For controlling the use of a device (1) performing a service, the authorized persons are issued contactless data carriers (2) that, upon use of the device (1), communicate with a reader (3) storing the personal authorization data in a memory (4). If authorization is ascertained, the reader (3) enables the device (1). The service performed by the device (1) is stored in the memory (4). The particular person's transaction data stored in the memory (4) are read by a control person with a portable reader (5) and transferred to a data center (10) with a terminal (8) by telecommunication.