{"id":142673,"date":"2018-10-24T10:59:57","date_gmt":"2018-10-24T09:59:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/?p=142673"},"modified":"2026-02-13T08:28:59","modified_gmt":"2026-02-13T08:28:59","slug":"contactless-payment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.finder.com\/uk\/credit-cards\/contactless-payment","title":{"rendered":"Contactless payments: The pros and cons of tap and pay"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contactless payments are a modern way to pay for your everyday purchases with one simple touch. To enjoy this benefit, you need to wave or tap your card, wearable payment device or smartphone in front of a contactless terminal. There\u2019s no requirement to enter your PIN or sign a receipt to authorise a transaction.<\/p>

Although it may seem like a fairly new technology, it has been used in the UK since 2007. The rising popularity of contactless payments for transactions under \u00a3100 means that Brits are moving ever closer to living in a cashless society. In fact, UK Finance estimated that a third of all payments made in the UK in 2021<\/a> used contactless.<\/p>

How do contactless payments work?<\/h3>

Contactless payments use Near Field Communication (NFC), which allows two devices to securely transmit and receive information by bringing them within 4cm of each other. It\u2019s an upgrade to the existing radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology, which combines the interface of a smartcard and a reader into a single device. As an example, RFID is used by Transport for London\u2019s Oyster Card ticketing system.<\/p>

If you see the contactless symbol, it means you can make contactless payments of up to \u00a3100. All three networks \u2013 Mastercard, Visa and American Express \u2013 offer contactless payment technology. Sometimes referred to as \u201ctap and pay\u201d, consumers can either wave or tap their credit cards at counters or card machines<\/a> with contactless terminals without entering a PIN or signing a receipt. For larger transactions of over \u00a3100, you are usually required to enter your PIN. After you have tapped or waved, wait a few seconds for a green light or \u201capproved\u201d to show up to confirm that the transaction has gone through. You won\u2019t always get a receipt so be sure to ask for one if you require a record of your transaction.<\/p>

Contactless devices include:<\/p>