Kristin Macfarlane: Paywave, Paypass, Apple Pay, Google Pay and more - contactless matters

Tap and go payment systems should be available at all businesses. Photo / Getty Images

COMMENT

We live in a time when we are urged to avoid greeting people with a kiss or shaking their hands and told to wear a face mask every time we get into a public bus.

Yet it is unbelievable that contactless payment systems aren't available in every store.

I was in a shop last week and as I went to pay for my item I was handed a tissue to wrap around my finger to push the numbers of the eftpos machine. I've also been to another store where the staff sanitised the machine after every use. I've also had to walk out of another store because I only had a credit card on me, giving my patronage to another business.

A contactless payment system wasn't available at any of the above businesses.

I get it, businesses don't want to pay the added fees associated with having that option for customers, even though it's a cost that can be passed on to a customer.

But we are in a global fight against deadly Covid-19 and the virus can survive on different surfaces for different amounts of time - so shouldn't contactless card payment systems be available, if not mandatory, everywhere?

Labour revealed its new small business policies in Tauranga on Wednesday and among them was a crackdown on the amount of money businesses pay for contactless payment services. These cost Kiwi businesses two or three times as much as the same services in the UK and Australia.

While the Bay of Plenty's business community wasn't sold on all of the policies, all of the feedback on the idea of paying less for contactless payment services was hailed as a positive move for businesses and customers.

One business owner said they'd prefer to spend what they pay for the contactless payment service on an extra part-time staff member - more money going into households is another benefit.

According to the eftpos website, a third of consumers are frustrated by retailers that don't accept contactless payment, so having that option has to be better for business - yet another positive of having the service.

I've always been a hand sanitiser-carrying customer (often referred to as a germophobe) and the idea that contactless payment is not available everywhere is un-nerving.

In this Covid-19 world, it is now more important than ever to ensure people can use their cards without having to touch eftpos buttons.

It's time this anomaly was fixed - both for our health and the financial health of businesses.