If you use Apple Pay or the Google equivalent, do you find it secure and convenient?

I have an Android phone and use Google Pay often. In fact, I use the electronic means of paying with a credit card every chance I get. It is safer to trust one company to keep my data safe than to spread it around.

I shop at Costco a lot. The vast majority of my grocery shopping is done there. The Costco app can display my membership card, and I entered my Costco credit card information. Now when I check out, the machine at the register asks me if I want to pay using the card attached to my account, and I simply press yes. I add that as an example of using an electronic means of paying with a credit card instead of physically pulling out my card.

Google Pay is similarly safe. All the transaction is handled between the retailer and Google. The little terminal at the register doesn’t have to know my data. That’s an added layer of safety for me.

I hope someone who really knows the inside information will answer your question.

I have Samsung Pay on my Samsung phone.

It uses a substitute card number that is connected to your physical l credit card.

It notifies me when the credit card transaction takes place like a receipt, also can tell me if my physical card is used, like a web purchase.

My phone has an antenna in the left side that can be used for contact-less on many non-tap POS card readers,

I log into the app and put my pin number in or my fingerprint and presto it is ready to use..

I don’t do any of that stuff because to me, it’s just one more thiing that i have to keep track of. I realize that these apps and these accounts all have checks and balances built in, but it’s one more thing to keep track of and one more thing that can get hacked.

Lucky Guy mentioned it a few weeks ago, talking about a similar topic. I’ll see if I can find what he wrote. It was about one more area of vulnerability, one more way for someone to access your money and identify.

@jca2 You don’t need to go back to that Q; I was very involved on it and that is a different issue.

@janbb Oh ok. I just looked at his account and he blocked his responses on his profile so I couldn’t find it if I wanted to.

I actually find that by using the app, I have one less thing to worry about. I don’t have to carry the card in my wallet and fear losing it. It gives thieves one less place to look for my data by keeping the transaction away from the terminal.

@janbb I’m sure you’ll decide to do what you feel the most comfortable with.

Apple says here that Apple Pay is safer than using a physical credit card.

Here’s what the site says:
Apple Pay is safer than using a physical credit, debit, or prepaid card. Face ID, Touch ID, or your passcode are required for purchases on your iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, or iPad. Your card number and identity aren’t shared with merchants, and your actual card numbers aren’t stored on your device or on Apple servers.

When you pay in stores, neither Apple nor your device will send your actual card number to merchants. When you pay online in Safari or in apps, the merchant will only receive information you authorize to fulfill your order — such as your name, email address, and billing and shipping addresses.

When you pay with a debit or credit card, Apple doesn’t keep transaction information that can be tied back to you. And when you use Apple Cash, information is stored only for troubleshooting, fraud prevention, and regulatory purposes.

I use apple pay from time to time. It’s fine. I have no issues with security.

I use Apple Pay all the time. I like that I can buy something from one of my apple devices and I don’t have to go through the rigamarole of pulling out my card and checking the cvv number.

Plus, I get cash back, and now its apple savings my Daily Cash back goes into a savings account.

I use Apple Pay when I can. It’s more convenient than pulling out my card and poking it into the chip reader. The chip reader at my favorite Safeway hates my MasterCard too.

@RocketGuy I usually just can tap with either my debit or credit card so I’m not sure what advantage this gives me..

Safeway only recently upgraded to “tap to pay”.

I’ve been thinking about using it, because I also read it’s safer than a credit card. I’m on the fence about it. I do use Walmart Pay and I have my credit card in my Disney App also for paying for mobile food orders at Disney. I guess that’s all basically the same as having Apple Pay.

Just last night my Walmart Pay wasn’t connecting with the gas pump and I had to get back in my car and drive to another pump. It was late and there were pumps available, but during the day that would not be the case. I feel pretty sure a credit card would not have had that trouble, but I get my 3¢ off with the app. My point is, I wonder how often Apple Pay malfunctions that you need your physical credit card.

I would think you can remove the credit card if you try it and decide you are uncomfortable.

^^ That makes sense.

I use Apple Pay all the time. 2–3% cash back. Linked 5% savings. Super convenient. VERY secure.

You can literally see every transaction, on your phone, immediately. With one click, for free, you can request a new card number. It cancels the old one and assigns you a new one in seconds

Plus, really, we grew up with carbon copies of our credit card receipts piling up in waste paper baskets behind counters in retail stores everywhere. THAT was insecure.

@cookieman How do you get the 2–3% back?

@cookieman Do you get a regular credit card bill each month?

@JLeslie: All purchases are 1% cash back. Some places like Walgreens and Paneras, are always 3%. Then there’s a rotating list of retailers that get 2–3% off and in.

@janbb: Yes, they mail you an actual Master Card (made of aluminum) for places that don’t takes smart phone payments. Even more secure, only your name is on the card (and the Apple logo) — no numbers. If you lose it, you can deactivate from your Apple Pay app and request a new one.

^^ Oh, I thought I could tie it to my regular card.

@janbb: Yes, you can do that too. You add your existing credit or debit cards by scanning them with your phone’s camera, it contacts your bank for approval (which can take seconds to a day or so), and it creates a digital version of it inside your Apple wallet. You can add as many as you like. Those operate under the same rules as they usually do.

@cookieman I didn’t realize Apple had their own card. 1% is low, but 3% is very good.

@janbb Thanks for this Q.

I primarily use Apple Pay. It’s safer than a physical credit card, though I still keep my credit cards with me as a backup.

I use it all the time as the preferred method from phone or watch.
It is also why CC companies now are offering electronic cards versus plastic.

I don’t use Google Wallet because I am not confident in its security – anybody who finds my phone could spend my money. (Although I do understand that there are all sorts of fail-safe capabilities.

My daughter, on the other hand, uses Apple Pay all the time without any problems.

Apple Pay has been pretty reliable for me. I have 2 cards linked: Amex which gives me 2% back on groceries, and MC for places that don’t take Amex.

Interesting article in Ars Technica today here that outlines how many retailers make it difficult to use Apple Pay.

@elbanditoroso That article is 8 years old.

@elbanditoroso Interesting but that article is 8 years old.

@janbb You owe me a Coke.

I think we are past that reluctance. I rarely run into a store that doesn’t take Apple Pay.

UPS or Fed Ex it to you?