Contactless limit to rise to £45 to reduce contact in stores

The contactless limit for in-store card transactions is to increase from £30 to £45 at the beginning of next month in a bid to reduce physical contact with keypads on chip and pin machines.

Contactless payments will be increased to £45.

The British Retail Consortium (BRC) said the move would begin on 1 April, but warned that implementation in some shops may take longer.

BRC head of payments policy, Andrew Cregan, said: “The last contactless limit increase to £30 took two years to implement but, given the extraordinary circumstances we face today, this new £45 limit will be rolled-out from next week.”

“Some shops will take longer to make the necessary changes, given the strain they’re under. In the meantime, most customers can continue to make contactless payments for higher amounts using their smart phone.”