Apple Pay: Yes or No?

[daniel1948]

Tomorrow, if FedEx keeps its promise (and it usually does) I will have my first smartphone: the new iPhone SE. As I think about what this new toy will be useful for, I wonder about Apple Pay. Good idea or bad idea? I'd love to get people's thoughts and opinions. Is it really more convenient than pulling my credit card out of my shirt pocket? Is it really safer than my credit card? (My bank protects me against fraud on the card, no deductible.) How well does it really work? The fingerprint ID in my iPad Pro is so wonky that I've quit using it since it generally takes 3 or 4 tries to get it to recognize my finger, and about one time out of 4 it makes me use my passcode anyway. If I have to try 3 or 4 times to get the button to recognize my finger when I try to use Apple Pay, and one out of four I end up having to get out my credit car anyway, it will be easier just to use the card in the first place.

What are people's experiences with Apple Pay. Do you like it? Have you tried it and given up on it?

Any and all comments, opinions, and experiences eagerly appreciated.

 

[Cwolk]

I love Apple Pay, especially on my iPhone 6s. It's so much easier than taking out a credit card and it recognizes the purchase immediately; you just take your phone out, place it near the sensor or card reader, and use Touch ID. It literally takes seconds. However, this is with my 6s, which has an upgraded Touch ID sensor. The iPhone SE does not (it has same sensor as the iPhone 6) so it may take slightly longer. I'm not sure how much of a difference this will make to you, as waiting time is personal preference.

My recommendation; definitely setup Apple Pay, even if you don't use it. It's great to have as a backup if you forget your wallet. This way, you'll never be without money. I suggest using Apple Pay in stores when available, especially when you already have your phone in hand.

About security: You're dealing with a unique, encrypted code each purchase and no physical card, so it's safer. Even if someone were able to hack the system and get the code, they couldn't do anything to your card since a new code is randomly generated for each purchase.

 

[bigchrisfgb]

Yeah, go for it. It works well, smoother than unlocking your phone. In stores you will get used to pre-authorising your phone beforehand.

 

[spif91]

Absolutely.....works great every time.

 

[daniel1948]

... It's great to have as a backup if you forget your wallet. ...

Ha. I'm more likely to forget my phone than my credit card. The card lives in my shirt pocket. The phone is more likely to be forgotten if it's not where I happen to see it.

But thanks for all the information.

 

[daniel1948]

Not quite on topic of Apple Pay, but my iPhone SE arrived today, as promised. I'll be keeping an eye open for merchants that accept Apple Pay.

Now I have a bit of a dilemma: I have a debit card linked to a checking account in which I keep a fairly low balance, which I use for internet purchases, which is the realm I have the least trust: If someone hacks that card, there's not a lot they can steal. But for in-person purchases I use my regular credit card.

I'm not sure if I want to put my regular card into Apple Pay since it's a cloud/internet thing. But I don't want to shift my regular purchasing to the debit card since the credit card is the one that gets cash back. Maybe for now I'll just try out Apple Pay for small purchases, and use the debit card.

 

[neil_cm17]

I use it almost everyday, especially since they've introduced contactless payments at the site where I work. They also seem to have got rid of all the glitches as I haven't had a failed translation in months. I do get the impression however that for some reason that, unlike here in the UK, it hasn't really taken off in the United States.

 

[jetsam]

Now I have a bit of a dilemma: I have a debit card linked to a checking account in which I keep a fairly low balance, which I use for internet purchases, which is the realm I have the least trust: If someone hacks that card, there's not a lot they can steal. But for in-person purchases I use my regular credit card.

I'm not sure if I want to put my regular card into Apple Pay since it's a cloud/internet thing. But I don't want to shift my regular purchasing to the debit card since the credit card is the one that gets cash back. Maybe for now I'll just try out Apple Pay for small purchases, and use the debit card.

There's no safer way to use your credit card than with Apple Pay. You might want to read Apple's discussion about Apple Pay's security:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT203027

For me, the biggest part of the security is that the merchant never gets your actual credit card number (or any personally identifiable information) in an Apple Pay transaction.

 

[daniel1948]

Okay. I've set up Apple Pay and will use it next time I'm in a store that accepts it. Thanks everyone.

 

[Suture]

I use it when I'm at Starbucks or grocery shopping (at Harris Teeter). No issues.

 

[daniel1948]

The lady at the grocery store thought they accepted it, but it wouldn't work, so she called someone and found out they are accepting one of the other mobile pay systems, but not Apple Pay (yet).

 

[AlecEdworthy]

I have just joined the masses with Apple Pay. I got my first Apple Pay compatible phone (iPhone SE) yesterday and the same evening my first Apple Pay compatible card (American Express Platinum) was waiting for me on the doormat. Adding it to my phone was simple, using it has been equally easy. I have (on advice from friends who have been using it for months) always pre-empted the transaction so far (from the lock screen double tap the home button to bring Wallet to the front, rest your finger on the Touch ID sensor to pre-authorise the transaction before being presented with the terminal and then hold it to the contactless pad when offered it) and it has worked flawlessly every time.

As for security, it depends on your trust and how much you like Apple. Apple say they do not store your actual card details (technically they do receive them on their servers but immediately re-encrypt them and send them on to your card provider or their chosen provisioning/token service provider) and therefore cannot provide your actual card details to the merchant. Instead a device specific account number is generated (per Apple device) and a different dynamic security code (per transaction) is used for each and every transaction. If someone steals your details on transaction one they're useless for transaction two. Apple get a cut from each transaction made using Apple Pay (just the same as Visa, MasterCard or American Express do) so every time you use Apple Pay you're dropping a tiny fraction of that payment into Apple's coffers. Personally this does not bother me, however I have a friend who because of this very reason will not use Apple Pay - horses for courses. If you're the sort of person who keeps their cash in a shoe box under the bed then, well, you're probably not reading this thread are you

As for your comment about the reliability of the Touch ID sensor - mine (across two years of an iPhone 5s and a day of an iPhone SE) is flawless (unless my hands are sweaty, wet from doing the dishes or I'm just out of the shower), however my friend who has an iPhone 6 plus finds she cannot use Touch ID. I suspect her issues are rooted elsewhere but I can't ignore the fact she would find Apple Pay unusable right now. If you find unlocking the phone with Touch ID troublesome then I strongly suggest you pre-empt the transaction as described above to save embarrassment at the terminal and wonder if you'll perhaps find it too troublesome in the long run?

Moving on to your final questions,

Do I like it? - ABSOLUTELY
Have I tried it? - So far three times, tomorrow is my first real day out with it (so far just been showing off/annoying the staff at my local pub with it)
Have I given up on it? - Nope!

My own add-ons,

Will I use it for every transaction? - Unlikely, I bank with Barclays who are the only major UK bank to STILL not support Apple Pay. My only Apple Pay compatible card is American Express and not all merchants accept it. Also most (all?) places in the UK only allow contactless transactions up to £30 in the UK despite Apple Pay having a higher limit at the retailers discretion.

I would strongly recommend always carrying your actual card with you for when Apple Pay fails (normally when the terminal decides it doesn't like it) and/or a backup card from another provider just in case (I have always carried a Visa and a MasterCard card with me, now I have AmEx too but will probably ditch one of my other cards shortly).

Alec

edit: Fixed my statement about Apple not getting your card details - they do but (claim) not to keep them.

 

[AlliFlowers]

I use it as often as I can. I prefer using it from my watch, cause then I don't even have to pull my phone out. The lady at the grocery store almost dropped her teeth watching me do it the other day!

 

[Nukemkb]

Works perfectly...been using it since day 1

 

[daniel1948]

I have just joined the masses with Apple Pay. <...snip...>

Thanks for all that. I also talked to someone at my bank, who basically said the same things you did about security. So I will probably start using it next time I'm at a store that accepts it. What's interesting is that the grocery store I shop at accepts some kinds of mobile payment, but there is no indication that it does. I would have expected a tag saying "We accept <whatever>." The result is there's no way to know except to ask, and in this case, the cashier didn't know which ones they take. So until she made a phone call I didn't know if they didn't take Apple Pay, or if my phone or my account was rejecting it.

 

[AlecEdworthy]

What's interesting is that the grocery store I shop at accepts some kinds of mobile payment, but there is no indication that it does. I would have expected a tag saying "We accept <whatever>." The result is there's no way to know except to ask, and in this case, the cashier didn't know which ones they take.

I have found this in my local town regarding American Express acceptance. Quite a few shops which have signs at the till or on their front door saying they accept Visa and MasterCard (and their debit card variants) also accepted AmEx when I asked them despite it being absent from the displays etc.

Goes to show that it pays to ask (quite literally in my case given the 5% cash back I get currently )

A

 

[Tech198]

Never used it, never will... because Apple controls where its used. I want large choice... No point in saying "you can us e this secure system, but u can only accept it at this selected stores worldwide" plastic is more widely used because its matured.

 

[Mr Kram]

Never used it, never will... because Apple controls where its used. I want large choice... No point in saying "you can us e this secure system, but u can only accept it at this selected stores worldwide" plastic is more widely used because its matured.

apple controls this? LOL

 

[AlecEdworthy]

Never used it, never will... because Apple controls where its used. I want large choice... No point in saying "you can us e this secure system, but u can only accept it at this selected stores worldwide" plastic is more widely used because its matured.

How does Apple control where it's used? It's contactless payment, if a store accepts contactless payment, wants to accept Apple Pay and their contactless payment provider enables Apple Pay then it works. I don't think Apple get any say at all in whether it works in a particular store or not. Apple do get a say in who's cards can be added to Apple Pay but it appears to be mostly the banks holding out here (cf Barclays in the UK!).

A

 

[AppleFanBoy82]

Never used it, never will... because Apple controls where its used. I want large choice... No point in saying "you can use this secure system, but u can only accept it at this selected stores worldwide" plastic is more widely used because it's matured.

Apple doesn't control where it is used - you can use Apple Pay anywhere that accepts contactless and there are a few stores that accept Apple Pay beyond the £30 limit.

 

[AlecEdworthy]

... there are a few stores that accept Apple Pay beyond the £30 limit.

Really? Where have you found that'll accept >£30 (except Apple themselves)?

 

[Paco II]

I love Apple Pay The vending machine at work supports AP which makes getting my daily soda that much more convenient. Another feature of AP which I love, but not relevant to all, is that I carry a slim wallet, with just a couple of cards and some cash. AP allows me to use additional cards (think miles/award points) without needing to have all those cards physically with me.

 

[daniel1948]

Never used it, never will... because Apple controls where its used. I want large choice... No point in saying "you can us e this secure system, but u can only accept it at this selected stores worldwide" plastic is more widely used because its matured.

Apple wants ALL merchants to accept it because they make a few cents on every transaction. The problem is getting merchants to agree. Every payment method (cash, checks, each different credit card, each different mobile pay system) has its costs and requirements, and one more method means one more hurdle for the merchants.

The more people have Apple Pay the more incentive there is for merchants to accept it. The more merchants that accept it, the more people will have an incentive to use it. New services or gadgets take time to saturate the market. But I assure you that Apple is not "controlling" where it can be used. If Tim Cook had his way, every merchant everywhere would accept it.

 

[Tech198]

Apple doesn't control where it is used - you can use Apple Pay anywhere that accepts contactless and there are a few stores that accept Apple Pay beyond the £30 limit.

Apple pay is only accepted where countries its in.. Visa and Mastercard are more widely used. Merchant can't accept APple pay if APple has not rolled it out there yet.. Therefore, Apple controls it form a country stand point..

I'm saying Mastercard and Visa are more matured... Apple pay isn't.... and with that not all merchants accept it...... which limits u to those places if u do want to use Apple pay...

This is a small selection compared with how many places around the world accept visa and mastercard directly.. if the merchant chooses not to support Apple pay, u gotta shop elsewhere now.... How is that good?

 

[Paco II]

This is a silly argument. Credit cards have been around a long time. Apple Pay is still new. It is a superior experience, and if it weren't for the complexities and politics of the payment industry, I am sure it would be more widespread. Apple controls it's roll out, sure, but every company with a product controls it's roll out. What does that even matter? Do you avoid Netflix, or Apple products, or Spotify because those companies control the product? Of course not. These companies want global adoption. Do you avoid credit card machines because Verisign controls much? Of course not.

Apple pay is only accepted where countries its in.. Visa and Mastercard are more widely used. Merchant can't accept APple pay if APple has not rolled it out there yet.. Therefore, Apple controls it form a country stand point..

I'm saying Mastercard and Visa are more matured... Apple pay isn't.... and with that not all merchants accept it...... which limits u to those places if u do want to use Apple pay...

This is a small selection compared with how many places around the world accept visa and mastercard directly.. if the merchant chooses not to support Apple pay, u gotta shop elsewhere now.... How is that good?