I would like to know: - what % of the payment transaction in TfL for 2017 so far (or in 2016) is made by contactless payment cards from MasterCard and VISA? - what is the corresponding number of these transactions in absolute terms ?

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TfL Ref: 2305-1718

Thank you for your web request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 16 November asking for information about the number of contactless transactions so far in 2017 made by payment cards from MasterCard and VISA.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require.  

We do not have any data on payments made in relation to Oyster card top ups or purchases of travel products using a contactless payment card at an Oyster ticket stop or on a National Rail Ticket Vending Machine. London Underground ticket machines currently don’t accept contactless payments. 

We do have data on Contactless payment cards used to pay for journeys across the TfL network and which card scheme they belong to. However in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply this information as it is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2). In this instance the section 43(2) exemption has been applied to the split of transactions between the different card schemes (Visa, Mastercard, etc) as it would be likely to prejudice the commercial interests of these companies. Additionally we have a Non Disclosure Agreement (NDA) with Visa, meaning that we could face legal action by Visa for breach of contract if this was to be disclosed.

The use of this exemption is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. We recognize the need for openness and transparency by public authorities, particularly where the expenditure of public money is concerned, but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that we are able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes and there is no clear public interest in the disclosure of this information.

We can tell you that currently, 50m journeys are made with contactless per month and 43% of pay as you go journeys are now contactless. For more information you may want to have a look at our Draft Business Plan for 2017 using the following link: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/fc-20171205-item10-draft-business-plan.pdf.  You can also see information on Contactless payment cards used across our network at https://tfl.gov.uk/corporate/publications-and-reports/contactless-payment

I am sorry I am not able to assist you further with this request.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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