Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

Apple watch and apple pay in the UK

D

drpellypo

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Nov 19, 2007
542
28
Northumberland, UK
So two of my debit cards were automatically renewed this week and they are, by default, contactless. That takes the count of my debit and credit cards that are contactless to 4, leaving only 1 that's standard chip and pin. I think it's safe to say that soon, every debit and credit card issued in the UK is going to be contactless.

Which leads me to thinking, how well is Apple pay, peddled through the Apple watch, going to take off in the UK? Because in actual fact it's *easier* to use a debit or credit card, than it is to use your iPhone or Apple Watch, to pay for things. Both the aforementioned require button presses. The debit card solution doesn't. In fact, I don't even need to take the card out of my wallet if it's at the front.

I appreciate that in the states they still use the system we used last decade, signing receipts and the like, so Apple pay is a big time saver for them, but not at all for us, so much so that I wonder if it's going to flop completely?
 
I don't know about the contactless systems on your debit cards, but what kind of security do they have? Same as chip and pin? Better? Because to me, the big draw of Apple Pay was the security element, not the convenience factor.
 
The watch is on your wrist, a double tap and its ready to present to the terminal. I think it'd take longer to get my wallet out of my pocket.

Plus, I don't even need to have my card on me! Or my phone! Quick trip to the shop and I don't need to think about grabbing everything. The watch IS your card (for purchases below £20)
 
Battletron said:
Plus, I don't even need to have my card on me! Or my phone! Quick trip to the shop and I don't need to think about grabbing everything. The watch IS your card (for purchases below £20)
Click to expand...

I'd wait until Apple Pay is actually introduced to the UK before trying that or you'll need another quick trip back home to grab your cards. ;)
 
OllyW said:
I'd wait until Apple Pay is actually introduced to the UK before trying that or you'll need another quick trip back home to grab your cards. ;)
Click to expand...

This is correct, Apple haven't made an announcement about Apple Pay in the UK yet. I'd guess we won't see anything until next year at this rate.
 
Almost all of my debit and credit cards here in the US have had contactless payment for the last 6 years. Don't get to use it very often since most merchants have been slow to adopt the contactless system. Almost all of my debit and credit cards were recently updated to chip/pin in the last 5 months, but now we have to wait for merchants to adopt the chip/pin system.

Using Apple Pay on my watch is definitely convenient, but it's also faster than getting my wallet out of my pocket.
 
drpellypo said:
So two of my debit cards were automatically renewed this week and they are, by default, contactless. That takes the count of my debit and credit cards that are contactless to 4, leaving only 1 that's standard chip and pin. I think it's safe to say that soon, every debit and credit card issued in the UK is going to be contactless.

Which leads me to thinking, how well is Apple pay, peddled through the Apple watch, going to take off in the UK? Because in actual fact it's *easier* to use a debit or credit card, than it is to use your iPhone or Apple Watch, to pay for things. Both the aforementioned require button presses. The debit card solution doesn't. In fact, I don't even need to take the card out of my wallet if it's at the front.

I appreciate that in the states they still use the system we used last decade, signing receipts and the like, so Apple pay is a big time saver for them, but not at all for us, so much so that I wonder if it's going to flop completely?
Click to expand...

I don't understand how taking your wallet out of your pocket is easier that pressing a button on the side of your watch? I also think that the idea of just tapping your wallet on a contactless reader and hoping the right card gets charged because it is "at the front" is an enormous gamble - I've never heard of anyone doing that before and I don't think it is realistic. In reality you are comparing pressing the button on your watch, selecting the right card and rotating your wrist with taking your wallet out of your pocket, removing the right card, tapping, putting card back in wallet, putting wallet back in pocket.
 
It is true that there are a lot more places that support contactless payment in the UK with the contactless cards that are also becoming more wide spread.

However, I still think Apple Pay will have its benefits here. Wallets are a fiddly thing, and I know that getting my iPhone out (or pressing a button on the Apple Watch) then swiping to select my payment card will be a lot easier than having to weave my wallet out of my pocket, open it, find the card, remove it, put it back, put the wallet back... etc

Also, while it's true that contactless cards work without having to be removed from wallets, if you have any more than one, you run the risk of a card clash, which could cause the wrong card to be charged. This is a big problem if you budget your accounts.

Then there's he fact you don't need the card on you to do the transaction with Apple Pay, meaning you can't get your wallet stolen with 4 cards that can do £20 transactions each... a tidy profit for a thief.
 
As an American living in the U.K., I use Apple Pay all the time with my American credit cards. It's nice that most places here accept contactless!
 
One advantage ApplePay has it that (as far as I know) they are no drastic restrictions on the amount you can pay without entering your PIN. Whereas most contactless cards would have a restriction of something between 10-30 euros per payment/day depending on the bank (and will require the usual chip and PIN method for higher amounts). It is also safer than contactless cards in the way that your credit card number is not required to approve the transaction (but to date this is a theoretical argument as there hasn't been massive fraud reported with contactless cards due to this point).

But yes, I have also been using chip and PIN cards for almost 30 years (since I got my first cash withdrawal card as a child) so I think the security argument is a stronger selling point in the US and other countries where chip and PIN adoption has been very slow - which is probably why US banks have been much more enthusiastic about ApplePay than European ones.

As far as I am concerned I think ApplePay will be nice to have but my contactless cards already are a quick and easy way to pay so I am not really dying to have it. What would be nice is if it could push more business to replace their payment terminals with contactless ones (here in Ireland it still is a hit and miss).
 
Apple watch and apple pay in the UK

jwball said:
This is correct, Apple haven't made an announcement about Apple Pay in the UK yet. I'd guess we won't see anything until next year at this rate.
Click to expand...


We won't see anything for a number of years. iTunes Radio hasn't even launched in the UK yet lol
 
drpellypo said:
So two of my debit cards were automatically renewed this week and they are, by default, contactless. That takes the count of my debit and credit cards that are contactless to 4, leaving only 1 that's standard chip and pin. I think it's safe to say that soon, every debit and credit card issued in the UK is going to be contactless.

Which leads me to thinking, how well is Apple pay, peddled through the Apple watch, going to take off in the UK? Because in actual fact it's *easier* to use a debit or credit card, than it is to use your iPhone or Apple Watch, to pay for things. Both the aforementioned require button presses. The debit card solution doesn't. In fact, I don't even need to take the card out of my wallet if it's at the front.

I appreciate that in the states they still use the system we used last decade, signing receipts and the like, so Apple pay is a big time saver for them, but not at all for us, so much so that I wonder if it's going to flop completely?
Click to expand...

The fact that you can spend above £20 using Apple Pay, contactless. That's the end game for the UK.

When it comes out.
 
Apple Pay will be here long before Radio, there's too much to organise and agree with the music Chiefs on what percent to charge for airtime

Apple pay on the other hand is a service which doesn't cost the consumer anything so will be far more easier to introduce in the UK
 
Last edited:
Unfortunately the reason we won't see applepay anytime soon in the UK is that as has already been said contactless is well established here. The banks don't want or need to give up a cut to Apple. Completely different scenario to the U.S.
 
This fall, Apple Pay will launch in Canada where the cards and, importantly, merchant terminals, are ready for it.

It will be a good test of consumer acceptance/adoption.

Lambo The Jambo said:
...as has already been said contactless is well established here. The banks don't want or need to give up a cut to Apple. Completely different scenario to the U.S.
Click to expand...

It's also well established in Canada. Nevertheless, it appears that Apple and the banks are settling their differences.
 
Last edited:
I will use it a lot. Especialy when grabbing a coffe for a round of drink, no need to get wallet and card out... just use my watch!

I think it will be the most significant feature of the watch for me.
 
DannyBres said:
Especialy when grabbing a coffe for a round of drink, no need to get wallet and card out... just use my watch!
Click to expand...

I am not sure how it is implemented and how laggy or not the software could be, but if you have several debit/credit cards registered with ApplePay, how much faster will it really be to start it up on the Watch and chose your card compared to grabbing the physical card from your wallet? (assuming the wallet is tidy and not overcrowded :)).

I pay for my lunch at the canteen using contactless everyday and the action of getting my card from my wallet in my trousers takes me less than 2 seconds. What actually takes more time is the terminal getting approval from the bank and the cashier printing the receipts (which I assume would be the same with ApplePay?).
 
bob24 said:
(assuming the wallet is tidy and not overcrowded :)).
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I've seen many of those in the wild.

I foresee not even bothering to take my credit card with me day to day, leaving it home where, among other things, it won't get lost/mislaid/pickpocketed, etc. Not being fanciful. I lost my wallet just last week.

Don't underestimate the attraction of streamlining. As a Canadian, used to chip and pin but resident much of the year in New York, I can't tell you how annoying it is to have to sign every time I do a credit card transaction. Yet it only takes a few seconds.

The Watch will simplify transactions, enhance security (as you pointed out in an earlier post) and, I hope, make carrying a credit card unnecessary, at least most of the time. I'd like to get rid of a wallet completely, and I think it's coming.
 
Last edited:
Day to day I don't carry any credit cards so apple pay for me would be very useful and welcomed.
 
bob24 said:
I am not sure how it is implemented and how laggy or not the software could be, but if you have several debit/credit cards registered with ApplePay, how much faster will it really be to start it up on the Watch and chose your card compared to grabbing the physical card from your wallet? (assuming the wallet is tidy and not overcrowded :)).

I pay for my lunch at the canteen using contactless everyday and the action of getting my card from my wallet in my trousers takes me less than 2 seconds. What actually takes more time is the terminal getting approval from the bank and the cashier printing the receipts (which I assume would be the same with ApplePay?).
Click to expand...

Implementation is double press the contact button to use Apple Pay. cards are stored locally, so will load as fast as the excercise or workout apps...
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back