Report: UK consumers still wary of NFC payments
30 March, 2012
category: NFC
Six out of 10 consumers in the UK would avoid using NFC to make mobile payments, according to new research from VoucherCodes.co.uk.
Out of 2,000 adults surveyed by VoucherCodes, 60% said they would avoid using NFC to pay for goods even if they had the capability to do so. Of these, 36% cited security as their main reason for avoidance.
A further 17% indicated that they are interested in NFC payments, but would be worried about the technology working.
When asked which company consumers would trust to handle their mobile payments, the biggest winners were established providers, despite the recent activity of Google. Visa was the considered the safest bet for 30% of consumers, with a further 20% picking PayPal and 18% siding with MasterCard. Apple and Google finished with 6% and 4%, respectively.
However, over half of respondents (55%) couldn’t answer the question, as they were unable to name any mobile payments providers.
Only 20% had heard of Google Wallet, 12% recognized MasterCard PassPay and only 10% knew Visa payWave.
According to Duncan Jennings, co-founder of VoucherCodes.co.uk, these results indicate that mobile payments providers need to do more to reach the consumer.
“With NFC and other mobile payment systems still very much on the fringe in the UK, it’s no surprise to learn that most people are confused and a little wary about adopting the technology,” commented Jennings. “However while low levels of awareness are clearly a challenge for service providers, they also represents a massive opportunity for brands to win the trust of consumers and cement their position in this increasingly competitive space.”