Contactless Credit/Debit Cards: Contactless Bank Cards were introduced here in the UK in 2007, I was a bit sceptical at first but now I use one everywhere, on the bus, in the pub, in...

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

Contactless Bank Cards were introduced here in the UK in 2007, I was a bit sceptical at first but now I use one everywhere, on the bus, in the pub, in the supermarket and at Motorway Toll Booths. At this moment in time, I carry hardly any cash, probably about £5-£10. I noticed that on recent visits to Europe these cards are almost universal, in Copenhagen cash cannot be used for payment anywhere, this is becoming gradually more usual. The maximum payment is £30 per transaction which is a limit in case your card is lost or stolen because after three attempts you are required to enter your PIN. I also keep my contactless cards in RFID wallet to prevent the card detail from being cloned. How do US members use their contactless cards and how are they secured.

jeffhacker Loc: Dallas, Texas

I actually work for a major international bank which is one of the largest credit card issuers in the world. Here in the U.S., we were several years behind the rest of the western world in advancing to Chip/Pin based credit cards. It was only about five years ago that I was on a business trip to Canada and was asked to input my PIN at a restaurant; I had almost forgotten it, although I do travel internationally. Today, there is a plan in place to gradually move to PIN’s on Chip cards instead of signatures in the U.S., and more and m ore cards are “contactless”. (I’ve seen more VISA cards with this feature than Master Card or Amex, but this is annectodal, and may not be due to anything other than my personal experience). “Contactless” payments include things like Apple Pay, et al, but my own experience with that is that it is more trouble than it’s worth. Having said that, I am personally approaching retirement age and am perhaps less than fully computer savvy :-)

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

I do not use one, simply because one was not sent by my card company, yet.
(MAKE SURE you place your RFID wallet in the bin at the airport.....)

fetzler Loc: North West PA

Interesting. I use cash for small transactions. I don't have PINs for my credit cards and don't use ATMs. Internet transactions are for credit cards.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

I simply never understood the need" for RFID contactless cards - is it that much of an issue to slide or insert the card in a terminal to be read? Are people that pathetic and lazy?

Meanwhile, bad actors with the right gear can read RFID cards at a distance, so getting an RFID shielding wallet or moneyclip becomes a worthy precaution.

But again, why do people feel the need to avoid the hard work and painful experience of inserting a card in a slot as compared to waving said card a few inches above he device?

cdayton

f8lee wrote:

I simply never understood the need" for RFID ... (show quote)

For the same reason I have an electric wine bottle cork screw - I’ve saved so much energy.

BobHartung Loc: Bettendorf, IA

johneccles wrote:

Contactless Bank Cards were introduced here in the... (show quote)

I don't use a "contactless credit card", but I am considering switching to Apple Pay after I learned that all communication between by phone and Apple are encrypted.

johneccles Loc: Leyland UK

The real reason to use a contactless card (RFID) for small purchases is the speed of transactions, in a busy spot such as a pub bar or paying your bus fare it takes a couple of seconds, whereas chip and pin can take up to a minute or more, cash transactions take even longer if you don't have the right money and change has to be given etc. Traders like the system because cash does not need to be handled, errors cannot occur and there is far less for robbers to steal.

bob44044 Loc: Ohio

johneccles wrote:

Contactless Bank Cards were introduced here in the... (show quote)

1984

EdJ0307 Loc: out west someplace

johneccles wrote:

At this moment in time, I carry hardly any cash,

A news story in December told how donations for the bell-ringers for the Salvation Army are down. One reason they attributed for this was that a lot of people don't carry cash with them anymore.

f8lee Loc: New Mexico

johneccles wrote:

The real reason to use a contactless card (RFID) for small purchases is the speed of transactions, in a busy spot such as a pub bar or paying your bus fare it takes a couple of seconds, whereas chip and pin can take up to a minute or more, cash transactions take even longer if you don't have the right money and change has to be given etc. Traders like the system because cash does not need to be handled, errors cannot occur and there is far less for robbers to steal.

Okay, but then how many dozen pages long is the monthly statement - do you reconcile it or just figrure "eh what's the point?". And if the latter, if there are fraudulent charges do you care about finding them?

Architect1776 Loc: In my mind

johneccles wrote:

Contactless Bank Cards were introduced here in the... (show quote)

Great way to track your life and purchases.
I use cash mostly now and a card only when required for remote purposes or hotels. I hate to do it but don't want the arguement.

happy sailor Loc: Ontario, Canada

I have a couple of credit cards that are contactless (or tap and go as we like to call them) and they are good for purchases up to $100. My debit card has the capability too but I told the bank to turn it off. If you lose your bank debit card the fraud use comes right out of your account and it is too much of a process to get it back. So instead of using the contactless features on the cards I switched to Apple Pay for my credit and debit card. And as I like gadgets, I just tap my Apple Watch to pay, works great. Sometimes I have cash and sometimes not and if I forget my wallet I can pay with my iPhone Apple Watch. I help out with the Sally Ann Kettles and even in this cashless society our area (completely anecdotally) this year raised more money.

I work in fraud investigation, particularly credit cards and don't worry at all about RFID compromises. I think the protection wallets are of little value. Much the same as paying for identity theft insurance.

johnnievegas

gasoline purchases are for credit/debit cards.

johnnievegas

STDs