By Jo Best, 29 October 2009 16:18
NEWS
Drivers with contactless bank cards will soon be able to use them to pay for their parking.
From next year, parking meters in the West End will accept contactless payments from motorists with wave and pay functionality built into their debit or credit cards.
The three-month pilot, which is being conducted by Westminster City Council, will see around 20 parking meters equipped with the contactless readers.
The number of parking meters that accept wave and pay could be expanded if next year's trial proves a success, according to the council.
(Photo credit: Westminster City Council)
Motorists hoping to use the contactless meters will only be allowed to pay for parking worth up to £10 and will be periodically asked to enter their PIN in an effort to cut fraud.
According to Westminster City Council, more than four million contactless cards are in circulation in the UK.
Card issuers MasterCard and Visa already offer cards with wave and pay functionality included, while Barclays, an enthusiastic proponent of the tech, estimates all of its debit cards will be contactless by 2011.
Despite the increasing prevalence of contactless plastic in the UK, take up remains low - only eight per cent of Brits claim to have made a payment using a contactless credit or debit card.
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