Apple Pay in the UK has £20 Purchase Limit

Apple Pay only good for small purchases in the UK.

Apple announced at the WWDC 2015 that starting next month, Apple Pay will be available to customers in the UK. Whether buying groceries, grabbing coffee, picking up lunch or taking the Tube, UK shoppers will soon be able to make many of their daily purchases with Apple Pay. At launch, over 250,000 locations will accept Apple Pay, with support from eight of the UK’s most established banks, across all of the major credit and debit card networks.

“Apple Pay has quickly become a big part of millions of users’ everyday shopping routines, providing a simpler, faster and more secure way to pay,” said Eddy Cue, Apple’s senior vice president of Internet Software and Services. “We’re thrilled to bring Apple Pay to the UK with support at launch from the most popular banks, an incredible roster of merchants and many of our users’ favorite apps.” 

Now after the initial excitement it has become clear that Apple Pay will have a £20 transaction limit in the UK. The reason for that is that there is a general limit on contactless payments in the UK set at £20. BBC has confirmed this.

There will be limit increase in September to £30. It is still though not possible to buy an iPad or any other more valuable purchase with Apple Pay in the UK. Users cannot even get a tank of gas for their car with Apple Pay. A round of pints of Guinness is all what they get.

In the United States Apple Pay transaction limits are depending on the credit card or bank used as payment source. It is neat that the Apple Stores are supporting Apple Pay in the UK at launch, but what can you get for £20 in an Apple Store?

Apple Pay will support UK credit and debit cards from American Express, MasterCard and Visa Europe, issued by many of the UK’s most popular banks, including first direct, HSBC, NatWest, Nationwide Building Society, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Ulster Bank. Other major issuing banks will follow by this fall, including Bank of Scotland, Coutts, Halifax, Lloyds Bank, MBNA, M&S Bank and TSB Bank. 

Starting in July, iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch users will be able to make purchases anywhere contactless payments are accepted. In addition to the 39 Apple Stores in the UK, leading locations for everyday shopping that will accept Apple Pay include Boots UK, BP, Costa Coffee, Dune, JD Sports, KFC UK & Ireland, Liberty, LIDL, Marks & Spencer (M&S), McDonald’s UK, Nando’s, New Look, Post Office, Pret A Manger, SPAR, Starbucks, SUBWAY stores, Wagamama and Waitrose. Transport for London will also accept Apple Pay, so you can use your iPhone or Apple Watch to pay for your travel or daily commute.