Contactless payments

A number of retail outlets now accept contactless payment. Look out for the wave symbol worldwide.

Here are just a few of the places you can use contactless:

What is contactless technology?

Contactless technology is a fast and easy way to pay for goods and services of £45 and under without entering a PIN. Within the UK the limit is £45. Other contactless limits apply outside of the UK, please ask the retailer. Remember you can still use your card for purchases using Chip and PIN.

Contactless cards have an antenna in the plastic so that when it is used at a contactless reader it securely transmits purchase information to and from the contactless reader. All you have to do is touch your contactless card onto the contactless reader to make the payment.

How do I know if my card comes with contactless technology?

The wave symbol:

will be visible on your card.

How do I get a contactless card?

We are able to offer a contactless card on most of our current account range. Please give us a call on 03457 21 31 41 (Mon-Fri 8am-8pm, Sat 8am-6pm and Sun 9am-5pm) or visit your local branch to see if we can offer you a card.

Is there a limit on the value of goods I can purchase with my contactless card?

You can use your contactless card to pay for items of £45 and under. For purchases over £45, you will need to carry out a chip and PIN transaction.

Is the £45 contactless transaction limit available at all retailers?

Retailers will gradually adopt the £45 limit from 1 April 2020. The previous contactless payment limit in the UK was £30. If you are declined a transaction between £30 - £45 it may be because the retailer is yet to have updated their terminal. You may need to pay using chip and PIN to complete these transactions.

Where do contactless payments appear on my statement?

Most contactless payments will appear in the main section of your online statement within a few days. However, some transactions may show first in the ‘View pending transactions’ section.

How am I protected from fraud?

Contactless uses the latest secure Visa technology. If your card is lost or stolen you are protected against fraud loss – providing you take the kind of precautions we recommend and let us know as soon as you notice the card is missing. We recommend that you minimise the risk of fraud loss by never telling anyone your PIN, always looking out for the padlock symbol when shopping online and always shredding receipts and documents with personal information before disposing of them.

Can I be charged more than once for the same transaction if I pay using a contactless card?

No. Once you have touched your card on the card reader to pay for that transaction, the transaction is cleared from the terminal and it will appear on your statement. The terminal is tested to only read one card at a time for each transaction. You may be asked to try your contactless card again if the first attempt to pay was unsuccessful but you only pay for a transaction once.

What happens if I have more than one contactless card and / or an Oyster card in my wallet when I touch the card reader?

We do not recommend touching your wallet against the reader if you have more than one item in it that communicates via contactless technology. The card reader is designed to reject a payment where it can see that there is more than one contactless card present, a red light will be shown on the reader to tell you the payment has not complete and the terminal will say ‘please present one card only’.

To prevent this happening, make sure that you only use the card that you wish to pay with and touch this against the card reader.

Do I have to use contactless?

No. Contactless technology is an additional feature on your card. It is up to you whether you chose to pay with contactless or Chip and PIN.

Can I use my contactless card outside the UK?

Although you can use your Bank of Scotland Visa debit card outside the UK, only Contactless cards issued after 17th November 2017, including replacement cards, can be used worldwide wherever you see the contactless symbol.

Why are the contactless payment limits increasing?

In an initiative to help limit the amount of chip and PIN payments and cash transactions we have increased the contactless payment limit from £30 to £45 for individual payments within the UK.

For example, if you shop at your local supermarket you will now be able to complete transactions up to £45 by using your debit card for a contactless payment.

Will the new limit be available now?

The contactless payment limit increase will gradually be rolled out by retailers from 1 April 2020. It may take a few weeks for all retailers to adjust.

What do I do if my payment is declined?

If your contactless payment is declined, you may be required to pay using chip and PIN. 

How do contactless payments for travel work?

Where a public transport operator displays this symbol:

on the payment card reader you can use your contactless card to pay for travel.

To pay with contactless, simply touch your contactless card to the card reader - as soon as you hear the beep, and / or see a light, you have paid for your travel. There is no need to find cash or top up your travel card first.

Remember to check the fare and payment process with the transport operator before you start your journey.

Do I have a daily limit when I use my contactless card to pay for travel?

No - but you must have sufficient funds to cover the cost of the fare in your account.

There was a warning light when I touched my contactless payment card on the card reader, what does this mean?

This means that you cannot use that contactless card to pay for your intended travel and you will have to choose another payment method. You can ask your travel operator what is the best to pay for your travel.

How much will it cost to travel on the TfL network with a contactless payment card?

You will be charged the same amount as a pay as you go adult fare when travelling with an Oyster card. You will also benefit from daily and weekly (Monday to Sunday) capping. Please see the TfL website for fare details.

How can I keep track of my journeys?

We recommend that you set up an online account with TfL. This will allow you to view your journey history, request refunds and make payments for any unpaid journeys.

Can I add a season ticket, Travelcard or Bus & Tram pass to my contactless payment card?

No, that is not currently possible. Only adult pay as you go fares are being offered by TfL. However, you can still benefit from daily and weekly (Monday to Sunday) capping, as you would by using an Oyster pay as you go card.

Is it possible to pay for more than one fare using a contactless payment card, for example paying for children/s TfL travel when I am travelling?

No, just like Oyster, a contactless payment card can only pay for one person per journey, so an alternative method of payment for each person will be required.

What should I do if I have a query about a journey fare or daily cap?

Please contact TfL on 0343 222 1234 with your query or view your transaction history on the TfL website.

What should I do if I think I’ve been charged the wrong amount for a journey?

You can check your journey and payment history by signing up for an online TfL account. If the daily amount includes a maximum fare for an incomplete journey, you may be able to complete the journey online and get a refund. Further queries can be raised on the website or by calling TfL customer services on 0343 222 1234.

When using a contactless payment card on the TfL network, what happens if I touch in with one card and touch out with a different card?

This will result in you being charged the maximum fares for 2 incomplete journeys. An incomplete journey is when someone taps in at the beginning of their journey but not out at the end, or vice-versa. If this happens, you should check your journey and payment history on your TfL online account. You may be able to complete the journey online and get a refund.

What can I do if I unintentionally touch my contactless payment card on the card reader when I mean to use my Oyster card / another contactless card?

You may be eligible for a refund. Please contact TfL on 0343 222 1234.

Is the use of Oyster for travel with TfL being phased out?

No, you can still use your Oyster card if you prefer.