Identity, Security, Payments, Biometrics, Smart Cards and Authentication News

Nearly 90% of Brits haven't heard of contactless cards and 75% of fear them

Monday, July 7, 2008

A recent poll of 2200 UK residents found 77% of respondents feel that the roll out of contactless payment cards will make it easier for criminals to spend money on lost and stolen cards. One stated fear was the fact that the cards don’t require a PIN for small value purchases. More than a third of those surveyed also shared concerns about fraudsters hacking into personal details.

Even more concerning may be the fact that even after the London launch of contactless cards being rolled out in London in September 2007, a massive 88% of Brits haven’t even heard of contactless payment cards.


With the negative results, several positive things appeared as well. Roughly half (49%) of respondents believe the technology will result in shorter lines and the same percentage liked the idea of not carrying cash. Nearly a quarter (23%) of those polled also felt contactless cards gave them more control since they don’t leave the cardholder’s hands at the point-of-sale. 34% of those polled think they will actually spend more as a result of the added convenience and ease that these cards bring.

Geoff Barker, head of contactless payments at CPP the firm doing the research, says Apacs has forecasted that there will be 5 million contactless cards in circulation and 100,000 contactless merchant terminals in place by the end of 2008, so people need to get used to the technology and the financial services industry needs to dispel some popular myths around security and fraud. [end] 

MasterCard’s PayPass contactless payment feature may soon be presented to the Azerbaijan market of cashless payments.

According to a recent MasterCard study, 75% of the local residents said they would like to use contactless payment cards in supermarkets and 60% to pay public transport fare. When asked which devices, in addition to a plastic card, it would be convenient to make payments, 86% of respondents said they would like to use their mobile phone.

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On Track Innovations (OTI) has received an order for 30,000 of its NFC and contactless payment readers for deployment in the U.S.

OTI did not reveal who will receive the readers, but assured that the devices would be used to support the migration towards contactless payments and NFC in the U.S.

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First Data Corporation has partnered up with the Krakow Transportation and Infrastructure Authority and City Parking Group for the introduction of parking meters equipped with contactless payments functionality in the city of Krakow, Poland.

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HSBC announced that it will begin the conversion to contactless technology this month, replacing all customer banking debit cards, according to ThinkMoney.com.

The bank will start to roll out the new contactless cards to existing customers whose debit cards are due to expire this month and then continue the process as cards expire. Customers who don’t want a contactless card can opt out by contacting their bank before their current card expires.

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Asda Stores Ltd., a British supermarket chain, is planning to trial contactless payment technology in 25 of its stores, according to Computerworld UK.

The contactless systems will be supplied by both Visa and payment value chain Streamline. Customers will be to simply tap the reader with their contactless-enabled card to pay for goods up to £15, rising to £20 June 1, potentially reducing queue times.

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Albron, an independent caterer in the Netherlands, will offer biometric- and contactless-based payments in its restaurants thanks to a newly signed agreement with pan-European payment processor Equens.

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