amount you can spend using contactless is just £30 (barring some using Apple Pay), which is done to cap spending if someone takes your card.

What would you like the limit per transaction to be?
Click here to vote in the poll
Did you vote? Are you surprised at the results so far? Have your say below.

If you haven't already, join the forum to reply.

Thanks! :)


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Comments

  • Livy
    Livy Posts: 37 Forumite
    First Post First Anniversary Combo Breaker
    What would help if retailers actually implemented Apple and Android pay properly.
    Instead of setting a £30 for all contactless transactions.
  • Pete_Sussex
    Pete_Sussex Posts: 4 Newbie
    First Anniversary First Post
    Personally I think contactless is a bad idea. They spent millions implementing Chip & Pin to protect us and now it's bypassed. The other week, tired after a double shift at work, I left my card in the hospital car park machine. Raced back when I realised but of course it was gone. Luckily an honest person had found it and called the bank and it was cancelled. If it had been a contactless card I could have lost up to £180 for a moment's carelessness. That's a lot when you work for the NHS!
  • MothballsWallet
    MothballsWallet Posts: 15,852 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary First Post Photogenic
    My answer: Yes.

    It's already £50 in London and £30 everywhere else: I wonder why that was agreed?

    Some Londoners who venture outside the Big Smoke throw a strop and complain about their fee fees being offended when they find out the contactless limit is lower up here.

    I think it needs to be increased and made the same for everyone with this disparity removed.
  • williamro
    williamro Posts: 39 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    Risks if cards are lost are already too great. You could lose 10 x £30 or more in a very short time. Suggest cardholder sets own limit but issuer would have some say especially where cardholder wanted a high limit which would increase risks of losses to cardholder and issuer. I would prefer to set my limit to £20 and be prepared to use a PIN for higher sums. Maybe fingerprint technology will supersede all of this before long.
  • NaughtiusMaximus
    NaughtiusMaximus Posts: 2,832 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    MothballsWallet wrote: »
    It's already £50 in London and £30 everywhere else:

    Really??? I'm a regular visitor to London for work and didn't know there was a higher limit there. It's not something that's been well publicised so not really surprising some Londoners are being caught out when they go elsewhere.
  • DigForVictory
    DigForVictory Posts: 11,906 Forumite
    Name Dropper First Anniversary Photogenic First Post
    I'm a wicked old reactionary - I say let the individual set the maximum, but if it's over the agreed £30 then they are liable for any unauthorised transcriptions.

    Accidents happen but if you desperately need to pay for something "with a tap", you may need a lesson or two in card care & management.

    I also want to see the option of absolutely-no-contactless and app-disabled-contactless more clearly possible.
  • Ectophile
    Ectophile Posts: 7,330 Forumite
    First Anniversary Name Dropper First Post
    I don't have any contactless cards. Every time somebody sends me one, I tell them to send me one without the contactless option.


    HSBC didn't seem to have any way of doing that. It was just another reason to dump them.
    If it sticks, force it.
    If it breaks, well it wasn't working right anyway.
  • elsien
    elsien Posts: 32,728 Forumite
    Name Dropper Photogenic First Anniversary First Post
    Only if you have the option to decrease it to a lower level if you wish.
    All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of things shall be well.

    Pedant alert - it's could have, not could of.
  • FedUpWithHikes
    FedUpWithHikes Posts: 55 Forumite
    First Anniversary First Post Combo Breaker
    I would prefer the card companies and banks to offer users a non-contactless card option, but as it's their plan to reduce the use of cash (for their benefit), they won't!
    1. They cut their costs of handling and transporting cash - and can close more branches!
    2. They get a "cut" of every transaction!
    3. They gather information of what we buy, where and when, which they can sell to advertisers (or GCHQ/NSA).
    4. They hope users will spend more!
    I'll stick to cash, and keep my anonymity!
    I put some tinfoil in my wallet to protect against fraud! If the crooks areen't already scanning people who walk past, they soon will! No need to steal a card, just charge it!
  • yorkie22
    yorkie22 Posts: 26 Forumite
    First Anniversary Combo Breaker First Post
    These are one of the worst idea's yet. I have worked in a shop where thieves have come in and used someone else's card. they try it out with something cheap then they go in for whatever they can. £30 may not sound a lot but after a few times it adds up. It's alright the bank saying ' we will put the money back' but where is all this money coming from to put it back. If the temptation is.'t there they can't spend it. I had contactless taken off my cards. I know you think ' I won't loose my card or risk having it stolen' but those that have lost money probably said the same.:(
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