How to pay contactless with your bank card at the checkout
You may have seen other people at the checkout simply hold their card near a device for a moment, without entering a PIN (a secret four-digit number) and without signing anything. This is called contactless payment. It may sound unfamiliar, but it really is simple. In this guide I will show you step by step how it works. You cannot do anything wrong here. If something does not work, you simply try again.
What does "contactless payment" mean?
Contactless payment means this: you hold your bank card near a small device at the checkout for a moment. This device is called a card terminal – usually a small box with a screen that the cashier holds out to you, or that stands on the counter. The card does not need to be swiped through a slot. It only needs to be close to the terminal.
On your bank card you will find a small symbol for this. It looks like four curved lines, similar to a sideways Wi-Fi sign. You will find the same symbol on the card terminal. It shows you that contactless payment is possible there.
Step by step: how to pay contactless
- Wait at the checkout until the cashier has entered the amount you need to pay into the terminal.
- Take your bank card out of your wallet.
- Look for the contactless payment symbol on the card terminal – the four curved lines.
- Hold your card flat above this symbol, about a hand-width away.
- Wait for the signal – usually a short beep or a green checkmark on the screen.
- Move the card away from the terminal again.
- Enter your PIN if the terminal asks for it.
- Look at the screen to see whether it says "Payment successful" or shows a green checkmark.
- Take the receipt if one is printed.
- Check the amount on the receipt before you leave the shop.
That is all. You have just paid contactless.
When does the terminal ask for the PIN?
The PIN is your secret four-digit number, known only to you. For small amounts you usually do not need it for contactless payments. There are, however, two situations where the terminal will still ask for it:
- When the amount is higher than a certain limit – this is often around fifty euros.
- When you have already paid contactless several times in a row, even with small amounts. This is a safety measure set by your bank.
This is not a mistake and no reason to worry. Simply enter your PIN as you normally would. Cover the keypad with your other hand while you do this, so that nobody can see your numbers.
Why you should check the receipt
After paying, you often get a small slip of paper, the receipt. Take a quick look at the amount on it. Compare it with what was shown at the till. This way you will notice at once if a wrong amount was entered by mistake. If something does not match, tell the cashier right away, while you are still at the checkout.
An important note on protecting yourself from fraud
Some scammers try to distract people at the checkout in order to secretly get hold of their card or wallet. Always keep your card in your own hand and never hand it to anyone you do not know. Never give your PIN to another person – not even to someone who claims to be from the shop or from the bank.
What to do if something goes wrong
If the terminal does not react, this is not a problem. Simply take the card away and hold it calmly against the symbol once more. Sometimes it helps to hold the card a little slower or a little closer.
If the payment fails several times, let the cashier know. They can help you or read the card in a different way. This is nothing to be embarrassed about – it happens to many people.
If you later find an amount on your bank statement that you do not recognise, call your bank straight away. Use the telephone number printed on the back of your bank card – never a number from a text message or email. And never read out your PIN or a code to anyone on the phone, even if that person claims to be calling from your bank.
Summary – the key steps
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