Barclays has upgraded its android app to allow UK customers to make contactless payments in stores via their handsets. The bank is offering the service itself rather than supporting Google’s Android Pay service. Both allow payments of up to £100 via compatible terminals, although sums over £30 require the use of a PIN. Barclays said its app also allows customers to carry on spending if they lose one of their physical cards since it can immediately upload the details of replacement to the app, as soon as it is issued. By contrast, Android Pay requires a user to wait until a replacement card has been received by post so that they can scan or manually type in its details. However, Android Pay has a growing number of apps that allow people to use the tool as a way to make payments without having to type in card details. Barclays service does not have this facility.
