What is contactless payment?

Verified 31 January 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Contactless payment is a fast way to pay by credit card or mobile phone. You can use it to make small purchases at a merchant with a special case. For a given period (per day, per week or per month), the cumulative amount of contactless payments is limited.

Credit card

Contactless payment allows you to make a purchase by approaching your credit card within 4 centimeters of a special case called electronic payment terminal (EPT).

The payment order is therefore given without a secret code composition, without signature and without presentation of an identity document.

For security reasons, the maximum amount of a contactless payment is limited to €50 per operation.

Your bank sets a ceiling on the cumulative amount of "contactless" purchases allowed (per day, per week or per month).

The maximum number of consecutive transactions allowed is also limited.

When a limit is exceeded, you must use another payment method or pay by inserting your credit card into the TPE.

In case of loss or the theft orfraudulent use of your credit card, the steps to be respected are the same depending on whether your card is equipped with the contactless or not.

Please note

Use of a protective case to block remote capturing of adapter data is recommended.

Mobile Phone

Contactless payment allows you to make a purchase by approaching your mobile phone within 4 centimeters of a special case (often called terminal).

L'payment order is therefore given without signature and without presentation of identity document.

For a purchase of small amount (€20 or €30 approximately), the payment is made without entering the code.

For a higher amount, you may be asked to do one of the following 2 things:

  • Enter your PIN on the merchant's payment terminal keyboard
  • Enter a password on your phone (different from your card PIN).

To use a mobile phone as a means of payment, 2 conditions the following must be completed:

  • Your phone must have NFC ("Near Field Communication")
  • Your bank must offer a mobile payment service.

Your bank sets a ceiling on the cumulative amount of "contactless" purchases allowed (per day, per week or per month). The maximum number of consecutive transactions allowed is also limited.

When a limit is exceeded, you must use another payment method.

FYI  

In case of loss or theft of your phone, notify your telephone company and contact your bank to block any fraudulent payments.

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