Businesses will be able to set higher limits in a matter of days

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People are being reminded of a significant change to contactless payments in the UK that will take effect within a matter of days. It will get rid of a long-standing limit in favour of a new rule for banks and customers to follow.

From Thursday, March 19, banks will be able to set higher contactless limits than the existing £100 per transaction limit. Although the cap is being removed, UK Finance suggests most banks will likely stick to the £100 limit in the short term for security reasons as customers adjust to the new rules.

Customers will be able to set their own personal contactless limits or disable the feature entirely through their banking apps. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) decided to scrap the limit following a public consultation.

Banks and payment providers must have robust fraud controls when processing contactless transactions. The greater flexibility will incentivise firms to step up their fraud prevention, giving consumers greater protection and peace of mind.

The FCA is implementing the change to the contactless rule, and existing safeguards will remain in place. This will allow customers to be refunded in cases of unauthorised fraud, such as if their card is lost or stolen, reports the Express.

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Experts believe these new limit removals will have major impacts on businesses that rely on contactless payments. Kate Nicholls, chair of UKHospitality, said: “Making life easier for consumers is a positive for any hospitality and high street business, and I’m pleased the FCA is bringing forward this change.

“Contactless has increasingly become the preferred payment method of choice for many people and lifting the limit can mean quicker and easier experiences for consumers. Whilst many people still prefer to use cash or chip and PIN, this change adds much-needed flexibility for providers and consumers.”

Recent reports suggest that the majority of UK adults favour contactless payments. UK Finance found that, since 2023, nearly four out of 10 payments in the UK have been contactless, and that a third of UK adults use mobile contactless payments at least once a month.

The findings also shared that, in total, contactless payments made up 38% of all payments made in the UK during 2023. This covers both the use of physical cards and cards loaded onto mobile phones or other devices, such as watches, which are then used to initiate contactless payments.

How have contactless limits changed in the UK?

Contactless payments have existed for decades, and longer than some people may realise. The concept of tapping to pay without entering a PIN number has been available in the UK since 2007 – almost 20 years ago.

Pioneered by Barclays with its OnePulse card, the limit on its use was relatively modest by today’s standards. In 2007, customers were capped at £10. Over the years, it gradually rose in line with inflation as the concept rolled out further across the country.

Previous ceiling limits were increased gradually over several years to what they are today:

• £15 (2010)
• £20 (2012)
• £30 (2015)
• £45 (2020)

The most recent increases occurred during the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, providing a quicker and more sanitary method for people to pay without handling cash or sharing card reader keypads.

Since October 2021, most places have offered £100 as the maximum amount people can tap to pay, and this is now set to change again at individual discretion. Although card limits were £100, payments made via digital wallets, such as Apple Pay and Google Pay on smartphones, often had no set limit due to biometrics.

The Changing Rooms star says financial advisers told him they can guarantee his lifestyle for 20 years

As he celebrates his 61st birthday this month, interior design guru Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen acknowledges he’s “on a bit of a countdown clock”. Despite amassing substantial wealth through his appearances on programmes including Changing Rooms, DIY SOS and Celebrity Bear Hunt, Laurence concedes that financial concerns are beginning to creep in.

Laurence revealed: “There’s a moment when you sit down with all these financial advisers and they say: we can guarantee the kind of lifestyle you’ve got for 20 years. So basically, I’ve got to die at 81 or else I’m going to be in total Jane Austen penury.”

He looks back with nostalgia on the era when he would stroll through London’s exclusive Burlington Arcade following “a good lunch” and splash out freely on whatever took his fancy. Thankfully, Laurence notes, he “knocked off the shopping addiction in lockdown”.

Laurence acknowledges he’s historically been rather extravagant, investing “about a grand” in each of his tailored suits and purchasing his wife a hat from prestigious milliner Stephen Jones “just because it was Tuesday”.

Educated as a fine artist, Laurence held various positions at upmarket retailers including Liberty, Harvey Nichols and Harrods – where he “sold Monty Don’s jewellery before he reincarnated himself as a gardener”. However, Laurence reveals his talent for interior design then paved the way for a profitable career “doing the most extraordinarily intricate things to very wealthy ladies’ boudoirs in Knightsbridge”

In 1996, his rising reputation as an interior designer resulted in an offer from the BBC and Laurence unexpectedly became a television personality.

Whilst Laurence and Changing Rooms co-stars Carol Smillie and “Handy” Andy Kane became recognisable television faces throughout the show’s eight-year run, they discovered that fame and fortune don’t necessarily go hand in hand. He told The Times: “My earnings went through the floor. You got paid virtually nothing and were put in a minicab after making the most-watched programme on BBC1.”

Simultaneously, he notes, commissions for his interior design business started to diminish because his aristocratic clients didn’t want to be linked with a television reality show.

Shrewd property investments have supported Laurence and his wife Jackie over the years and they now reside in a 17th-century manor house in the Cotswolds with their daughters, Cecile and Hermione, and four grandchildren.

An inheritance enabled Laurence to get onto the property ladder when he was 24 but, he acknowledges, he made a net loss when he sold his first flat.

The second property he purchased with Jackie, an “ugly” bungalow in South-east London generated them a substantial profit of over £270,000 when they sold it, as did their subsequent investment in Greenwich. The Gloucestershire property has more than doubled in value since Laurence and Jackie took up residence, and their second home in Cornwall has also experienced a significant appreciation since they purchased it.

However, Laurence concedes that the era of substantial property profits is over, stating: “We’re the last generation to be able to say that. Nobody else is going to be able to make those enormous leaps in the property market.”

Katie Bradsell turned multiple offers for a lift home

A hairdresser has been banned from getting behind the wheel after she drove herself home following a seven hour binge.

Katie Bradsell, 35, had been drinking at her local pub and had refused multiple lift homes from regulars as well as bar staff. She instead decided to make the 1.1 mile trip home in her Audi, telling the landlady: “It’s only down the road.”

The landlady called police, who went to Bradsell’s home where they found her car parked in her driveway.

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Bradsell answered the door but refused to take a breathalyser test and instead kicked out at a PC as she was escorted to a patrol car, where she also kicked the vehicles door into another officer multiple times. Neither officer was injured during the assaults.

Inquiries revealed Bradsell was notorious amongst neighbours for bouts of drunkenness and anti social behaviour on their cul-de-sac.

In 2023, she was convicted of racially aggravated harassment after she branded a mixed race neighbour as a “fat smelly sweaty p***” and an ”ugly c..nt’ during an argument outside their respective houses in a row of terraces. She also had a conviction for assault on an emergency worker in 2020.

At Chester magistrates court, Bradsell pleaded guilty to failing to provide a sample of breath for analysis and to two charges of assault on an emergency worker.

She was ordered to complete 20 rehabilitation activity days and a three month alcohol treatment programme as part of a 12 month community order. She was also ordered to pay each of the officers £75 in compensation was banned from driving for 20 months and ordered to pay £199 in costs and a surcharge.

Bradsell refused a lift

The incident occurred on January 7 this year after Bradsell, of Willow Hey, Saughall, Chester, had attended the Saughall Arms pub during the mid afternoon and then stayed into the evening, where staff were hosting their regular Wednesday quiz night for the regulars.

Miss Lisa McGuire, prosecuting, said: “Miss Bradsell was there from about 3pm drinking alcohol and by 10.10pm, Ms Summers the publican believed the defendant had consumed about eight pints of lager and a shot of alcohol.

”Miss Bradsell then indicated her intention to leave in her car – even though she is intoxicated. A few people around her say ‘We will give you a lift home.”

”There was then a conversation between [the landlady] and Miss Bradsell about driving but Miss Bradsell was determined to drive home, stating ‘it’s only down the road’. She then jumped into her vehicle which caused concern and due to the level of intoxication the landlady made a report to police.

“Police attended at the defendant’s address where she was requested to provide a sample. She refused to provide a sample and became confrontational with the attending officers. That culminated in kicking out at the officers and making contact with their legs. No significant injuries were sustained by the officers. ”

In mitigation for Bradsell, defence solicitor Catherine Higham said: ”She has had significant issues with mental health and has been using alcohol to cope with issues that she has encountered. She is medicated to some extent but was still struggling to obtain the assistance from her GP. ”

In sentencing District Judge Jack McGarva told Bradsell: ”It is clear that there are issues that have gone on in your life making it very difficult for you to cope – though having a massive amount of alcohol does not help that at all.

“For people with anxiety and depression alcohol is probably the worst thing you can use. It is a depressant and after a high there is a massive low. It is not a great thing. ”

There have been two signs in the aftermath of the Italy defeat to suggest Borthwick may be running out of time. Within hours of the final whistle in Rome, a leading bookmaker sent round the odds for the candidates to replace him. Ronan O’Gara was the favourite, the former Ireland fly-half who has overseen great success at La Rochelle winning two European Cups, even with La Rochelle currently in the middle of their worst season for some time. Andy Farrell, the Ireland head coach, was also listed on there, although there is a better chance of pigs taking flight.

North Yorkshire Police is appealing for information and sightings to help locate 28-year-old Ryan Rudd after he failed to return home or to his barracks in Catterick Garrison when expected after a night out with friends last month.

As reported by The Press last week, he was reported missing to police on March 1 after being out of contact with family, friends and colleagues – who were concerned for his safety.

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The last confirmed sighting of Ryan at 2.54am on February 15, walking past the Old Flour Factory towards New Millgate in Selby.

He is described as white, around 5ft 8in, of slim build with dark brown hair, and when he was last seen he was wearing a black t-shirt, blue hooded top and black trousers.

CCTV images taken on the day that Ryan was last seen (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

Ryan’s Mum Kerstin and Dad Ken have today released a new image of Ryan along with this statement: “As a family, we are devastated and struggling to put into words how we feel.

“We would ask anyone who has even the smallest piece of information that could help bring Ryan home to please contact the police. We are desperate to have him back.”

Inspector Ciaran Conlon from North Yorkshire Police said: “This is an extremely difficult time for Ryan’s family, and they are currently receiving support from specialist officers.

Ryan’s family are receiving support from specialist officers. (Image: North Yorkshire Police)

“As with any investigation, we remain open minded and will continue to explore all lines of enquiry, but we must accept the possibility that Ryan has entered the River Ouse.

“If you do have any information which can help with the search then please call us 101. Any immediate sightings should be reported to 999.”