US Issued Contactless Card Does Not Work on London Underground
Mar 12, 2017, 3:11 pm
#31
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If you don't have a contactless card, could you still use the card at the turnstiles if you put it on your iPhone so it's accessible via apple wallet? So essentially, if you tap your iPhone to the pad, will the turnstiles open?
Mar 12, 2017, 4:47 pm
#32
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Other countries? Should work fine regardless of the card AFAIK.
May 31, 2017, 8:47 am
#34
Join Date: Sep 2015
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Took my US American Express platinum contactless to London this past weekend. Previous trips with previous issues of the card worked fine on the tube. This time, got "card not accepted" when I tried to use it. Worked fine as contactless everywhere else in London. 
May 31, 2017, 9:15 am
#35
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Complain to London Transport and Amex - if they receive enough complaints, perhaps they will do something about it.
May 31, 2017, 9:50 am
#36
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Temporary issue? I don't think anything changed with contactless on the cards recently.
May 31, 2017, 10:09 am
#37
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Last time, did you check that you were charged the expected amounts for your travel? What happens if you try to view your travel history on the TfL website now?
If you don't touch in or out properly several times (which may not be your fault), or TfL tries to take a payment and it is refused by the bank, then the card eventually will be blocked for further travel. If it's the same card number that has previously worked on TfL and now doesn't, and works everywhere else, some problem with the charges is the most likely culprit.
May 31, 2017, 11:38 am
#38
Join Date: Sep 2015
Location: Chicago
Posts: 244
Is it the same card number as last time?
Last time, did you check that you were charged the expected amounts for your travel? What happens if you try to view your travel history on the TfL website now?
If you don't touch in or out properly several times (which may not be your fault), or TfL tries to take a payment and it is refused by the bank, then the card eventually will be blocked for further travel. If it's the same card number that has previously worked on TfL and now doesn't, and works everywhere else, some problem with the charges is the most likely culprit.
Last time, did you check that you were charged the expected amounts for your travel? What happens if you try to view your travel history on the TfL website now?
If you don't touch in or out properly several times (which may not be your fault), or TfL tries to take a payment and it is refused by the bank, then the card eventually will be blocked for further travel. If it's the same card number that has previously worked on TfL and now doesn't, and works everywhere else, some problem with the charges is the most likely culprit.
It's the only contactless card I have though and I special request the contactless version just for when I'm over there. So that's annoying. I could've used Apple Pay I suppose, but I start panicking that I'm screwing up the whole line.
May 31, 2017, 5:36 pm
#39
Join Date: Dec 2010
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Ditto - my US Amex Plat (new metal issue) has mysteriously stopped working for TfL fare payments. The card works at other contactless terminals in the London area.
Jul 20, 2017, 8:33 am
#41
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My UK-issued Amex contactless has stopped working at retail outlets randomly dotted across the UK (Asda, I'm looking at you for one) so I wonder if it's more than just an international problem.
Jul 20, 2017, 9:45 am
#42
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Some ASDAs as well as other stores just don't take Amex contactless even though chip&PIN Amex works fine.
I got stuck behind a tourist trying to use Canadian card(s) on a bus yesterday, which didn't work. I would have offered to let him use one of my cards, but the last time I did that, I got verbally abused because the recipient of my favour paid me £2 in cash and when I didn't have 50p in change, demanded the £2 coin back (I refused).
Sep 3, 2017, 6:30 pm
#43
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 6
Has anyone figured out the cause of the technology incompatibility between contactless with US cards and TfL?
I was really looking forward to using Android Pay (loaded with my US based Delta AmEx) on the tube. I registered for an online Oyster account and was able to add my Delta Amex to the Oyster account. I was expecting to use Android Paybut repeatedly got "Card not Accepted" message when I attempted to. I am able to use the Amex under Android Pay for all other contactless merchants just as I am in the US but not for the tube. I will go ahead and request a physical contactless card from American Express when back in the States but it seems people with the US contactless cards are still having the same issues.
I was really looking forward to using Android Pay (loaded with my US based Delta AmEx) on the tube. I registered for an online Oyster account and was able to add my Delta Amex to the Oyster account. I was expecting to use Android Paybut repeatedly got "Card not Accepted" message when I attempted to. I am able to use the Amex under Android Pay for all other contactless merchants just as I am in the US but not for the tube. I will go ahead and request a physical contactless card from American Express when back in the States but it seems people with the US contactless cards are still having the same issues.
Sep 3, 2017, 9:40 pm
#45
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Funny i just found this thread. I attempted to use apple pay with my US based citi card at the tube in May--no dice-- and tried many times. What a waste. Ended up buying a pricy single at the window.