UK contactless limit upped to £15

The maximum limit for contactless credit and debit card payments in the UK has been increased from £10 to £15.

The change was made after a request from MasterCard and Visa and brings the UK more closely into line with the eurozone, where the limit is EUR25.

The move has been welcomed by Barclays, which has lead the contactless charge in the UK issuing two million Visa debit cards and four million credit cards. Since last March the firm's debit cards have been issued with contactless as standard.

Brian Cunnington, head, debit cards, Barclays, says: "Contactless technology is undoubtedly the future of payments and we are seeing it grow hugely in popularity."

Related Companies

Mastercard Barclays Bank Visa

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Retail banking Payments

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Cards Eftpos

Comments: (3)

A Finextra member 02 March, 2010, 18:12

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Surely £20 GBP would be closer to €25 EUR? But I suppose £15 GBP is better than nothing.

Still a lack of Pre-Paid Contact-less Debit Cards in the UK!

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A Finextra member 03 March, 2010, 12:28

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We have just installed the first vending machine in the Uk at the Visa Europe HQ which takes Visa payWave contactless payments. The new level of £15 further enhances the viability of using contactless payments in this important cash payment sector

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A Finextra member 03 March, 2010, 16:37

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Now if only there were some places to use contactless cards.

Unfortunately contactless looks like a technology driven by the cards industry rather than the customer. I suspect that as soon as the transaction tariffs are altered to make them appealing to the retailers, then this will drive customer interest.

Until then I'll keep looking in my supermarket and library, for the giant water flume being installed. Perhaps when summer comes?