What do you think about Apple Pay?

My daughter likes it and uses it a lot. I am not an Apple person, so I have no direct experience.

Basically it works like this:

- you store a card (payment info) with Apple. All sorts of security, or so they say.

- you buy something. The Apple Pay reader listens to the NFC (Near Field Communication) electronic signals from your phone. (NFC is – simplified – a very short distance version of Bluetooth).

- The phone’s signal does NOT include your credit card number, but it is an encoded numeric code that identifies you and your CVV number and the dollar amount.

- You met a message on your phone “OK to pay $88.54?” If you tap your phone then the transaction completes.

This is not an immediate debit like a debit card would be. Rather, Apple handles it like a credit transaction and settles up with the bank a day or two later.

Apple takes a percentage of every transaction. (of course).

^^Do you know if there is an app to just use your credit card on your phone directly? Rather than Apple Pay?

No idea. I am wary of trusting my credit card to my phone. I’ll keep it in my pocket.

I have always used Android Pay, but it’s similar to Apple Pay in that it’s more secure and safer than using your credit card. When you swipe your credit card, that store reads your credit card. When there is a breach of that store or the system that manages that store, your credit card info is exposed. I’ve had to get new credit cards a few times due to this problem.

When you use Android Pay or Apple Pay, however, your credit card info is hidden from the vendor. Whole Foods, for example, has no idea what your credit card number is when you use your phone to pay. Additionally, I need my fingerprint to pay with my phone. But if I were to drop my credit card, no fingerprint is needed. If someone were to find my credit card before I knew it was missing, they could purchase whatever they wanted.

Plus, it’s just far more convenient than carrying around a ton of cards. Since all of my cards (discount cards, etc) are in my phones, it’s all right there.

Yes, I use it. It works well when I forget to bring my wallet somewhere, which happens (whereas I am never without my phone). Plus I’ve had issues recently where I get “chip error” when I insert my card. It makes me think contactless pay should eventually replace physical cards. I am glad to see more and more businesses accepting it.

I’m not an Apple person. I prefer Android!!! The Android equivalent is Samsung Pay. You add whatever debit or credit cards that you prefer to use. When time comes to pay, you choose which card you’ve added & scan it at the credit card reader. @elbanditoroso explained the “how to” very well. I was hesitant to add my cards. My bank is pretty pushy that I add my debit card to the SP system. I didn’t feel comfortable doing that; but I finally did add a credit card just to test to see how it worked. After using it, I felt much more comfortable using it. It appears to be safer than scanning my credit card in the same reader & I have it set up where the card can’t be used without scanning my fingerprint first. I receive an email before I can get the items I bought to my car notifying me of the transaction; so, If I didn’t make the purchase, I just contact them immediately to let them know it wasn’t me. From what I’ve read, Apple Pay works much the same; but not being an Apple baby, I don’t know that for sure!!!

I use it a lot at grocery stores, and at food places that don’t accept cash.. It is also used by the Starbucks app for reloading money onto a Starbucks card.

I have an iPhone X, so instead of a thumbprint it uses facial recognition. And yes, you can put a credit card on it; most people have a debit card on it because when you load a banking app on your phone, it will ask if you want to authorize for ApplePay.

Do the stores need a special scanner? Or, do all the credit card thingies have a reader that can take the Apple Pay?

I don’t like that Apple gets money off of the transaction. I think they already overcharge for their products.

@LadyMarissa That’s interesting how you make it sound more secure, when my worry was it being less secure. It makes sense.

I pay with money, not apples.

@JLeslie I spent a lot of time fearing the hazards of any of the Pay apps & I’m sure somebody will come up with a way to hack them. Still, while at the register paying out, it makes me feel safer!!! I still haven’t added my debit card as I’m still paranoid enough to not want to make my checking account vulnerable to those with few scruples. I pay off my credit cards every month & IF my card is compromised, I have the peace of mind knowing that my liability is limited.

The scanners are the regular credit card scanner with an additional reader added onto it so it can read the card. Not all stores have them; but as it’s becoming more popular, I’m seeing many more stores upgrading to them. What unnerves me is that after visiting a store that’s supposed to have the upgraded reader, I also receive an email telling me that I could have used my Samsung Pay at that store. I really don’t like the feeling of being tracked everywhere I go!!! We’re already being phased out of using cash & I’m sure these apps will be our only option for paying in the not so distant future.

I’ve been testing the waters for about 2 years now & I’m feeling more comfortable with it than I ever dreamed that I would. When I started using Samsung Pay I told myself that I could stop using it whenever I choose & so far I’ve not felt so uncomfortable that I’ve wanted to withdraw!!!.

@LadyMarissa Does it work at gas stations?

I don’t have a debit card, so I wouldn’t be adding that to the app anyway. It would be credit cards. So, if I understand you correctly I could put a few credit cards on the app, and then when I purchase I just pick which card I want to use? Is that right?

@JLeslie Apple Pay works at some gas stations. It works at Chevron stations in Northern California, and also at Shell stations.