Contactless Credit cards - safe

[misanman]

I use contactless (credit card or phone) whenever possible as it is so much faster and easier. I think it has noticeably speeded up the gas lines at Costco, unless you happen to be behind someone who can't figure out what credit card to use or how to insert it (

 

[mpeirce]

And when in London, you can use your contactless card or smartphone to pay for your rides on the Tube/Underground, tapping in and tapping out with the same device...

We used Apple Pay this fall on the subway in New York and it was a big improvement over those paper swipe cards.

Easy and secure and no need to refill.

 

[JoeWras]

I love contact-less. I only have one card that supports it. Problem is, I'm only seeing it (for credit cards) on gas pumps. Most of the places I frequent (Big Box Home Stores) still require me to insert the card. After using contact-less, I find it annoying.

I don't have a phone that does NFC so no phone support for me yet.

 

[GalaxyBoy]

I so far have found contactless annoying because I have to wait for the checker to have done something before I tap the card, "Ok, can I tap now?"

Definitely a problem around my neck of the woods where folks are always at least ten years behind when it comes to adopting change. It’s not uncommon for a cashier to keep the card reader out of reach of the customer and insist on inserting the card themselves. One store never trained their people to initiate a transaction except by inserting a card which apparently starts things rolling. But when I asked to use my watch (I saw the NFC icon on the machine) it took two other employees plus a manager to figure out how to make it work. And of course the next time it was the same drill so I gave up using NFC there.

 

[camfused]

Magnetic stripes on CCs will start to disappear in 2024, and will be completely gone by 2033, at least for Mastercard. I think Visa has similar goals. This will force merchants to switch their terminals to support the NFC cards. The stripes are a 1960s technology that is easily read and less secure than the NFC chips.

When I get gas, say at a Sheetz, it is a lot faster/easier to hold the card up to the NFC reader on the pump, then to have to insert the card, wait for the chip to be read (many now lock on to your card while this is happening), and then input my zip code.

Especially in these Covid/Flu days, I don't want to touch anything that I don't have to. NFC cards make the transaction completely touch free.

 

[JoeWras]

Magnetic stripes on CCs will start to disappear in 2024, and will be completely gone by 2033, at least for Mastercard. I think Visa has similar goals. This will force merchants to switch their terminals to support the NFC cards. The stripes are a 1960s technology that is easily read and less secure than the NFC chips.

When I get gas, say at a Sheetz, it is a lot faster/easier to hold the card up to the NFC reader on the pump, then to have to insert the card, wait for the chip to be read (many now lock on to your card while this is happening), and then input my zip code.

Especially in these Covid/Flu days, I don't want to touch anything that I don't have to. NFC cards make the transaction completely touch free.

But, but, it isn't just the mag stripes. Not all chip cards have the NFC capability. Likewise, not all chip-reader terminals can deal with NFC contactless.

So, you have to inject the card into the machine, trying to play a game of "Operation" to avoid touching your fingers on the device and picking up someone's booger juice from the previous transactions. There's actually more danger in touching the device compared to the mag stripe swipe. (I realize what you are saying about the mag-stripe though, and not discounting it.)

The contact-less terminals are awesome. Just get the card within an inch or so of the pad and you are done.

 

[braumeister]

But, but, it isn't just the mag stripes. Not all chip cards have the NFC capability. Likewise, not all chip-reader terminals can deal with NFC contactless.

Some may not realize that there are two different technologies here.

The original chip function was RFID and that requires inserting the card into the machine.

For contactless (NFC), you need to see this symbol both on your card and on the machine (that's the place where you tap it).

 

[JoeWras]

Some may not realize that there are two different technologies here.



The original chip function was RFID and that requires inserting the card into the machine.



For contactless (NFC), you need to see this symbol both on your card and on the machine (that's the place where you tap it).

Exactly!!!!

 

[braumeister]

in theory if you're on a tightly packed tube someone can simple put a card reader next to your purse/pocket and try to draw a contactless payment from it.

I'm not sure if that a real risk or not.

There's an easy way to prevent that. Just don't use deodorant on those mornings.

 

[brett]

We have been using tap and go (contactless) for quite some time.

Not certain why anyone would think they are less safe.

Even now in restaurants more often than not be can use on tap and go on the portable units that also take pin.

Very convenient, very easy.

Not really certain what the issue is....other than change.

 

[audreyh1]

I love contact-less. I only have one card that supports it. Problem is, I'm only seeing it (for credit cards) on gas pumps. Most of the places I frequent (Big Box Home Stores) still require me to insert the card. After using contact-less, I find it annoying.

I don't have a phone that does NFC so no phone support for me yet.

Best Buy supports Apple Pay. It was the very first store I used it many years ago with my watch (2016?).

 

[JoeWras]

Best Buy supports Apple Pay. It was the very first store I used it many years ago with my watch (2016?).

As part of LBYM, I use Moto G phones which cost a fraction of most others. About the only thing they don't have is NFC.

Over time, I expect NFC to become more important at which time I'll be sure to have a phone that supports it.

Do we still talk about LBYM on this board, or have these halcyon days of the stock market changed us? I know I'm Blowing More Dough, just not on phones.

 

[brett]

As part of LBYM, I use Moto G phones which cost a fraction of most others. About the only thing they don't have is NFC.

Over time, I expect NFC to become more important at which time I'll be sure to have a phone that supports it.

Do we still talk about LBYM on this board, or have these halcyon days of the stock market changed us? I know I'm Blowing More Dough, just not on phones.

I have been using my moto phone for 4 years now without any issues. Paid $110 for a new unlocked Verizon packaged phone on Amazon. Still works like new. Purchased it based on a PCMag review.

I do not understand the issue over what type of credit card technology..

From my perspective the best credit card is one that works when presented. And one that does not leave my line of sight.

Each of ours has been a combo of pin and tap and go for a long time. Really, as long as the bill gets paid what does it matter? It may be coincidence but we have not had a compromised credit card since tap and go was added as a feature to our cards.

 

[Chuckanut]

Given the $50 limit on illicit CC usage, there isn't much to fear for the consumer.

Except for those who just pay the bill and never look at the charges. They might have a problem if they don't question an illicit charge within the time limit. .

 

[rk911]

Given the $50 limit on illicit CC usage, there isn't much to fear for the consumer.

Except for those who just pay the bill and never look at the charges. They might have a problem if they don't question an illicit charge within the time limit. .

i reconcile the CC statement each month and we receive alerts on our devices and PCs for any charge (or credit) that is > $0. same with our bank accounts.

 

[brett]

I believe that credit card issuers have a right to introduce any card technology that they believe will reduce their losses from fraud.

Cardholders have a choice.

Accept new credit card technology from their card issuer as it changes or cancel the card. It is not rocket science.

The card issuers are much more well versed in card safety and fraud than me....and I suspect most other card holders.

 

[JoeWras]

I have been using my moto phone for 4 years now without any issues. Paid $110 for a new unlocked Verizon packaged phone on Amazon. Still works like new. Purchased it based on a PCMag review.

I do not understand the issue over what type of credit card technology..

Not all Moto phones have NFC. Some do.

Not all chip credit cards have contactless. Some do.

A few posts up by braumeister explains it (post 57). That symbol must be present to have contactless.

 

[brett]

Not all Moto phones have NFC. Some do.

Not all chip credit cards have contactless. Some do.

A few posts up by braumeister explains it (post 57). That symbol must be present to have contactless.

It may depend where you live. We do not live in the US. We have six cards between us. Three MC's, an Amex, and two Visa cards.

They have all had chip pin technology for years, they all have had tap and go for the longest time. Never had a choice. They simply arrived that way.

I cannot imagine a credit card issuer today not having cards chip technology and contactless tap and go capability both built into the card.

If not for customer convenience than at least for fraud prevention.

 

[JoeWras]

It may depend where you live. We do not live in the US. We have five cards. Two MC's, an AMex, and two Visa cards.

They have all had chip pin technology for years, they all have had tap and go for the longest time. Never had a choice. They simply arrived that way.

I cannot imagine a credit card issuer today not having cards chip technology and contactless tap and go capability both built into the card.

If not for customer convenience than at least for fraud prevention.

It depends on the bank and/or credit card provider/servicer.

I just had another card renew over the summer without contactless. Why? Who knows? But yeah, it has the chip.

My favorite card thankfully has contactless.

Chip does not equal contactless or tap. You need this icon displaying on the card:

 

[brett]

It depends on the bank and/or credit card provider/servicer.

I just had another card renew over the summer without contactless. Why? Who knows? But yeah, it has the chip.

My favorite card thankfully has contactless.

Chip does not equal contactless or tap. You need this icon displaying on the card:

Ours all have the symbol. And the pin numbers on the chip are programable. We change the pin numbers on our cards from time to time...and always when we have returned from an international trip. Just as we do the passwords on our financial institution web sites. I cannot remember a restaurant, gas station, or retailer where our card was taken away. The card transaction is always completed in front of us. Mind you, I would not recognize if a skimmer was attached to the device. It is why, when travelling, we try to find an ATM that is actually inside the bank and not on the street.

 

[kcowan]

Do any of you still get those embossed cards? Their only use was for the physical machines that make a carbon copy!

 

[brett]

Do any of you still get those embossed cards? Their only use was for the physical machines that make a carbon copy!

Ours all seem to be moving over to non embossed. We have had several new ones arrive over the past few months. All have dropped the embossed numbers. We hope that all of our replacement cards go this route. One other difference....the number is on the back of the card instead of the front.

I am very happy about this. We have a few dark cards that have to be tiltled a certain way in order to read them when we are placing on line orders. The new cards with no embossments, the number on the back, are much easier to read.

 

[braumeister]

We have a few dark cards that have to be tiltled a certain way in order to read them when we are placing on line orders. The new cards with no embossments, the number on the back, are much easier to read.

One of the interesting things about the Apple Card is that not only is it not embossed, it has no number, no expiration date, nothing beyond your name, the MasterCard logo, the visible chip, and the words Goldman Sachs. That's all. It's not NFC-enabled for contactless use, but having it activated on your phone, it's unnecessary to even have the physical card with you.

 

[rayvt]

I love just having to put my Apple watch next to the terminal

What is this "watch" thing you speak of?

I have a velvet-lined box full of timepieces that go on a wrist, but I haven't worn one for the last 20 or so years.

 

[GaryInCO]

Do any of you still get those embossed cards? Their only use was for the physical machines that make a carbon copy!

ALL of my cards (2 Chase, 2 for my bank) are embossed. Recently I've gotten charged-up prepaid debit cards for various things, and those were embossed too.

about ten or twelve years ago that every time one of my credit cards got used fraudulently it was within days of using it at a restaurant where the server took it out of my sight for a few minutes.

Since that epiphany, I have always carried enough cash to cover a good meal and I've never let a credit card out of my sight. It worked! Haven't had a fraudulent charge in all these years, simply by deciding to always pay cash for my restaurant meals.

I also never had any fraudulent charges, but I didn't worry about keeping my card within arm's reach. For 8 years before Covid, I travelled around the US & Canada fairly regularly for w*rk. I spent about 12-15 weeks a year on the road, eating out at 2-3 restaurants every day. Never a problem.