Marks and Spencer’s customers have found themselves out of pocket after its contactless payment system took payments from their cards without permission, according to a Telegraph report.
M&S is the country’s leading user of contactless payment, which can be used to make payments of up to £20. However, the system is meant to deduct the amount when the card is no more than 2 inches away. Instead customers have found it taking money when the card was well away from the device.
M&S receives more than 250,000 payments a week using the technology, but has had increasing complaints on unauthorised payments.
M&S is not the only retailer to have noted problems with contactless payments.
Pret a Manger has confirmed it is investigating similar claims after a customer reported paying with a card that was more than 11 inches away from the reader.
A spokesman for M&S said: “We’ve had an overwhelmingly positive response from our customers following the introduction of contactless which helps make payments quicker and more efficient for transactions under £20.
“We’ve tested the system extensively and it is robust and fit for purpose. Almost 250,000 transactions a week are now taking place in M&S stores on Contactless.”