An independent survey of 1,000 British consumers, commissioned by Ingenico, discovers while the actual number of people using the technology remains low, many are optimistic about the potential of the system.

The research finds 13 per cent of people have used contactless pre-paid cards, eight per cent have paid with contactless debit or credit cards and four per cent have used mobile handset payments.

However, 41 per cent of respondents say they will use the technology in the future, citing convenience, shorter queuing times and the need to carry less cash as being the main reasons.

Furthermore, 12 per cent believe contactless and mobile systems offer increased security.

Gregor Rankin, marketing manager of northern Europe at Ingenico, adds: ‘Retailers can also expect to benefit, as increased footfall is one of the recognised advantages of implementing [the technology].’

Last month, Neil Munroe, external affairs director at Equifax, said the payments industry needs to prove to consumers that the new systems are secure before they become widely accepted.