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Egocentric merchants coalition...

it's pretty easy for Apple and Google to bring this down... by disapproving it in apps store and play store. Or the merchants are so confident that they can build another operating system against Apple and Google hahah. Clever mind.
 
"To compensate for these detractors, MCX reportedly will push retailer discounts and loyalty purchases to entice consumers to adopt this upcoming mobile payments system."

They can entice all they want, they aren't getting my data.

Health data? What in the hell do they need with that?
 
so wrong

This is just so wrong in so many ways.

- direct access to my checking account
- no fraud protection in event of misuse
- store driver's license number (and SSN and birthday, maybe?) in the cloud
- unbelievably clunky to use

Who ever dreamed up a scheme such as this? And how did they manage to sell the idea to so many companies?
 
Lol oh hell no, this is worse than I thought.

License, SSN, and bank account? In the cloud? Do they want my blood type too? Oh this article it does collect health data so they'll take it if they can get it.

And you're going to track everything I buy and where I shop in order to profit from ads?

This is like they're trying to be opposite of Apple Pay in every way possible.
Calendar doesn't say April 1st :cool:
 
If I shop at a CurrentC merchant, I will make sure to use a Visa or Amex card (2.0-3.5% transaction fee) just to spite them.
 
Ever been to Starbucks?

They have had much success with a Code scanner type Method of Payment.

Its not linked to your bank account. You alot a certain amount to put on your starbucks card. It goes through your CC/DC. It also doesnt take as much personal information.
 
Driver's license + SSN + Checking Account? How will one be able to tell the CurrentC setup procedure from a phishing attempt?

The best part is that when CurrentC's servers get compromised, hackers will have enough information about your identity to take out mortgages in your name.
 
I did not say that. I said in CurrentC, "finding" and "opening" the app are the same step.

I don't get your original post or this response. Who said it wasn't the same step wasn't it listed under the same step number? Also you need to check up you do not need a cellular or internet connection to use apple pay at the store.
 
If they don't want to take credit cards, I'd rather just pay cash! As would most rational people.

But then again, the point isn't to be convenient for consumers. It's to benefit these big companies.
 
Ever been to Starbucks?

They have had much success with a Code scanner type Method of Payment.

I have the gold card but have always added with cash. I'm just not a person who provides banking/cc info for no reason. I am only comfortable when I control disbursements.
 
What problem is this trying to solve? If this is linked to your debit card then just using the debit card and swiping is far easier than this convoluted method. This isn't making the experience better, its making it worse. Like others have mentioned you need to have a data connection and with some stores having poor signal reception this will surely fail.
 
The 2% credit card transaction fee is a bargain. The consumer gets robust fraud protection, a host of benefits (extended warranty, return protection, rewards, etc), and great security. The merchant group is making it seem like they're paying that 2-3% when in fact the consumer has been paying it all along in the form of increased item price.
This is a blatant money grab by the merchants, and it's going to fail miserably. As soon as people realize how lousy this system is (insecure, a huge privacy invasion, etc), they'll never agree to sign up. What a dumb move.
 
This is just so wrong in so many ways.

- direct access to my checking account
- no fraud protection in event of misuse
- store driver's license number (and SSN and birthday, maybe?) in the cloud
- unbelievably clunky to use

Who ever dreamed up a scheme such as this? And how did they manage to sell the idea to so many companies?

That upfront free, and 3-year exclusivity deal wow.
I'm sure the 2-3% cc fees add up and is worth it on paper, but that's assuming all customers are on board with this idea lol.

One of the major benefits of using a credit card is protection. That's out the window with this. And that's probably one of the least worrisome things about this. Even worse is all of that info in the cloud. Tracking my shopping habits to profit off ads. The list goes on and on...
 
Lame. If I was Apple and Google I would not allow these apps in the app store's. If these companies don't want to compete on the merits with Apple pay, Apple can just shut their system down entirely by excluding the apps from the app store.

That would be brilliant! If they don't accept Apple Pay and Google Wallet, their app doesn't go on those phones. Can't think of a better way to handle it.
 
Wow, so these companies sold their soul, with exclusivity for 3 years, to an untested company/system, all in order to save a measly 2% on credit card fees? Don't mean to bring the issue of executive pay up, but who are these retailers hiring as executives to make such stupid decisions? This would be bad enough if there wasn't an upfront payment involved, but they need to put in half a million?

That's money out the door they ain't ever going to get back (not to mention, many of them won't get the future revenue of the people who already aren't going to buy from them anymore since they seem to want to not make it easier to pay). All that goodwill CVS had from removing tobacco from the shelves...that's now gone.

Sure, Apple Pay is new. But from a company that is known to bring out innovative new products that work, and have turned industries upside down for the better. Remember MP3 players pre iPod? Computers pre-mouse and GUI? Smartphones pre-iPhone? The history is there, at least.

Separate from the turning off of the NFC, I was actually interested to hear in how this consortium's mobile payments were going to work. It's a non-starter for me and most, and this will, as others have mentioned, fail and fairly quickly.

I need to give up my SSN, drivers license # and bank account info. to be floated in the cloud somewhere (beauty of Apple Pay is that info. doesn't need to float around). QR code scanners? Forget just for a second the insecurity of it all, now I have to give up paying by credit card and earning rewards? And I need to make sure there is enough money in my account at that moment to make any [expected or unexpected] transactions. All for the benefit of saving CVS et. all a couple of percent on a transaction, and perhaps some sort of [unknown] discount that may or may not even be relevant to me? Thanks for the offer, but no thanks.

What is interesting is that Target is both an Apple Pay partner (for online) and part of this consortium (presumably for in-store). In the store this past week, noticed that they have NFC terminals that are not turned on (but unlike CVS/Rite Aid, at least I don't believe they ever were). Wonder how that will work out.
 
Is this seriously the completion for Apple Pay? I'm no Apple fanboy but this seems like a no-brainer.
 
I can see CurrentC Treadmilling (going nowhere fast).

Take my data! no thanks
 
There is no way I would EVER use this! Beside, anyone making a payment that is low enough for cash these days has the cash on them. Aside from that they are using a credit card for multiple reasons. Such as free extended warranties on electronics, ability to pay off over time or not enough cash for purchase needed (hey lowes, you think we plan on that fridge blowing up?) and fraud protection. Instead, they want us to give them every bit of information that would make stealing our identity an absolute breeze. I DONT THINK SO!

I think the fastest way to get them to reverse course on this policy, have Apple and Google get together and pull out their products from any store that doesn't support NFC payments. I mean, how does Best Buy have mini-stores for Apple and Google that show off these features and then say "sorry you can't use that here".
 
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