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Contactless payments
Spend on-the-go with contactless payments in the Netherlands. Find out what options you have in this article.
Contactless payment allows you to spend easily by simply waving your debit or credit card against a contactless payment terminal. This form of payment allows you to pay quickly without having to key in your PIN number or sign off on transactions. Learn about how contactless payment works in the Netherlands, including existing contactless payment solutions and how you can sign up for them.
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What is a contactless payment?
Contactless payments, also known as tap-and-go payments, is a common feature of credit and debit cards today. It may be used with these cards directly, or through a smartphone that allows for mobile payments. You can make contactless mobile payments using apps like Apple Pay, Google Pay and Android Pay.
Contactless payments allow us to transact seamlessly by communicating to the card terminal through radio frequency waves. In fact, you don’t even need to tap your card on the contactless payment terminal. You simply need to hold the card within 4cm of the terminal for the purchase to be approved.
Do take note that contactless payment only works with spending up to a limited amount. Larger amounts often require you to enter your PIN number or sign off on the expenditure.
Compare contactless bank cards
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How does it work?
From credit cards to smartphones, all contactless payment methods utilise NFC (Near Field Communication) technology to process your payment. Essentially, the microchip in the payment terminal and the chip in your credit card let each other know the details of the payment, thus processing the transaction without having to come into contact with each other.
As mentioned previously, the most you can pay using contactless payments is usually around €50 per transaction. Once the payment has been processed, the reader will display a message confirming the approval of your transaction. If you intend to make a larger payment, you may be asked to provide your PIN code despite using the contactless card reader.
How do I make a contactless payment?
Contactless payments in the Netherlands are easy to conduct. Follow these steps below for quicker spending.
- Step 1. Ensure that the one-time payment amount is €50 or less and that you have not already spent €100 accumulatively using contactless payments on the same day.
- Step 2. Inform the merchant that you would like to use the contactless payment terminal.
- Step 3. Check that the transaction amount is accurate.
- Step 4. Hold or tap your card against the terminal and wait for the transaction to be approved.
Are contactless payments safe?
Contactless cards are built with the same technology used to keep your microchip and PIN code secure. Here are a few measures put in place to deter fraudulent use or accidental payments.
- Occasionally, cardholders may be asked to carry out a PIN code transaction, even if their card is built for contactless payments. This ensures that the person utilizing the card is indeed the legitimate owner of the card.
- When making contactless payments, you remain in control of the card at all times. You no longer have to worry about someone making a copy of your card or taking down the card details.
- For purchases above the €50 limit, you are required to input the pin code. If your card has indeed been stolen, the sum of money at risk is lower, allowing you to cut your losses before freezing the card.
- In comparison to magnetic stripe cards, cards used for contactless payments also come with smart microprocessor chip technology which is near-impossible to clone.
Through all of these safeguards, contactless payments have now become even more secure than the older generation of magnetic stripe cards that we once used.
The pros and cons of contactless payments
Pros
- Convenient. Such payments are quick and easy, often requiring mere seconds for approval.
- Safe. Avoid typing errors, or having someone peek over and remember your sensitive bank information.
- Hygienic. Instead of touching keypads to input PIN numbers, you can simply tap your card and pay on-the-go.
Cons
- Convenience could be dangerous. If you happen to lose your card and do not notice this in time, someone could very easily use your bank details for easy spending. This is because contactless payments do not require you to provide PIN numbers below a set transaction amount.
- €50 limit. The benefits of contactless payment in the Netherlands are limited to transactions below €50. After which, you may need to provide your PIN number.
Frequently asked questions
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