A contactless credit card allows you to pay for transactions by holding the card over or tapping it just above the card reader. This type of card is also called "tap to pay" or "tap and go." You can identify contactless credit cards by the wave symbol on them. It looks like a wifi symbol rotated on its side.
These cards use radio-frequency identification (RFID) technology to send over payment information. During the payment process, the contactless card sends your credit card number and a one-time-use code. This code identifies and verifies the transaction. It doesn't need to send any other information, such as your name or billing address, to complete the transaction.
There are a couple benefits to contactless credit cards. You can pay for purchases without touching anything yourself. Payments are up to 10 times faster, so it shortens the checkout process. Last but not least, it's just so much cooler than swiping or inserting your card. It's definitely a futuristic feeling the first few times you do it.
You can use a contactless credit card anywhere that accepts credit card payments. Even if the merchant doesn't have a contactless card reader, you can also insert or swipe your contactless card to make payments the old-fashioned way.
Wondering how to know if a merchant has a contactless card reader? One option is to look for that contactless wave logo on the machine. My preferred method is to hold my card over every card reader and hope the cashier corrects me if I'm wrong.
Contactless credit cards are quickly becoming the norm. Since there are so many of them, choosing one is a lot like choosing any other credit card. I recommend you start by focusing on what else you want in terms of features, besides contactless payments.
To make it easy, let's look at a few of the most common reasons to open a new credit card. Then, we'll go over which type of credit card you need in each situation.
- You want to get money back when you use your credit card: A cash back credit card is exactly what you need. These cards earn a percentage back on purchases, like 1% or 2%. Some earn the same cash back rate everywhere. Others earn more in certain bonus categories, like 5% on groceries or 3% on gas.
- You want to make a big purchase now and pay it off over time: 0% intro APR credit cards give you an interest-free period to pay off purchases. Many of the best ones have a 0% intro APR for 12 months or longer, so you could have over a year to pay off any charges you make.
- You want to score a free vacation and other travel benefits: My personal favorite, travel credit cards, are ideal for this. They're not for everyone, as they can have more of a learning curve than cash back cards. But if you're a frequent traveler, it's great to have one of these cards in your wallet.
- You're working on paying off credit card debt: You could do it more quickly and for less money with a balance transfer card. This is another type of 0% APR card, only the 0% intro APR applies to balance transfers. So, you can transfer balances from other credit cards, and then pay them down with a 0% introductory APR. A small balance transfer fee (normally 3% to 5%) will apply.
Virtually all major credit card issuers offer contactless credit cards, as well as many smaller banks and credit unions. Here are some of the issuers with contactless card options:
If you want a tap-to-pay credit card, contact your card issuer to ask if it offers a contactless version of your card. If so, you can ask them to send you one in the mail.
Contactless credit cards are generally considered a bit safer, both from a fraud and a health standpoint.
When it comes to protecting your health, contactless cards allow you to pay without touching the card reader. Considering the amount of people who use those card readers, that's always a plus.
In terms of fraud, contactless cards protect you from skimming devices. Skimmers are machines that thieves install in card readers to steal credit card information, either when a card is swiped or inserted. You can avoid this risk by making a contactless payment. A thief could still get your card's info with the right device, but they wouldn't have the other payment details, like your name, zip code, and the card's security code.
Now, we should mention skimming is just one type of credit card fraud. Your contactless credit card could be stolen just like one without any fancy RFID technology inside. And hackers could get their hands on the card data if a site where you've used the card suffers a data breach.
Rest assured that even if someone does commit fraud with your credit card, contactless cards have the same protections as regular cards. Most credit card companies offer zero fraud liability as long as you notify them of fraudulent charges within a reasonable time frame.
It certainly doesn't hurt to get a contactless credit card, and we'll all likely be using them soon enough, anyway. If you don't have one yet and you're interested in getting one, it's a great reason to shop around for a new contactless credit card.
Contactless credit cards are the next big thing in credit card technology, following on the heels of EMV chips. It may be a more gradual transition for some retailers, but most major brands and card issuers have adopted contactless payments. Whether you make the switch now or later, you'll be able to get the same types of credit card benefits, just with another payment option.
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