Quick Links:

> What are the rules for contactless card payments?
> Q1 - What is the spending limit on contactless cards?
> Q2 - Why did the limit on contactless card payments increase?
> Q3 - Is there a limit on the number of times a contactless card can be used in a day?
> Q4 - Can my business still accept cash payments?
> Q5 - How do I get a card terminal to accept contactless payments if I don’t have one?
> Q6 - How do I tell if my current card payment terminal accepts contactless payments?
> Q7 - Is there a best place to put my contactless card machine in store?
> Q8 - What information do I need to give to customers?

More than half of consumer payments in the UK last year were made by card and contactless technology, according to UK Finance.

Of the 40 billion payments made in 2019, 51% were made by credit, debit and charge cards, with 16% paid using contactless payments.

This means that the UK is now a majority card-based society.

And the use of contactless payments could accelerate even quicker than predicted from now, with the events of recent months solidifying consumers’ preference towards contactless card payments, according to UK Finance’s chief executive Stephen Jones.

With the use of contactless card payments on the rise, what do you need to know about the rules surrounding this type of payment?

In this blog we’ll go through the main rules around contactless payments, from a business and consumer point of view.

Q7 - Is there a best place to put my contactless card machine in store?

Depending on which type of card machine you use, there are different ways to accept contactless payments.

If you use a contactless countertop card machine, it is advised to display this facing the customer at your point of sale.

As countertop machines are fixed to one location, finding a position where customers can easily reach it is key.

Using a portable contactless card machine allows you to take payments anywhere on your premises. This gives you more control over how you make sales, whether it’s at the table, at a desk or out on the shop floor.

These contactless payment machines could be better if you need to accept multiple payments at once - like at a restaurant or large retailer.

Mobile contactless card machines give you the freedom to accept payments on the go. Your terminal can function anywhere there’s a GPRS signal, meaning that your contactless payment options are almost unlimited.

Q8 - What information do I need to give to customers?

Make sure your customers know that contactless card payments are available at your store.

You can use window stickers and outdoor displays to advertise your contactless capabilities to customers before they enter your premises.

Displaying contactless signage near your preferred payment location allows shoppers to be ready to pay, speeding up queues and improving your payment process.