Tesco is working on a £45 contactless payments limit rise

Tesco is updating its tills as it eyes an increase in the contactless payments limit during the coronavirus outbreak.

The new £45 limit has been operational at some other UK retailers since 1st April.

Tesco has not given a go live date. For those customers who might be frustrated at the delay in rolling this out, the grocery giant is pushing its Tesco Pay+ mobile payments service.

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“We understand customers are shopping less frequently and therefore need to spend a little more each time. The limit on contactless payments – which is quicker and safer for everyone – will start moving from £30 to £45 per shop,” CEO Dave Lewis said in an email sent to customers.

“We ask for your patience while we gradually update our tills. You can also use the free Tesco Pay+ app from Tesco Bank. The app has bank-level security built in and lets you pay for up to £250 worth of shopping with a single contactless scan directly from your phone.”

Playing catch up

Iceland has already increased its contactless card payments limit from £30 to £45.

“We completed this roll-out in record time. All our 980 stores are operating with the new contactless limit. In fact all our high card payment stores were live by the start of trade on 1st April,” says Emma Tysoe, Head of IT Development - Stores & Marketing Systems.

Morrisons went live last week as part of its move to reduce the use of cash during the coronavirus pandemic. Aldi, Waitrose and The Co-op were also quick to implement the change as was Superdrug.

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