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Apple Pay Competitor CurrentC Detailed as Convoluted System With Minimal Consumer Benefit

So you have to give your SS#, DL#, and Bank Account information. ROFL!

As if that wasn't enough, b/c that is just awful.......you also have no convenience of a quick and easy transaction.


There is absolutely positively NO WAY I would ever do this. NEVER EVER!
 
Seriously, who runs these companies and signs off on borderline-insane ******** like this???
 
I'll still shop at these places but I'll use my credit card or cash. Just how I use it anywhere else that doesn't have NFC. We aren't being forced to use this new system.
 
So we have 2 groups of store. Those who care about their customers and enabled Apple Pay which is also smart.

Then the ones that want to save money but putting consumers at huge risk of fraud and cripple them for their own benefit.
 
It's such a pain to have QR codes scanned on a mobile device. Always takes forever when they do it on the Cartwheel app at Target.

I'd just use my card instead if they're going to make it that much of a headache.
 
Jovian9 said:
So you have to give your SS#, DL#, and Bank Account information. ROFL!

As if that wasn't enough, b/c that is just awful.......you also have no convenience of a quick and easy transaction.


There is absolutely positively NO WAY I would ever do this. NEVER EVER!
Click to expand...

Let's remember this is being led by Wal-Mart. The store where you go and people still pay with a CHECK! Where you have to provide your SS#, DL#, and they have your Bank Account #. Of course these people don't even have smart phones, so it's going to be a miss with the majority of their customer base already....

If these stores really want to save that 2-3%, they can just accept cash only like several restaurants around me (who I'm sure report 100% of the money they receive to the GOVT...)
 
CurrentC is an absurd option

So in the interest of competition Walmart, CVS, RiteAid and so on can provide a discount if the customer uses CurrentC instead of an NFC option. The Randall's grocery store that I shop at has a loyalty card scheme and I often get discounts when I use that card with a purchase - not to make a purchase. In any event I don't get why the MXC consortium would be so brain-dead as to not use the CurrentC as a marketing gimmick.
 
roadbloc said:
I don't know what America's deal is, but near enough the rest of the world has been using NFC payments for some time now. Why are companies over there determined to make sure you guys are still using magnetic strips?
Click to expand...

because most corporations are being run by out of touch idiots who don't care about anyone else but themselves.
 
This is worse then any system ever developed! With security a big problem, and a lot of people not wanting that info stored will never use this!

I can't even believe this is being attempted. I have no problem finding other stores!
 
Honestly this looks JUST like LevelUp, which retailers near me have already tried and given up on due to similar reasons. (i.e. complex, low volume, more effort than it's worth.)

In theory, CurrentC can launch today if they just buy this company: https://www.thelevelup.com

History is not favoring its adoption though.
 
jclardy said:
So...in short:

Apple Pay:
1. Hold phone to reader
2. Scan fingerprint

CurrentC:
1. Unlock phone
2. Find CurrentC app
3. Launch CurrentC app
4. Hope you have adequate signal in concrete walls of the store
5. Hold phone up to scanner

Also CurrentC is essentially a debit transaction. So no rewards, reduced fraud protection and increased likelihood of getting actual cash stolen from your bank account (Compared to a credit card being stored locally with Apple Pay.)
Click to expand...

Is TC a reliable site to quote this information? Any other reviewers or sites confirm this method? I mean if it's true, then this is the dumbest idea from retailers passing on Apple Pay. lol
 
Looks like a lot of smart companies are going to get a three-year head start on profits and competition. And the others with CurrentC will be stuck trying to give out digital coupons and QR codes to barely make their $500K investment back. LOL.
 
kagharaht said:
Is TC a reliable site to quote this information? Any other reviewers or sites confirm this method? I mean if it's true, then this is the dumbest idea from retailers passing on Apple Pay. lol
Click to expand...

He actually left out a few steps on the CurrentC side. It's truly that freaking complicated..
 
I'll still shop at these places but I'll use my credit card or cash. Just how I use it anywhere else that doesn't have NFC. We aren't being forced to use their crappy new system.
 
Honestly the one and only reason they want to do this is to negate disputed transactions. e-checks are impossible to negate. You lose all ability to retaliate without this consumer protection.
 
Well, that all looks a bit of a cluster****. Who in their right mind would opt to give them their info?? Ah, on further reading I see that their App will work on Android phones, these phone users don't care about their privacy anyway :p
 
Last edited by a moderator:
jclardy said:
CurrentC:
1. Unlock phone
2. Find CurrentC app 3. Launch CurrentC app (same step)
4. Hope you have adequate signal in concrete walls of the store (also required for Apple Pay)
5. Hold phone up to scanner (also required for Apple Pay)
Click to expand...

Obviously CurrentC is somewhat more complicated to use than Apple Pay, but spin does not help us understand the differences and how they will be marketed:

-Apple will promote Apple Pay as simpler to use, and more secure.

-The other merchants will promote CurrentC as working with any smartphone, and providing customers with loyalty bonuses.
 
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