A CASE : PAYING WITH YOUR PHONE!

THANKS to ''contactless'' payment systems, there a revolutionary change going on in how credit cards are used. While mildly convenient for purchases in the United States, the technology is a huge improvement for travelers outside the country.

KEEP THAT WALLET HIDDEN
Instead of swiping your credit card, or inserting its chip to complete the payment process, contactless technology lets you make a purchase by placing or hovering your card or phone near the credit card machine.

While some recently issued credit cards have this ability built in, the real improvement, particularly while traveling, is using contactless payments your mobile phone.

A digital wallet like Apple Pay, Google Pay or Samsung Pay securely stores your credit card details, and to purchase something, you merely unlock your phone and tap the machine.

IN THE STORE
Ask the seller if they take contactless, or look on the machine the contactless symbol, which appears like a sideways Wi-Fi logo, sometimes with a hand holding a card next to it.

Once you start looking for this logo, you'll see it just about everywhere.

Visa estimates that 50 percent of its in-person credit-card sales outside the United States are   contactless, while Mastercard says it is 25 percent worldwide. Both companies say those numbers are increasing each year.

The technology does not rely on a specific brand of phone or type of mobile wallet app.

WHY BOTHER?
Not only is contact less easier, it's actually safer.

Your credit cards are encrypted and hidden behind your phone's lock screen. That makes it nearly impossible for a nefarious shopkeeper to copy your credit card number.

Your name and 3-digit security code are not transmitted, nor even seen, so even in the unlikely event they get your number, they can't make online purchases.

If you get a new credit-card with the contactless ability built in, this is still more secure than the magnetic swipe.

THE KEY WORD IS ''SHOULD''
You should be able to use your phone or card anywhere you see the contactless payment logo.

Annoyingly, it still may not work, even if you're in a country with widespread use contactless payments and are standing over a terminal with the logo.

During four months of travel last year across Asia and Europe this happened to me a few times, but thankfully getting out and inserting or swiping the card, then signing the receipt, did the trick.

The World Students Society thanks author Geoffrey Morrison.