Apple Pay Launches in Canada With American Express, Australia Later This Week

[macaximx]

Read this on another site:
"Because American Express has determined that the chip-and-pin (EMV) infrastructure is so secure in Canada, the typical tap-to-pay limit of $100 associated with plastic credit cards has been lifted for Apple Pay users; they can make purchases based on their credit card limit, or in the case of an AMEX Charge Card, merely the amount of the transaction."

Will try this at the Apple Store today.

 

[macnewbie91]

It's from Wells Fargo. And although I have multiple cards from that bank (debit/ATM, and a business credit card), it's the only one with an NFC symbol.

I have a Wells Fargo card and it doesn't have an NFC logo on it... How did you manage that?

 

[abbymtl]

Nice little surprise, I was expecting the classic green card.

 

[thedeejay]

Well, I'm about to start to use my Amex a lot more...

The banks (and Visa and Mastercard) would be nuts not to get on board with this, because they're going to be losing money from people like me who now use their Amex strictly because it's the one that has Apple Pay.

Of course, since so few places accept Amex, the data might be skewed to where it appears like people don't use it, when in fact they simply can't.

All I know is that my Amex, which previously was only used for concert tickets, just got a whole lot more useful.

Same here. I already use my Amex about 30% of the time, but with this convenience, it's going to be a lot more.

I have been using an amex for over 15 years and the only places they don't accept them are the odd cafes here and there, but otherwise pretty much everyone accepts them. Amex is my main card and always has been if it wasn't accepted everywhere I wouldn't use it.

I think people are just upset that their bank doesn't support Amex. I recently got one, and I think there are only a handful of places that didn't accept Amex. Even major restaurant chains I've been to accepted Amex

Practically nobody in Canada has an AmEx... They're not really "launching" in Canada if it's not VISA and MC.

Not as much as Visa and MC, but everyone I know where I work has an Amex. It's just significantly lower than Visa and MC. Also I'm sure a lot of people will apply for one now that it has ApplePay. A couple people in this thread already stated applying for one

Got my Amex card added! It was really fast, no issues at all. Now to go find an excuse to use it!

Thank you for the heads up, I just did the same! I'll use it for 6 months and enjoy the cash back, hopefully BMO is on board by then.

Quick and easy setup - Excited to try it out. The CashBack Card is awesome. I've been using it for 4 months, 2 more months left until the promotional 5% rate is done, but I've earned $236 in Cashback and it's 1.25% afterwards, so can't really go wrong. Most cards are 1% or less. It's the SimplyCash Card.

 

[Poochi]

Quick and easy setup - Excited to try it out. The CashBack Card is awesome. I've been using it for 4 months, 2 more months left until the promotional 5% rate is done, but I've earned $236 in Cashback and it's 1.25% afterwards, so can't really go wrong. Most cards are 1% or less. It's the SimplyCash Card.

• Rogers Platinum MasterCard: 1.75% cashback, no fee if you are a customer or $39/year

• MBNA Rewards World Elite MasterCard: 2% cashback, $89 annual fee, 1st year free and $100 for signing up

• BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard: 1.75% cashback, $120 annual fee, 1st year free

• PC Financial World Elite MasterCard: 3% back at Loblaw/Shoppers/T&T/No Frills/Superstore, 1% everything else, with all the World Elite MasterCard benefits, NO ANNUAL FEE

• Tangerine MasterCard: 2% back on categories of your choosing, 1% everything else, NO ANNUAL FEE

Something else to consider, Amex needs to up their cash back to at least 1.75% after the promo period to be in the game.

 

[skinned66]

Apple think they can just walk into the financial word and demand high fees from our banks. I'll stick with PayPass thanks. Fix your rates or you're not welcome here apple.

I'm not up to speed on what the fees demands are but it's a fair point about PayPass...it's really not that hard of work here to tap my bank or credit cards which works just about everywhere - I don't even have to take them out of my Radix One wallet, they just sandwich the rest of my cards. I'd just be taking one thing out of my pocket for another.

 

[skinned66]

Read this on another site:
"Because American Express has determined that the chip-and-pin (EMV) infrastructure is so secure in Canada, the typical tap-to-pay limit of $100 associated with plastic credit cards has been lifted for Apple Pay users; they can make purchases based on their credit card limit, or in the case of an AMEX Charge Card, merely the amount of the transaction."

Will try this at the Apple Store today.

Well that's definitely a bonus. Looking forward to hearing your results.

 

[drewcosten]

I for one have been waiting eagerly for Apple Pay to finally come to Canada, so I just signed up for an AmEx card. Hopefully it arrives quickly.

Also, here's some good news. Apparently American Express considers Apple Pay to be so secure that they're waiving the usual $100 limit on Apple Pay transactions, or so Rene Ritchie is saying: http://www.imore.com/apple-pay-charges-canada-and-australia

(Edit: Also, I now see that somebody beat me to this news, but I'll leave it in my post since it has a link to the original article.)

 

[SBlue1]

Simply put I literally* do not know of a single place that accepts AmEx. They may exist but I don't ever shop there.

The place only has to accept Tap and Pay. They don't care what account or card it is and don't need to accept AmEx. Tap and Pay is enough.

 

[ptb42]

I have a Wells Fargo card and it doesn't have an NFC logo on it... How did you manage that?

Only certain cards support it. At one point they actually advertised it, but I don't remember if it was a special request to get one.

I just looked at their website, and I don't see any indication that even MY card supports NFC. You MIGHT be able to find a customer service representative that knows what you are talking about and steer you to the right place.

 

[teknikal90]

I prefer to pay some fee to Apple (who reinvests the money in R&D and new technologies) instead of giving the money to the banks. Go APPLE !!!

if you have a pension plan, theres a very very almost certain likelihood that you own shares in these very same banks.
My pension plan > Apple's pound of flesh

I've been trying to be aware of the merchants that accept AMEX as soon as I heard the news.
Every time I pull out my mastercard, I try to look for the AMEX stickers. Unfortunately, here in Vancouver, I find that AMEX is only accepted in big brand stores/restaurants. The pub down the road, the bubble tea shop, the nice sushi place down the road all don't accept it.

Pity really, as the AMEX gold is a very very nice credit card.

 

[teknikal90]

The place only has to accept Tap and Pay. They don't care what account or card it is and don't need to accept AmEx. Tap and Pay is enough.

false.

 

[apoltix]

The place only has to accept Tap and Pay. They don't care what account or card it is and don't need to accept AmEx. Tap and Pay is enough.

I think you're thinking of Tap & Go... which is a MasterCard trademark. The merchant will need to support both "contactless" and Amex to use Apple Pay Amex.

 

[catean]

I just signed up for an AmEx card. Hopefully it arrives quickly.

About 3-4 days. You will be very happy with them. The best customer experience ever in my case.

 

[macnewbie91]

• Rogers Platinum MasterCard: 1.75% cashback, no fee if you are a customer or $39/year

• MBNA Rewards World Elite MasterCard: 2% cashback, $89 annual fee, 1st year free and $100 for signing up

• BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard: 1.75% cashback, $120 annual fee, 1st year free

• PC Financial World Elite MasterCard: 3% back at Loblaw/Shoppers/T&T/No Frills/Superstore, 1% everything else, with all the World Elite MasterCard benefits, NO ANNUAL FEE

• Tangerine MasterCard: 2% back on categories of your choosing, 1% everything else, NO ANNUAL FEE

Something else to consider, Amex needs to up their cash back to at least 1.75% after the promo period to be in the game.

You can't compare World Elite MasterCards to entry level American Express cards.

You can only compare World Elite MasterCards to Amex's Platinum or Gold card ($150 annual fee). Even then, AMEX's gold card gives Canadians 2 points per dollar spent on all gas, grocery store, drug store, and travel purchases. 1x points on all other purchases with a $250 sign up bonus.

You also get hotel room upgrades, a $75 gift card for hotel amenities, 10% discount off of Hertz's prices, a free rental car class upgrade when you rent for five days or more... And other perks.

 

[ptb42]

The place only has to accept Tap and Pay. They don't care what account or card it is and don't need to accept AmEx. Tap and Pay is enough.

I doubt this is true.

Unless Canada has some requirement that every merchant accept American Express, it's the decision of the merchant whether to accept American Express cards.

 

[macnewbie91]

Only certain cards support it. At one point they actually advertised it, but I don't remember if it was a special request to get one.

I just looked at their website, and I don't see any indication that even MY card supports NFC. You MIGHT be able to find a customer service representative that knows what you are talking about and steer you to the right place.

Yeah, but which one of your cards from Wells Fargo has NFC?

 

[timborama]

Hopefully this move will but tremendous pressure on the greedy Canadian banks. ( I'm looking at you BMO) Once the banks realize that ppl now have a choice they will have to cave in

I think you have your facts wrong my friend! It is Apple that is greedy. Why should the banks pay the Apple tax when the banks already have chipped cards. If you think pulling out your phone is easier than pulling out a chipped card, then feel free to pay the 1% fee Apple charges the banks for Apple Pay. I for one am glad the banks in Canada aren't giving in.

 

[ptb42]

Yeah, but which one of your cards from Wells Fargo has NFC?

It's just a "Platinum VISA". I get "reward points", which I exchange for 1% cash back automatically when it hits $25.00.

I've had this account for nearly 20 years. So, I don't know if new accounts are even offered any longer.

 

[newdeal]

I'm sure all of those 150 people with Amex cards and iPhone 6 models will love it.

Tons of people used to have Amex cards in Canada until Costco switched from Amex to MasterCard exclusively and cancelled everyone Costco Amex cards. I fall into that group but I have applied for an Amex card...which is strange because even though I plan on using an Amex card my business still won't be accepting Amex cards because the fees are too high and anyone who has an Amex also has something else for this reason

 

[macnewbie91]

It's just a "Platinum VISA". I get "reward points", which I exchange for 1% cash back automatically when it hits $25.00.

I've had this account for nearly 20 years. So, I don't know if new accounts are even offered any longer.

Ah, so it's their entry level credit card. I don't want that card then, there's much better ones out there.

Wells Fargo has crappy rewards programs unless you have their AMEX Propel 365 card which gives you 3x back at gas stations, 2x back at restaurants, and 1x everywhere else. A straight 1% back card is worthless... At least make it 1.5% back.

 

[drewcosten]

If you think pulling out your phone is easier than pulling out a chipped card, then feel free to pay the 1% fee Apple charges the banks for Apple Pay. I for one am glad the banks in Canada aren't giving in.

It's definitely easier for me (pull iPhone out of pocket, tap, put iPhone back in pocket vs. pull wallet out of pocket, find the right card in wallet, tap, put card back in the right spot in my wallet, put wallet back in pocket). Of course, for me it will be even quicker when my AmEx card arrives and I get Apple Pay all set up because the process will simply be to hold my Apple Watch up to the scanner after double-tapping a button on the side of the Watch.

 

[xero9]

If you think pulling out your phone is easier than pulling out a chipped card, then feel free to pay the 1% fee Apple charges the banks for Apple Pay. I for one am glad the banks in Canada aren't giving in.

Apple is greedy, but not that greedy.. It's not 1%. Word is in the US it's 0.15% (15 cents per 100 dollars). Someone did the math and even if you spend $10,000 annually on your credit card that's still only $15 that bank owes.

 

[thedeejay]

• Rogers Platinum MasterCard: 1.75% cashback, no fee if you are a customer or $39/year

• MBNA Rewards World Elite MasterCard: 2% cashback, $89 annual fee, 1st year free and $100 for signing up

• BMO Cashback World Elite MasterCard: 1.75% cashback, $120 annual fee, 1st year free

• PC Financial World Elite MasterCard: 3% back at Loblaw/Shoppers/T&T/No Frills/Superstore, 1% everything else, with all the World Elite MasterCard benefits, NO ANNUAL FEE

• Tangerine MasterCard: 2% back on categories of your choosing, 1% everything else, NO ANNUAL FEE

Something else to consider, Amex needs to up their cash back to at least 1.75% after the promo period to be in the game.

You can't compare World Elite MasterCards to entry level American Express cards.

You can only compare World Elite MasterCards to Amex's Platinum or Gold card ($150 annual fee). Even then, AMEX's gold card gives Canadians 2 points per dollar spent on all gas, grocery store, drug store, and travel purchases. 1x points on all other purchases with a $250 sign up bonus.

You also get hotel room upgrades, a $75 gift card for hotel amenities, 10% discount off of Hertz's prices, a free rental car class upgrade when you rent for five days or more... And other perks.

Not only that but I used to have an Amex a few years ago and their customer service (atleast with me) was excellent, despite me having a basic card without an annual fee. This is just a bonus. Also those cards you listed, as macnewbie91 said are 'higher' end cards. I have:

• BMO WorldElite - great card and benefits
• Amex SimplyCash - no annual fee
• ScotiaBank Momentum Infinite - I use it for gas and groceries as it gives 4% cashback on those

I've got all 3 types of cards and I use the Amex and WorldElite most often. It's a good card, at least for something without an annual fee.

 

[ptb42]

I think you have your facts wrong my friend!

Says the poster who gets almost every one of his "facts" wrong.

It is Apple that is greedy. Why should the banks pay the Apple tax when the banks already have chipped cards.

Apple Pay is not just "chipped cards". It's not even "just NFC". It's the first implementation of an new specification from the EMV consortium that uses tokenization to eliminate the need to exchange the actual account number during an authorization or reconciliation. There are also other additional security features that protect the card holder, the merchant, and the bank -- and all exceed the security features of the chip, alone.

If you think pulling out your phone is easier than pulling out a chipped card, then feel free to pay the 1% fee Apple charges the banks for Apple Pay.

In the US, Apple's fee is reportedly 15 cents per $100. This has been posted multiple times in this thread. If implemented properly, the EMV tokenization eliminates an entire class of credit card fraud and will likely be a net gain for the bank.

But in any event, the fee is paid by the bank. It's not paid directly by the cardholder, although if it eventually becomes an additional net cost increase for the bank, it will be paid by all of the bank's customers and shareholders.