topic Re: Contactless cards in Credit Cards

Contactless cards

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 21:09:58 GMT

My local CU sent me a new credit card. It is a contactless one. Not really sure how I feel about those type of cards and would love to hear feedback from the community. Pro's and Con's and likes and dislikes are greatly appreciated.

Re: Contactless cards

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 21:26:21 GMT

For debit cards, contactless obviates the need for a PIN for small transactions, which is a pretty neat gain of time. The pros are not so clear for credit cards however. It may only be slightly faster sometimes.

In terms of cons, security comes first, as it potentially enables anyone within a few feet to collect your card number with a high-gain antenna without you knowing. This is not really high-tech.

In conclusion, I’d say that IMHO the benefits are probably not worth the security risk.

Re: Contactless cards

SunriseEarth — Tue, 07 May 2019 21:20:06 GMT

Excluding Apple Pay, I've only used the contactless feature once. My AMEX CashMagnet is contactless and I was able to use it at a Square terminal at a local floral shop. It was easier than Apple Pay and faster than using the chip, so I was very happy with the transaction.

Re: Contactless cards

NRB525 — Tue, 07 May 2019 21:53:29 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
For debit cards, contactless obviates the need for a PIN for small transactions, which is a pretty neat gain of time. The pros are not so clear for credit cards however. It may only be slightly faster sometimes.

In terms of cons, security comes first, as it potentially enables anyone within a few feet to collect your card number with a high-gain antenna without you knowing. This is not really high-tech.

In conclusion, I’d say that IMHO the benefits are probably not worth the security risk.

If the contactless card has an EMV chip, the card number is encrypted and can't be picked up / scanned away. It is a very safe form of card structure.

I would suggest a bit of research, and then to not spread old scare stories

https://www.creditcards.com/credit-card-news/emv-contactless-fraud-risk-1433.php

Re: Contactless cards

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 22:00:20 GMT

LOVE it.

Too bad wells fargo's contactless propel is plastic. It looks 100% exactly the same as metal/non-contactless one, but much more bendy.

Re: Contactless cards

pinkandgrey — Tue, 07 May 2019 23:25:28 GMT

I don’t really have any strong feelings about them one way or the other. I had a contactless card and I used the feature once total. It was kind of cool, but swiping or inserting isn’t much harder and to be honest, I kind of prefer it.

Re: Contactless cards

Anonymous — Tue, 07 May 2019 23:44:53 GMT

I really like them. They are especially handy in countries where tap to pay is widely supported. They are faster than the chip read and I wish the US had wide support contactless payments.

Re: Contactless cards

NaaryalHead — Tue, 07 May 2019 23:57:50 GMT

I like them just because you don't touch the germ filled terminal. Given that I frequently pay contactless at cvs / Dunkin Donuts via my phone, can't wait for a Contactless card. I think the new chase freedom and one of Amex cards are contactless now.

Don't fall for the scare stories of someone stealing your info with a long range antenna. These cards are encrypted and insured in case of fraud or theft.

Re: Contactless cards

Anonymous — Wed, 08 May 2019 00:08:35 GMT

Contactless is great for everyday transactions like buying coffee etc. It is quite faster and it feels much more "natural" to me when you do it with a card instead of a phone. Problem is their use is very limited in the US in my experience because a lot of smaller shops still don't support them. If you re traveling to most countries in europe the feature comes really handy.

Re: Contactless cards

calyx — Wed, 08 May 2019 01:13:53 GMT

I love it, because I find it to be so much faster and easier to use. Boop the terminal with the card and you're done.

My only contactless is my CSP, which actually gets more out of wallet use than it should because I like the ease of contactless.

Re: Contactless cards

UncleB — Wed, 08 May 2019 02:34:17 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
LOVE it.

Too bad wells fargo's contactless propel is plastic. It looks 100% exactly the same as metal/non-contactless one, but much more bendy.

FWIW my metal Propel card is contactless as well.

Re: Contactless cards

FinStar — Wed, 08 May 2019 02:43:50 GMT

@UncleB wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
LOVE it.

Too bad wells fargo's contactless propel is plastic. It looks 100% exactly the same as metal/non-contactless one, but much more bendy.
FWIW my metal Propel card is contactless as well.

Yup, same here. Density and design is similar to Chase's metal-core CCs. Tap...*boop*... done.

Re: Contactless cards

NaaryalHead — Wed, 08 May 2019 03:14:02 GMT

Does the metal propel come only to a worthy few compared to the plastic? What's the criteria?

Re: Contactless cards

FinStar — Wed, 08 May 2019 03:23:52 GMT

@NaaryalHead wrote:
Does the metal propel come only to a worthy few compared to the plastic? What's the criteria?

AFAIK, from its introduction last year, it's always been issued as a metal-core CC. Unless its supplier had a stock shortage and current replacements are plastic in the interim? I'm not sure if there's an option to request a plastic version much like Chase offers on some of their metal-core CCs though.

Re: Contactless cards

Anonymous — Wed, 08 May 2019 03:48:34 GMT

I kinda like the contactless cards. 9/10 times it's the same amount of time as inserting the chip, though. Plenty of places with the tap feature, but most of them have a pop up saying "credit debit cash." I don't know why cash is there. So that's annoying never knowing if it'll be popping up or not. When it pops up, it kind of kills the fluidity of going to put your card away after using it. Did get a "nice" from someone when tapping my Gold card the other day. So tap payment is a fun little way to show off your hard earned credit conscious wallet treasures. lol I prefer to use an rfid blocking wallet just to be extra safe. They're not expensive, unless you want one that is expensive. My current one is very sleek /shiny & all but sadly I'm going to have to get a new/different one when I open my next card. Really wish they made my current one with more card slots.

Re: Contactless cards

Anonymous — Wed, 08 May 2019 05:15:50 GMT

I have really embraced contactless with my AMEX. Honestly, most cashiers are perplexed by it. I had a cashier go, “okay you can insert your card.” And then I tapped it, the terminal beeped and went to put it away. She said, “you pulled your card... wait what? How did you do that?” Lol but when you can’t get the terminal to recognize it and end up inserting it you look like a loser.

Though, if you want a terminal that works flawlessly, it’s Square. You see a Square register and you already know you are gonna get your contactless on.

Re: Contactless cards

UncleB — Wed, 08 May 2019 05:56:49 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
I have really embraced contactless with my AMEX. Honestly, most cashiers are perplexed by it. I had a cashier go, “okay you can insert your card.” And then I tapped it, the terminal beeped and went to put it away. She said, “you pulled your card... wait what? How did you do that?” Lol but when you can’t get the terminal to recognize it and end up inserting it you look like a loser.

Though, if you want a terminal that works flawlessly, it’s Square. You see a Square register and you already know you are gonna get your contactless on.

LOL... I actually made this ^^^ joke to a cashier at Chick-Fil-A. I saw they took Apple Pay so I knew tapping my Savor card should work (it did), and the cashier was genuinely shocked. Since there was nobody behind me I took a second to show him the symbol on the card, and I mentioned that if it hadn't worked I would have felt like a big dummy (LOL).

I have to say, though, so far as long as contactless is supported I've never had a transaction fail.

Re: Contactless cards

Anonymous — Wed, 08 May 2019 10:01:11 GMT

Never thought I would use contactless ... since they changed how transactions are processed with new security, I use my card and love it. Faster than any other form of pay including cash (did experiment at large grocery chain with other customers) ... shocked! Just pass it by the terminal and that's it. Used to have a Citi Card with Master Pay along with a Chase Card with Blink but, at the time few merchants in the area had anything other than the ever faithful swipe method. Now I so like the ease of contactless, I contacted Citi Bank who said (CSR who you can believe what you will) that they are preparing for most of their cards to be contactless (today only Citi's Costco Visa is).

Re: Contactless cards

Anonymous — Wed, 08 May 2019 15:49:40 GMT

Same here. When you still have to remove said card from wallet and tap the terminal, what's the time difference in interacting with POS device?

I might as well just place it inside the device.

Re: Contactless cards

Anonymous — Thu, 09 May 2019 02:23:58 GMT

@NaaryalHead wrote:
Does the metal propel come only to a worthy few compared to the plastic? What's the criteria?

My original non-contact propel is metal, but replacement contactless one is plastic.

They do look EXACTLY the same until I try to bend it. Im not gonna bother request another one. They do look the same anyway, lol