Contactless bank card behind an iPhone case, why payment fails
The phone's own NFC chip blocks the card's signal.
- Answers
- Why does a contactless bank card not work when it is tucked behind a phone?
- Topics
- cash · experiment · iPhone · lifestyle · minimal · money · payments · people · smartphone · wallet
- Full article on willem.com
- https://willem.com/en/2016-07-15_cash-is-king-or-is-it/
Summary
A contactless bank card hidden between my iPhone and its case would not pay: the phone's NFC chip interfered with the card's signal. When I tested this in 2016, even flight mode or powering the phone off did not help.
Full text
I tried to reduce my wallet to one NFC debit card and a driving licence tucked between my iPhone and its flexible rubber case. At a friend's payment terminal the card was not recognised while it sat behind the phone. Removing the phone and presenting just the case with the card worked immediately. Flight mode made no difference, and neither did switching the phone off entirely, so the interference is not simply an active radio. The fix was a case with two card sleeves on the back: the payment card sits in a sleeve for easy access, the rarely used ID stays hidden between case and phone. After weeks without a wallet, including trips to Germany and Belgium, the setup held up, with some coins stashed in the car and saddle pocket for the odd cash-only ferry.