The discussion about contactless card payments returned to the order of day in the UK. The Financial Conducting Authority (FCA) is assessing whether they should give banks freedom to define their own limits, which can mean the end of the ceiling of the approximately 116 euros (100 pounds) per transaction.
The proposal, which is in public consultation until October 15, has already motivated strong criticism from support associations for victims of domestic violence, according to the British newspaper Birmingham Mail.
Sam Smethers, director of the Surviving Economic Abuse organization, warned, cited by the same source, that such a change may facilitate the financial control exercised by abusers. “This can leave a survivor without the money he needs to escape and reach a safe place, and pushes it even more to the debt,” he said.
A society without cash
According to this association, the increase in contactless limits is also a step towards a society without cash.
For many victims, cash remains the only way to ensure independence in situations of economic abuse.
Frequency with which PIN is requested
On the industry side, the UK Finance Association underlines, cited by the same source, which does not expect immediate changes to the current limit, stressing that the changes should focus mainly on the frequency with which PIN is requested and not in the total elimination of boundaries.
Reality in Portugal
While the United Kingdom debates the future of Contactless, in Portugal the limits are well defined by Banco de Portugal. Since 2020, the maximum payment allowed without PIN is 50 euros per transaction.
In addition, there is a cumulative ceiling: banks can define that after 150 euros of consecutive operations or after five followed payments without code, the user must introduce PIN to use the system again, according to Santander Bank data.
The measure, introduced in full pandemic to reduce physical contacts, has become definitive and remain in force. Portuguese law also provides that, even within the limits, terminals may require PIN randomly as a security reinforcement.
Security versus convenience
The comparison between the two countries shows different approaches. In the United Kingdom is discussed flexible limits for payments using contactless as a way of responding to demand for convenience, but with social concerns linked to economic abuse, says.
In Portugal, the limit of 50 euros remains as a security barrier, balancing speed in payment and protection against fraud or abusive use.
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