Contactless payments without PIN temporarily up to 50 euros

As of now, consumers can make contactless payments up to 50 euros with a debit card, smartphone or wearable without having to enter their PIN. Previously, entering a PIN was required to make payments above 25 euros. This transaction limit has been temporarily raised to 50 euros. Consumers and business owners do not need to take any action – the change is implemented automatically.

With this new measure, the need to touch a payment terminal is reduced for clients that pay contactless. Banks and suppliers of payment terminals hope this will contribute to the fight against the spread of the new coronavirus.

About 380,000 payment terminals in the Netherlands were updated remotely for the new transaction limit. The new limit should be active on over 90% of all payment terminals, particularly in all supermarkets and all other popular and busy shops.

Sandra Molenaar, director of the Dutch consumer association Consumentenbond, is happy with the initiative: “The less consumers have to touch payment terminals to enter their PIN, the better. At the same time, it’s important to us that banks continue to compensate consumers for any misuse of contactless cards up to the new, higher PIN-less spending limits.”

“We are happy with the prompt action from payment service providers. We are already asking our clients to pay electronically to reduce cash handling as much as possible, and preferably contactless with a card, smartphone or wearable,” says Eus Peters, director of the Dutch Retail Council. “Being able to pay larger amounts without PIN, helps a lot.” Shop owners and other business owners can download promotional material for free from https://www.pin.nl/promotiemateriaal/ .

Earlier, banks raised another limit for contactless payments, the cumulative limit, from 50 euros to 100 euros. The cumulative limit applies to consecutive contactless payments without PIN. Banks will continue to compensate consumers for any misuse of stolen or lost contactless cards up to the new limits for card payments without PIN.

Warning against scams and fraud!

Card holders and payment terminal owners don’t need to take any action themselves. All changes are implemented fully automatically. Banks will not send messages or letters and will not call on clients to replace payment cards or change settings in their online banking tools. Don’t be misled by scams and fraud that take malicious advantage of the corona crisis!