SmartDebit, the UK direct debit payment processor, has responded to the recent news that one million bus journeys in London have been paid for using a contactless debit, credit or charge card.

According to Transport for London (TfL), up to 10,000 people per day are using their contactless card to pay for a fare in the capital. TfL introduced the contactless payment method on their buses in December 2012, and contactless card usage for fares has grown week on week since.

Around 1,000 new cards are touching the contactless terminals on London’s 8,500 buses every day, making it clear that it isn’t just the same people every week choosing to use the more convenient method of payment.

“Reaching the million card milestone is a great achievement for TfL in their bid to improve the customer experience considering the lack of uptake elsewhere in the UK,” commented Surrey-based SmartDebit.

A recent study suggests that contactless payment usage is being halted by a lack of promotion from retailers.

SmartDebit added, “The fact that 10,000 people are using it every day on London buses is testament to TfL’s active approach. Reducing the number of customers fumbling around for change can only be a good thing for efficiency.”

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