Contactless card payment increasing from £45 to £100

THE contactless card payment limit has increased from £45 to £100 from today (October 15).

While the contactless payment increase makes paying for goods and services quicker and easier, the Consumer Council encourages everyone to be remember steps they can take to help protect themselves and their money.

Contactless cards come with built in security so customers are fully protected against any unauthorised transactions. Contactless cards have a payment cap of £300, which means this is the maximum amount that someone who has taken your card could spend before they are asked for a PIN number.

There are things we can all do to do to protect ourselves, including keeping our cards out of sight, making sure to ask for a receipt in the shop so you can check how much you have been charged, and regularly checking your bank statement or online banking app to keep an eye out for unusual transactions. Many banks also allow you to opt out of having your contactless limit increased, with many offering chip-and-pin only cards.

The new limit may not be available in every shop from October 15 as each payment machine needs to be updated, so to find out if a retailer is accepting increased contactless payments, you should ask in store before paying.

Consumers who have specific queries relating to their own credit or debit card should contact their bank or card provider, or the Consumer Council on Freephone 0800 121 6022. Further information on staying safe from scams is available on the Consumer Council website on www.consumercouncil.org.uk/scams