Contactless declined

[radamfi]

I tried to use my contactless Mastercard on the 521 this morning and it was declined. I was using the Oyster reader inside the saloon so I could read the whole blurb about being asked to use another form of payment. I thought that was weird so I got off at the next stop and boarded the next 521. The same problem, so I used a Visa debit card instead.

I then used the Mastercard in a shop and it was declined for contactless but worked with the PIN. Then I used it in another shop where the contactless worked.

Should this happen? I thought contactless didn't use online authorisation.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Sometimes contactless cards block after being used contactless too many times until a C&P transaction unblocks them. This is done at a card level.

You'll get this if you don't make mixed transactions with a card.

In a shop it'll ask you to use C&P instead, on transport it'll just block.

 

[radamfi]

In a shop it'll ask you to use C&P instead, on transport it'll just block.

I always assumed that it would never block on transport unless the card has been hotlisted for previous non-payment and the card number was stored in the ticket machine as blocked.

That means you can't rely on contactless unless you have multiple cards.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I always assumed that it would never block on transport unless the card has been hotlisted for previous non-payment and the card number was stored in the ticket machine as blocked.

No, if the card has decided to block, it's blocked.

That means you can't rely on contactless unless you have multiple cards.

It means that the only workable use-case is mixed use. If you want a dedicated card for contactless use only, you need a classic Oyster.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Sometimes contactless cards block after being used contactless too many times until a C&P transaction unblocks them. This is done at a card level.

You'll get this if you don't make mixed transactions with a card.

In a shop it'll ask you to use C&P instead, on transport it'll just block.

Sorry, that's incorrect.

 

[TQ]

My wife and I were in London last week for the day and rather than dig out our old, rarely used Oyster cards I decided to use contactless. First journey went fine but on the second my wife's card was declined, I passed one of my spare debit cards over the turnstyle (not the one I had used) and that too was declined so I passed her a Mastercard which worked.

Had she been on her own (she only carries one payment card) she would have been unable to travel.

I think we'll go back to Oyster next time we're down there it's just not reliable enough.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Sorry, that's incorrect.

If the card has triggered its threshold it will not work contactless in any setting until it has been used either C&P or in a cash machine.

Hence, having a card to use exclusively contactless will never work.

 

[Joe Paxton]

My wife and I were in London last week for the day and rather than dig out our old, rarely used Oyster cards I decided to use contactless. First journey went fine but on the second my wife's card was declined, I passed one of my spare debit cards over the turnstyle (not the one I had used) and that too was declined so I passed her a Mastercard which worked.

Had she been on her own (she only carries one payment card) she would have been unable to travel.

I think we'll go back to Oyster next time we're down there it's just not reliable enough.

Are you sure it wasn't just a case of the card not being read correctly? Contactless validation takes a little longer than with an Oyster card. And despite the 'contactless' name, I'd strongly suggest actually firmly touching the card on the reader.

I have been using contactless (with different cards) regularly in London since launch and had no problems.

 

[Joe Paxton]

If the card has triggered its threshold it will not work contactless in any setting until it has been used either C&P or in a cash machine.

Hence, having a card to use exclusively contactless will never work.

No, sorry, that's not the case for contactless in transit mode.

 

[Bletchleyite]

No, sorry, that's not the case for contactless in transit mode.

Well, it's happened to the OP, and it's happened I think to me.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Well, it's happened to the OP, and it's happened I think to me.

But has it happened to the OP? I don't think you can say that conclusively at all.

Because there's no mechanism to 'unblock' a contactless card for contactless transactions when used in a transit mode scenario, they are accepted regardless.

I used one card exclusively for contactless travel for at least a month some time back.

I suspect there was another factor at play here, e.g. these Barclaycard FAQs suggest some issues:

help.barclaycard.co.uk/brochure/contactless_payments/TfL_gate
help.barclaycard.co.uk/brochure/contactless_payments/minimum-amount

Also most cards first need to be used for a chip-and-PIN transaction before contactless is enabled.

 

[MikeWh]

I tried to use my contactless Mastercard on the 521 this morning and it was declined. I was using the Oyster reader inside the saloon so I could read the whole blurb about being asked to use another form of payment. I thought that was weird so I got off at the next stop and boarded the next 521. The same problem, so I used a Visa debit card instead.

I then used the Mastercard in a shop and it was declined for contactless but worked with the PIN. Then I used it in another shop where the contactless worked.

Should this happen? I thought contactless didn't use online authorisation.

On the face of it, no, it shouldn't happen. If the card was not brand new (ie you had made at least one chip & pin transaction with it) then I would encourage you to phone your bank and ask what the problem was. Can you also expand on whether the bus was your first transit touch of the day?

 

[TQ]

Are you sure it wasn't just a case of the card not being read correctly? Contactless validation takes a little longer than with an Oyster card. And despite the 'contactless' name, I'd strongly suggest actually firmly touching the card on the reader.

I have been using contactless (with different cards) regularly in London since launch and had no problems.

Definitely not. Card held on reader, wait, red light. Different card held on reader (albeit same bank), wait, red light. Third card (different bank) held on reader, wait, green light, barrier opens.

Not something I'd want to rely on judging by my first experience.

 

[radamfi]

On the face of it, no, it shouldn't happen. If the card was not brand new (ie you had made at least one chip & pin transaction with it) then I would encourage you to phone your bank and ask what the problem was. Can you also expand on whether the bus was your first transit touch of the day?

It was the first usage of the card today. I have been using the card regularly for a couple of months and it has been used for London travel a number of times. After I got off the first bus I checked my online account on my phone to see if there was a problem but there wasn't and my previous journeys are on there.

 

[Deerfold]

I tried to use my contactless Mastercard on the 521 this morning and it was declined. I was using the Oyster reader inside the saloon so I could read the whole blurb about being asked to use another form of payment. I thought that was weird so I got off at the next stop and boarded the next 521. The same problem, so I used a Visa debit card instead.

I then used the Mastercard in a shop and it was declined for contactless but worked with the PIN. Then I used it in another shop where the contactless worked.

Should this happen? I thought contactless didn't use online authorisation.

I had a card with a cracked ariel. This worked fine when the chip was in a reader for chip and pin, but only worked in some shops and not on Oyster readers the twice I tried it.

 

[gray1404]

So if card ever doesn't work is the best think to do either go and do a PIN transaction or use it at an ATM? If using it at an ATM though would merely be checking your balance be enough or would you have to do something else? (I notice there is a PIN services menu you an select at an ATM to unlock your card.... is this what you mean.)?

 

[Merseysider]

So if card ever doesn't work is the best think to do either go and do a PIN transaction or use it at an ATM? If using it at an ATM though would merely be checking your balance be enough or would you have to do something else? (I notice there is a PIN services menu you an select at an ATM to unlock your card.... is this what you mean.)?

Card unlock isn't for that purpose - a balance check should suffice

 

[jon0844]

I was writing about contactless some years back when it was very new (like 2007-9) and working with Barclaycard and Nokia who were doing various trials.

I do recall the issue with contactless cards working on public transport was exactly the problem being discussed here - the issue of needing to enter a PIN every now and then.

As has been said, the solution was found in that if you are on a bus you will NEVER need to enter a PIN. The same cannot be said for ordinary transactions, and as I just got a new card from my bank I can also confirm that you activate by entering the PIN somewhere (payment, balance check) and cannot just use it straight away for a contactless purchase.

The bit I do not know is if this stops a payment being made on a bus/train, but I assume this has been considered for security.

One good thing I noticed is that all of my Android Pay virtual cards were automatically updated with my new card details (each has a unique number but I am shown the visual representation - or the last four digits - to select). This was done a couple of weeks before I even received my new physical card.

 

[MikeWh]

The bit I do not know is if this stops a payment being made on a bus/train, but I assume this has been considered for security.

If a new card has not been verified by the PIN being entered then it will ot work for any contactless transactions, including transit.

 

[jon0844]

If a new card has not been verified by the PIN being entered then it will ot work for any contactless transactions, including transit.

Thanks.

 

[rmt4ever]

Contactless is a big con. Thankfully my bank and card providers have no issue to still issue me non-contactless cards upon request which I still will use forever !

 

[jon0844]

Not sure how. I love it. Paying (where appropriate) with my watch is especially convenient.

 

[Deerfold]

Contactless is a big con. Thankfully my bank and card providers have no issue to still issue me non-contactless cards upon request which I still will use forever !

A con? Care to elaborate on that?

 

[TheGarner]

Not sure how you can see contactless payments being a con?

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not sure how. I love it. Paying (where appropriate) with my watch is especially convenient.

I don't wear a watch, but I do like paying with my phone, and it's more secure than "actual" contactless to boot.

 

[AlterEgo]

Not sure how you can see contactless payments being a con?

Perhaps they are a tactless con?

 

[jon0844]

I don't wear a watch, but I do like paying with my phone, and it's more secure than "actual" contactless to boot.

Indeed. My watch isn't always convenient, so my phone is more commonly used. The physical card a last resort.

Like the phone protected by fingerprint security, my watch requires a secure unlock if it is removed from my wrist.

 

[headshot119]

If a new card has not been verified by the PIN being entered then it will ot work for any contactless transactions, including transit.

I've had at least two cards which didn't need pin use before contactless use. It's very much issuer dependent.

 

[rmt4ever]

Thankfully the providers of the three cards I carry around- First Direct Debit Card, AMEX Card and Lloyds MasterCard, all issue NON contactless cards.

I very rarely use the AMEX and MasterCard anyway, having used them in a shop zero times this month and have only used my debit card chip and pin maybe 3 times.

I was once conned in the railway whereby I leant on a standalone reader at Kings X without even realising! Wallet in back pocket, beep, TFL mugged me of £5 or so.

Since then I'm 100% contactless-free ! They can keep the dam thing...

 

[danm14]

I was once conned in the railway whereby I leant on a standalone reader at Kings X without even realising! Wallet in back pocket, beep, TFL mugged me of £5 or so.

If you'd accidentally leaned against an open fire in a pub and your trousers caught light, would that make fire a con?

If you'd leaned against the same reader with an Oyster card in your back pocket, the same thing would have happened. Does that also make Oyster cards a con?