"Tap PIN" refers to the requirement for a customer to enter their Personal Identification Number (PIN) immediately after making a contactless payment by "tapping" their payment card or device.
Understanding Tap PIN in Contactless Payments
In the context of contactless transactions, tap PIN describes a step in the payment process. When a customer uses a contactless method – like tapping a card, smartphone, or wearable device on a payment terminal – the transaction may require additional verification. This verification often comes in the form of entering their PIN.
Why is a PIN Sometimes Needed After Tapping?
While many low-value contactless payments are designed to be fast and don't require a PIN, higher-value transactions or specific merchant/card configurations might still mandate PIN entry for security purposes. This adds an extra layer of authentication to ensure the legitimate cardholder is making the purchase.
Tap PIN in the Context of Tap to Pay on iPhone
The concept of tap PIN is directly relevant to modern payment solutions like Tap to Pay on iPhone.
According to information regarding this feature:
You can use Tap to Pay on iPhone to accept contactless payments that require customers to securely enter their PIN to confirm a payment. The PIN entry screen is automatically prompted based on the customer's card, the transaction amount and the specific merchant configuration.
This highlights that:
- Tap to Pay on iPhone supports contactless payments that may require PIN entry.
- The system automatically determines when PIN entry is needed.
- Factors influencing the requirement include the customer's card type, the total transaction amount, and the specific settings configured by the merchant.
Essentially, "tap PIN" describes the user action flow: Tap device/card -> Prompted to Enter PIN -> Enter PIN to complete payment.
Practical Examples
Imagine a customer buying groceries:
- They have items totaling $80.
- They tap their contactless credit card on the merchant's iPhone (using Tap to Pay).
- Because the amount exceeds a certain threshold (e.g., $50 in some regions), the iPhone screen automatically prompts them to enter their card's PIN.
- The customer securely enters their PIN on the iPhone screen.
- The payment is confirmed.
If the total was only $20, the PIN might not have been required, making it just a "tap" payment without the "PIN" step.
Key Aspects of Tap PIN
- Triggered by Transaction: The need for PIN entry is not constant but depends on transaction details and configurations.
- Security Layer: It adds an extra security step for certain contactless payments.
- Seamless Integration: Systems like Tap to Pay are designed to integrate this step smoothly when required.
Understanding "tap PIN" helps clarify that even convenient contactless methods sometimes incorporate traditional security measures like PIN verification, ensuring transaction integrity.
