GoCompare research flags up contactless issues
42% of UK contactless payment users would like to see the limit for transactions (£30) increased, according to GoCompare research. 38% of these said it should be £50 or higher, while 9% would like to be able to make payments of £100 or more.
The supermarket is the most popular place for contactless payments with groceries accounting for 79% of transactions. Other common purchases include coffee, tea and other beverages (48%), snacks (46%), drinks in pubs and clubs (39%), clothes and accessories (38%) restaurant meals (36%) and transport fares (30%).
At the same time, however, 17% of those using tap-to-pay said that it leads them to lose track of their spending. 13% of users are worried that the tech makes them spend more than they intended; 12% said it had increased their number of impulse purchases; 8% admitted to not associating contactless payments with real money.
“Since the introduction of contactless cards in 2007, the speed and ease of their use has seen millions of us embrace the technology for day-to-day shopping," says Georgie Frost, Consumer Advocate at GoCompare Money.
"But from our research it’s clear that simply waving a card or smartphone over a payment reader leaves some people disassociated from the money they’re spending and can lead them to make more impulse purchases. Even with a payment limit capped at £30, frequent, unmindful spending can quickly add-up and it’s all too easy to spend more than you realise."