Apple Pay - stopped working?

[bulldoze]

Like most of us I have been increasingly relying on contactless payment in the last year and it has got to the point where I no longer carry a wallet with cards and money around with me. In fact most of the time I no longer carry my phone either as I just rely on my Apple Watch when I go shopping.

This all came crashing down today as I went on a long trip for a medical appointment 150 miles away that required payment. I just took my phone and watch as usual and could not get breakfast as payment was declined and I could not pay for my prescription either as it was also declined.

So that is me now with all confidence lost in this facility and I will have to resume carrying around a wallet. Once I had returned I went to the local shop with my debit card and tried again with the Apple Pay - Watch and phone failed but the physical card worked first time.

What is my course of action here? re add the cards? or get in touch with the bank? I am unsure what part of the process is at fault.

Thanks.

 

[PeteBurgh]

re add the cards? or get in touch with the bank?

Those sound like good places to start.

With a few hiccups along the way, I’ve generally found Apple Pay to be pretty reliable over the last 4-5 years. But nothing is infallible - I’ve had cards fail as well. If I’m going to the local shop, I usually just take my phone - but anywhere further afield I take my wallet too.

 

[Fatboy71]

Here in the UK I've found it extremely reliable. Only once in 5 years I have been unable to use Apple Pay, but too be fair in that particular instance, the shop assistant said that the contactless feature of the payment terminal was down, so too be fair it was not an Apple Pay specific problem as the contactless feature on any credit/debit card would have failed in that instance.

Maybe a stupid question, but could you see the cards you had added in the Wallet section?

Also, I found out to my embarrasment, that if you sign out of your Apple ID on your iPhone, all the cards in Apple Pay get removed. I didn't realise this would be the case until I got to the till and pressed the side button on my Apple Watch and couldn't get any of the stored cards to show up. Luckily I had my physical card with me

I realised a bit later than I had signed out of my Apple ID, the previous day and figured the cards were removed due to this.

 

[webbga]

I have had this happen from time to time and I am never sure if it is the fault of the merchant or Apple. Several times it has been the store that fails to train their employees how to handle Apple Pay on the register. I still use it whenever I can and it is becoming more widely accepted every month.

 

[zipster]

It's usually an issue with the bank.

 

[beachmusic]

I have a local package store not allowing you to use Apple Pay on your phone for anything over 100.00. Told them I like the 2% cash back but they don't care. Time to find a new place to get WT 101

 

[tatarin]

I had a similar experience last Wednesday. I tried to use my Apple Card with Apple Pay at the local Ace Hardware store. My iPhone displayed a checkmark and the chime indicated a successful transaction but a second later, the terminal said "transaction declined". I tried again with the same result.

The cashier then asked if the card was a MasterCard. I said yes and she said that her MasterCard wouldn't work for contactless payment at Ace either but that her physical card worked fine. I don't have a physical Apple Card so I tried Apple Pay again linked to my Wells Fargo Propel card. This worked fine (except only 1% back in points vs 2% cash back with the Apple Card).

These glitches don't happen often but I still don't feel comfortable shopping without having a physical credit card with me.

 

[Greg196]

Apple Pay has been super reliable for me for a few years up until a few weeks ago when I had the same issue as @tatarin. I had recently added a new card to the Wallet - the bank says it is fine as the physical card works. I have signed out of my Apple ID, added the card again, still not working. Back to the bulky wallet I guess. If anyone knows a fix that would be great!