Contactless
Enjoy faster payments with contactless
Contactless is the quick, secure and safer way to pay for anything up to £100* in a single transaction with your American Express® Card. Simply hold your Card close to the reader, wait for the beep and you're done. Plus, you'll continue to enjoy the same great fraud protection, best-in-class service and Cardmember rewards.
*Contactless payment limits subject to retailers, effective 15th October 2021. Please check in-store for more details.
How to use your contactless Card
Check your Card has the
contactless symbol
Check the shop or the Card
reader displays the contactless logo
Hold your Card close to the
reader and wait for the beep – it’s as
simple as that
Contactless Security
Secure transactions
Contactless payments use the same security
as Chip & PIN, using dynamic and unique encryption keys which protect
effectively against counterfeiting.
Intelligent Security
Our teams of fraud protection experts use constantly evolving and
sophisticated technology to analyse your spending patterns and
will notify you if there is any unsual activity on your Account.
You're also covered by our Fraud Protection Guarantee as well as 24/7 customer support, so if you're ever
concerned about your Card security, just contact us.
Where can you use American Express
contactless?
Enjoy the freedom to pay at thousands of retailers wherever you see the
American Express and contactless logo.
Frequently Asked Questions
Contactless works through short-range wireless technology. The merchant terminal picks up a signal from your Card when it's very close to it.
Most American Express products have contactless technology. To check your Card, look for the contactless symbol on its back or front.
Yes, it's very secure. Contactless payments use the same security as Chip & PIN, using dynamic and unique encryption key which protect against counterfeiting. If a fraudster tries to read your Card with a skimming device, without personal information such as your full name and security code, they won't be able to make a payment. Contactless payments are also sent to us for validation, which means they go through the same intelligent fraud algorithms and security checks as a Chip & PIN transaction.
Please ensure your contact details are up to date and you turn on push notifications via the Amex App so we can reach you if anything looks unusual.
All of our Cardmembers are covered through our Fraud Protection Guarantee. This means you won't be held responsible for any confirmed fraudulent charges, provided you have taken reasonable care to protect your Card, Account details, PIN and any device you have stored your Account details on.
If your Card is lost or stolen, you can request a new one on your Online Service Account or call us for assistance.
The decision to raise the limit from £45 to £100 was made by HM Treasury and the Financial Conduct Authority earlier in 2021. The new limit is being introduced as a government measure to securely improve convenience for both consumers and retailers. Most payment terminals will be updated gradually from mid-October 2021. Please ask in store when making a transaction or follow the prompts on the terminal. If you do attempt a contactless transaction over £45 and the terminal has not yet been updated, it will ask you to insert your Card and enter your PIN to authenticate the payment instead.
For added levels of security there may be times when you'll be asked to enter your PIN. This is to make sure we know your Card is still safely in your hands and not anyone else's.
Not all merchants accept contactless. Check that the Card reader is enabled for American Express contactless payments by looking for the contactless symbol. Log in to your Online Services Account to request a new one. You can still use your Card with PIN in the meantime.
If you are using a metal Card, make sure you are holding the Card face-up when making Contactless payments.
To find out more about contactless, click here.
Mobile Payments
Already using contactless? Make life even easier with mobile payments.
Add your American Express Card to your mobile wallet and enjoy secure, no-touch payments, for purchases up to & above £45.
Helping us keep your Account secure
Ensure your contact details are up to date and turn on push notifications via the American Express® App - so we can reach you if we notice something is wrong.
If you misplace your Card, you can temporarily freeze it on the Amex App.
If your Card is lost or stolen, you can order a replacement through your Online Services Account or call us for assistance.
If you think you have been targeted by fraud - learn how to report a fraud here.
Related Pages
Purchase Protection**
What you buy matters to you, so it matters to us. Your American Express Card purchases are covered safely for up to 90 days**, protecting you against loss, theft or damage.
**Terms, conditions and exclusions apply. Subject to enrolment, to learn more visit here.
Fraud Alerts
We stay alert so you can relax. Our intelligent security systems monitor your Account, and if we spot anything unusual like suspicious spending patterns, we’ll notify you immediately.
Travelling Abroad
Whether you’re venturing to Aberdeen or Australia, you can continue using your American Express Card and still enjoy best-in-class servicing and 24/7 support.