Contactless Cards Are Safer And More Reliable

By now, all VCNB debit card customers should have received their new Tap To Pay With Visa® debit cards. Customers should have already activated and begun using their new card because old debit cards will be deactivated on September 30.  Meanwhile, we have heard some concerns from some customers who aren’t familiar with contactless card technology and we thought you might appreciate an overview of how this technology works and the safety measures put in place to keep your card functioning safely. Read on for some answers from Visa®

Is tapping to pay secure? Yes. Here’s why:

Each Visa contactless card carries the same trusted security as a Visa contact chip card.

The one-time code generated every time a contactless card or payment-enabled mobile/wearable device is used at an in-store contactless-enabled terminal protects your payment information, making it extremely effective in reducing counterfeit fraud.

You can’t pay accidentally—your contactless card or payment-enabled mobile/wearable device must be within 2 inches of the terminal for the transaction to take place. And you won’t be billed twice, even if you accidentally tap twice.

Tapping to pay with your Visa contactless card or payment-enabled mobile/wearable device helps you avoid touching surfaces at checkout.

What information is transmitted from my contactless card or payment-enabled mobile/wearable device when I tap to pay?

The contactless card or payment-enabled mobile/wearable device securely transmits information including the account number, expiration date, and a one-time code that changes for every in-person transaction. The code is different than the code encoded on the magnetic stripe of a Visa card.

I heard people can “skim” information from a contactless card. What does that mean?

Visa contactless transactions generate a one-time, transaction-specific code. Due to the nature of the code and additional fraud protection processes built into the Visa network, it is difficult to use skimmed cardholder information for fraudulent purchases. As a result, fraud from skimming is very unlikely and limited in scope. You can also rest assured that Visa cards offer protection from any unauthorized use with Visa’s Zero Liability Policy.

Can I unknowingly make a purchase if I am in close proximity to a contactless-enabled payment terminal?

No. The technology behind tapping to pay requires the merchant to initiate the payment. Next, the contactless card or payment-enabled mobile/wearable device must be tapped or held within 2 inches of the contactless-enabled terminal in order for a transaction to take place.

Click here for more on the new Visa debit cards.