Contactless

Are contactless payments secure?

Contactless payments are as secure as Chip & PIN and have the same protection against fraud if your card is lost or stolen, provided you inform us as soon as you realise your card is missing. The following features provide further protection:

The first transaction must be Chip & PIN or a cash withdrawal to enable your card for contactless.
The contactless signal doesn’t contain your PIN or any other information that may identify you.
You will periodically be asked to enter your PIN when making contactless payments and your PIN will always be required for transactions over £30.

Can a purchase be made without my knowledge? for example, could a card reader activate if I walk past it?

No. Your card has to be extremely close to the reader - typically between two and four centimetres - and the retailer must have first entered the amount for you to approve.

Can I make contactless payments abroad?

You can use your contactless card worldwide, wherever the contactless symbol is displayed. However, the single transaction limit for contactless transactions - £30 in the UK - will vary depending on local limits (i.e. it may be more or less).

Can I use my contactless card on the transport for london network?

You can use your contactless card across the London transport network for travel on bus, tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail Services. For further information on how contactless payments work on the transport network, please visit tfl.gov.uk/contactless.

How do I get a contactless card?

Contactless functionality is being rolled out to the following Coutts Card products:

New, renewal and replacement Coutts Debit Cards issued from the 10 August 2015 will carry contactless functionality
All existing private clients with a Coutts credit/charge card will receive a contactless card automatically when their existing card expires. A contactless card will also be issued if your previous card is lost, stolen or damaged.
New clients will automatically receive a contactless card.
If your card renewal is not due for some time, and you would like contactless functionality, please contact Coutts 24 who will be able to arrange a replacement card to be issued.

How do I know if my card is contactless?

If you see the symbol below on the front your card, it means that it is enabled for contactless payments.

How do I make a contactless payment?

Making a contactless payment is fast and simple:

Look out for the contactless symbol when you are out shopping.
Touch your contactless card against the card reader.
A beep or green light will confirm your payment is approved.

What are the benefits of contactless?

Contactless is faster and easier than other types of payments. It is also a convenient alternative to cash – with contactless you do not have to worry about looking for change when making purchases of up to £30 at participating retailers.

What if I don?t want a contactless card?

Contactless cards are a secure and convenient way to pay for small value transactions of up to £30 and you can also continue to use existing Chip & PIN services on your card. However, if you still have any concerns about using a contactless card, please discuss these with your Private Banker.

What is card clash?

If you touch your purse or wallet containing more than one contactless card on a reader, you could experience card clash as the reader will not know which card to take payment from and it could also take payment from a card you did not intend to pay with. To avoid card clash, it is recommended that you only touch the card you want to pay with on the card reader.

What is contactless?

Contactless is a faster, more convenient way to pay for items of up to £30 without entering a PIN. Contactless cards have an embedded antenna in the plastic which, when used at a contactless reader, securely transmits purchase information. All you have to do is touch your contactless card over a contactless reader to make the payment.

What should I do if my contactless card has been lost or stolen?

You can lock your card immediately using the mobile app. Go to 'cards management' and tap 'lock card'. Let us know if its been stolen as soon as possible by calling Coutts Card Services on + 44 (0)207 309 0045 if you're inside the UK, or +44 (0)20 7309 0045 if you're outside the UK. If anyone has fraudulently used your contactless card to make a transaction, you won't be charged for any losses as long as you can show you have kept your details safe.

Where can I make contactless payments?

You can make contactless payments wherever you see the Contactless symbol displayed in the UK and worldwide.
Thousands of terminals have already been upgraded to accept contactless payments and the number of retailers accepting these is growing all the time.
You can use your contactless card across the London transport network for travel on bus, tube, tram, DLR, London Overground and most National Rail Services.

Will I receive a receipt for my transaction?

Contactless payments are designed to let you make low value transactions quickly and conveniently. If you would like a receipt to confirm the contactless transaction, just ask the merchant when you pay. Please note that this may not be directly available in certain circumstances; for example, if paying for travel by tapping your card on an electronic ticket reader, or using a contactless card at a vending machine.