Barclays Cashless/OneTouch - great idea, but what if I don't want a credit card?

Question

So it sounds great in principle. As well as getting me on to the Tube I can use it in shops to make payments for items <£10 within one second.

Oyster and WavePay cards interfere with one another, so any WavePay card that isn't merged with Oyster is going to have to be carried in a separate wallet. That gives Barclays an effective monopoly within London.

My problem is this: I don't want a credit card. No terrible skeletons in my closet; I just don't want one.

The credit facility doesn't seem to be an integral part of the process, but there is no option to just have it with a debit card.

I'm in no mad hurry to sign up for this thing, right now there are only six places with the technology to take WavePay payments. But as time passes and the network extends I'm going to wish I had one.

Are there future plans for other banks to muscle in (with Oyster) or for Barclays to extend the options? Or do I have to suck it up and apply for a credit agreement that I don't want or need?

Answer 1

So wait & see ..

The 'early adoptors' always end up paying the most for the least ...

Answer 2

I gather Visa are "shortly" bringing out a debit-only card, without the credit facility, exactly as you want. When "shortly" is, I don't know. Best ask your bank.