Paying contactless is convenient, which is exactly why you should act quickly if the card is lost. If your card goes missing or is stolen, the block has to be placed promptly. For liability, § 675v of the German Civil Code (BGB) is the key provision. This guide explains what applies to a lost card and a block.
Quick answer: If your card is lost or stolen, your liability under § 675v para. 1 BGB is generally limited to 50 euros. Liability does not apply if you could not notice the loss before a payment (para. 2 no. 1). Block the card at your bank immediately. As of November 2026.
The most important points
- Contactless payments work by radio at the terminal, without a PIN up to a limit.
- For loss or theft, liability under § 675v para. 1 BGB is generally limited to 50 euros.
- If you could not notice the loss before a payment, liability lapses under para. 2 no. 1.
- Block the card at your bank immediately and note the time.
- The law sets out exceptions for gross negligence in further paragraphs.
How does contactless payment work?
With contactless payments the card sends its data by radio when you hold it briefly to the terminal. The method is faster than inserting the card, because no PIN is needed as long as the amount stays below the limit your bank has set. That is also where the risk lies: someone with a reader nearby can trigger payments if they obtain the card.
The limit and the rules for payments without a PIN are set out in your card terms. Read them once deliberately before you use the card in daily life.
What happens in case of loss or theft?
As soon as you notice the card is missing, block it immediately. The block prevents further payments with this card. You will find your bank’s blocking number in your banking documents or on your bank’s website. Report the loss to the bank without undue delay. The detailed notification duties for payment instruments follow from the law to which § 675v BGB refers.
How high is the liability under the law?
The Civil Code distinguishes several situations. The table shows the basic rules as they appear in the statute. For individual cases, the wording of the provision applies.
| Situation | What § 675v BGB provides |
|---|---|
| Loss or theft of the payment instrument | The payer can be held liable up to 50 euros (para. 1) |
| Loss you could not notice before a payment | No liability under para. 1 (para. 2 no. 1) |
| Grossly negligent conduct | Different rules in further paragraphs, see the statute |
Assumption: your card is used for payments totalling 180 euros before you block it, and you could not notice the loss beforehand. Then para. 2 no. 1 applies, and liability under para. 1 lapses. Had you noticed the loss and not reacted, the 50 euro limit would be relevant. The rest follows the rules on refunds for unauthorised payments.
Which steps count when blocking?
- Block the card immediately using your bank’s blocking number.
- Note the time, place and amount of the last payment.
- File the report with your bank and ask for confirmation.
- Then check your account statement and report unknown payments.
Is contactless a security risk?
Contactless payments are not automatically less secure than other methods. The risk lies mainly in a lost or stolen card being used without a PIN, as long as the amount stays below the limit. Keeping the card in a separate sleeve reduces the risk. Ask your bank whether it offers additional protective measures.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to block the card with the bank or the police?
The block is placed through your bank. A report to the police can make sense if the card was stolen. Ask your bank which evidence it needs for refund claims.
Am I liable even without entering a PIN?
Liability depends on whether the use was unauthorised and whether you handled your payment instrument with due care. The 50 euro limit under § 675v para. 1 BGB applies in case of loss or theft. Exceptions and restrictions are set out in the law and in your card terms.
Does this also apply to payments by smartphone?
This guide covers the physical card. Smartphone payments follow their own technical processes and conditions, which are not covered separately here.
What do I do about unknown debits?
First check the account statement and the transaction list in your online banking. Report every unknown payment to your bank without delay. The bank then clarifies whether the payment was authorised and examines the refund claim.
What to do now
- Block the card immediately using your bank’s blocking number.
- File the report and note the time and the amount.
- Check your account statement for unknown payments.
- Read your card terms and adjust the contactless limit if your bank allows it.
What to do after a loss to secure your account
After the block, the aim is to prevent further damage. Change your online banking login if you suspect it was lost together with the card. Check whether standing orders or direct debits exist that you do not recognise.
- Change passwords and PIN if you suspect they have fallen into other hands with the card.
- Check standing orders and direct debits for unknown entries.
- Note every event with date and time.
- Have the bank send you a new card once the matter is settled.
What your card terms say
The card terms govern how you must keep your card, which blocking number applies and when you must report. They also state up to which amount contactless payments without a PIN are possible. Read these sections calmly once, before you need them in an emergency.
Blocking and loss abroad
Abroad the same rule applies: block the card first, using your bank’s number, which you should note before the trip. Keep the blocking number separate from the card so that you have it even if your phone is missing. Keep a secure record of the card number, but do not store it on your phone.
- Note the blocking number before the trip and keep it apart from the card.
- Record the card number securely, not on the smartphone.
- After a theft abroad, consider a report to local police as well.
- After your return, check all transactions of the trip.
What do I do about debits after the block?
If debits still appear after the block, report them to the bank at once. Note which payments are meant and ask whether they ran through the blocked card. The bank then checks the transactions and can explain how the refund claim is examined.
Related guides
- Money, account and credit: the overview for young adults
- Phishing damage: does insurance refund the money?
- Phishing email from the bank: how to recognise it
- Set up a P-account: step by step
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
