Facebook Messenger payments arrive in UK

The UK has become the first country outside the US to get Facebook’s Messenger payments service.

This was launched in the US in 2015 and is used to split restaurant bills, pay babysitters and send gifts. Facebook says that it is bringing the service to the UK because it has so many "mobile-savvy consumers". All the major banks and card firms are onboard.

A spokesperson for Facebook comments: "All debit card credentials are encrypted and protected with bank level security. Our anti-fraud specialists monitor payments, and in the rare case that we find unauthorised activity on an account, we'll work with them to secure the account again. Plus, since payments in Messenger use debit cards, as with any other debit card payment, if there are unauthorised charges, people have recourse with their bank. Finally, Messenger payments are offered as a regulated payment service, meaning they're directly subject to consumer protection requirements."