Active discussions

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Tapping to pay without seeing the amount

84 replies

Figmentofmyimagination · 08/03/2026 17:53

I know it’s on me to ask - but it really irritates me to be given a card machine to tap that doesn’t show the amount unless you ask for it. Tapping on the end of the machine is a real design fault imo.

I’ve just bought a hot chocolate in a train station queue in a rush and as I walked away, I realised I’d tapped without seeing amount and with no receipt either - now unnecessary stress as I’ll have to check my account on the laptop when I get home (I don’t bank on my phone).

I’m sure it’s all fine but mistakes do happen and the system should not make it this easy to tap your card without seeing how much you are paying. At least, for now, it’s not possible to take more that £100. Grrr.

OP posts:
Tarkan · 08/03/2026 19:22

I was at the Big Weekend a few years ago and went to the bar and asked for a bottle of wine. Somehow the guy apparently thought I had asked for 3 bottles but the way the payment things were you couldn’t see the amount before you tapped. It was something like £26.50 a bottle so when I saw a notification saying I’d just spent over £80 I freaked out. It took bloody ages to get it sorted (and took the refund a couple of days 🙄) but at least I was still at the bar and didn’t notice it later. Other people weren’t as lucky as me and got totally shafted on it.

I’ve been SO careful at looking at amounts or asking to see them since then though.

Coconutter24 · 08/03/2026 19:17

newornotnew · 08/03/2026 19:00

I just ask to be shown the amount. I agree it's a design flaw.

I have never seen a card machine that doesn’t clearly show the amount

Isobel201 · 08/03/2026 19:16

my notifications come up on my phone as I use apple wallet so I can see the amount on there.

Executrixnotextraordinaire · 08/03/2026 19:12

There is currently no limit with Apple pay, I can tap for thousands.

NeedAnyHelpWithThatPaperBag · 08/03/2026 19:11

YANBU and I was pleased that somewhere I recently went, the cashier purposely raised the machine so I could see the amount before tapping. Anyone can make a mistake and accidently key in the wrong amount on the bill...

Pricesandvices · 08/03/2026 19:10

olive I heard that You And Yours too. Very crafty card machine scammers.

SabrinaThwaite · 08/03/2026 19:07

igelkott2026 · 08/03/2026 18:50

Only with some banks. Other banks won't let you change it, although it might be a requirement of the new rules that they have to allow you in future.

I bank with three banks and was only able to reduce the limit for one of them.

I've not really noticed the thing with the amount but agree you should always be able to see it, especially when they type it in manually. If you have seen it on the till and it's automatic, it's less important.

Edited
Show quote history

Most of the big banks let you do this - Lloyds, TSB, HBOS, Santander, Barclays, NatWest, Nationwide, RBS - plus others like Starling and Monzo.

You might have to have the app to be able to do it for some banks.

newornotnew · 08/03/2026 19:00

I just ask to be shown the amount. I agree it's a design flaw.

YourWinter · 08/03/2026 18:57

igelkott2026 · 08/03/2026 18:54

I have bank accounts with three banks and three apps and only one flashes up my transactions. That isn't the solution - the solution is for machines to display the price clearly.

Show quote history

When the cards are in Apple Wallet the transaction shows on there. Only one of my banks sends a notification of a payment on their actual app. I haven’t used Google Pay but I guess it’s similar to Apple Wallet.

Wherestheteenguide · 08/03/2026 18:56

I'd go one further op - I'm so old fashioned that I can't stand the fact that cashiers no longer tell you the amount. Just expect you to look at the machine! When I worked in retail it would be 'that'll be twenty pounds Mrs goggins!'

YourWinter · 08/03/2026 18:55

Anyone with a smartphone is better paying by phone instead of contactless with a card. If your phone is stolen they have to get through layers of security before opening the digital wallet, if they have a card they can keep doing contactless transactions until you’ve blocked the card. And you have an instant record of what was spent, at which retailer,

igelkott2026 · 08/03/2026 18:54

TikTokker · 08/03/2026 18:49

Just get a banking app. It’ll save the stress

I have bank accounts with three banks and three apps and only one flashes up my transactions. That isn't the solution - the solution is for machines to display the price clearly.

igelkott2026 · 08/03/2026 18:51

Coffeeandbooks88 · 08/03/2026 18:49

You still have to remember the pin because after a few taps you can get asked to insert the card instead.

Show quote history

Yes I had to do it twice this week and both times it was under £10. In fact for one transaction it was about £2.80!

Greedybilly · 08/03/2026 18:51
  • you can set your own limit at less than £100 btw. Obvs this is not widely advertised 🙄
igelkott2026 · 08/03/2026 18:50

SabrinaThwaite · 08/03/2026 18:29

You have the option of setting it a lower level via online or mobile banking. Mine is still set at the old £45 limit.

Show quote history

Only with some banks. Other banks won't let you change it, although it might be a requirement of the new rules that they have to allow you in future.

I bank with three banks and was only able to reduce the limit for one of them.

I've not really noticed the thing with the amount but agree you should always be able to see it, especially when they type it in manually. If you have seen it on the till and it's automatic, it's less important.

Coffeeandbooks88 · 08/03/2026 18:49

Figmentofmyimagination · 08/03/2026 18:35

I don’t mind the contactless limit at £100 now as it is useful in the supermarket but thinking about it, it is so mad that inserting your pin should now be seen as a faff when you are spending £100 on food in a supermarket. It’s not exactly difficult to do.

I think it is designed to encourage us to spend more, and to match inflationary pressures, so that we are not as ‘conscious’ of gradual price increases. It’s all about ‘nudging’ us to spend, but none of it is for our benefit!

You still have to remember the pin because after a few taps you can get asked to insert the card instead.

TikTokker · 08/03/2026 18:49

Just get a banking app. It’ll save the stress

VestPantsandSocks · 08/03/2026 18:49

I agree OP - the retailer could have typed in any figure!

Parsleyforme · 08/03/2026 18:46

SabrinaThwaite · 08/03/2026 18:29

You have the option of setting it a lower level via online or mobile banking. Mine is still set at the old £45 limit.

Show quote history

Thank you, didn’t know this

SabrinaThwaite · 08/03/2026 18:38

The supermarket and the petrol station are about the only places where I regularly need to use my pin.

holachicatita · 08/03/2026 18:35

Can you set your online banking so that you get push notifications when you use your card?

Original poster
Figmentofmyimagination · 08/03/2026 18:35

I don’t mind the contactless limit at £100 now as it is useful in the supermarket but thinking about it, it is so mad that inserting your pin should now be seen as a faff when you are spending £100 on food in a supermarket. It’s not exactly difficult to do.

I think it is designed to encourage us to spend more, and to match inflationary pressures, so that we are not as ‘conscious’ of gradual price increases. It’s all about ‘nudging’ us to spend, but none of it is for our benefit!

OP posts:
Fast5 · 08/03/2026 18:30

When I was a child, we were taught always to check our change. Isn't this the same thing?

SabrinaThwaite · 08/03/2026 18:29

Olive567 · 08/03/2026 18:19

The contactless limit of £100 for bank cards is also being scrapped in a few weeks.

You have the option of setting it a lower level via online or mobile banking. Mine is still set at the old £45 limit.

Original poster
Figmentofmyimagination · 08/03/2026 18:24

I know. I think scrapping the contactless limit is insane.

OP posts: