CVS Stores Reportedly Disabling NFC to Shut Down Apple Pay and Google Wallet

[ptb42]

Are retailers taking the risk? Or are they going to push it onto the customer. Will CurrentC users find that they are responsible for any fraudulent use of their account?

CurrentC payments will be through the ACH system: you provide your bank's routing number and checking account number, and authorize either MCX or the merchant to withdraw from your checking account.

Someone posted the rules about fraudulent ACH transactions: in the end, the consumer has very little protection. The only guarantees are made by the merchant, and it's up to you to decide if you believe them.

 

[Black Belt]

This was my email to CVS

I am appalled at your move to actively decline cardholders from using the secure Apple Pay in lieu of your own untrustworthy app. I believe in choice as a consumer and your actions are unacceptable and I will no longer be patronizing your establishments. The Apple community is following suit. We are also contacting ViSA, Mastercard and American Express, all of whom endorse Apple Pay as a secure way to make payments, to investigate your refusal to accept cardholder's payments and if needed, rescind your ability to accept those cards.

 

[Keirasplace]

Correct. This is why Apple Pay is so poorly received by businesses, especially small businesses. Apple Pay is a handout to major credit card companies because it locks in their ridiculous fees and hurts businesses.

Sorry, I am on the side of small business over Apple and their 30% cut any day.

Huh, 30%, are you on some drugs? Its o.15% and the marchant sees no difference. If the small business are so oppressed, then can go back to taking cash, nothing is stopping them at all. Credit card companies should just start pulling their terminals from retailers and let them fend for themselves a while. When they're hacked and you banking and credit card info is leeked, then they could come crawling back.

BTW, the people involved in MCX are not small merchants at all so its again one big HUH!

 

[Joebarchuck]

I actually switched to Walgreens today from being a CVS customer for over a decade but if I go to another merchant that refuses Apple Pay if they have NFC capabilities, I will leave all merchandise there and go somewhere else. If we start a movement of people doing this, they will back down from their non-secure, stupid CurrentC solution which takes money out of your checking account... What the hell, don't they understand people DO NOT want money taken out of their checking account. There is no way this system will work unless they accept credit cards and even though they will be too late and too third party for the majority of people to adopt the system.

So I went to CVS after I read this. I loaded up my shopping cart to the max from accessories from all around the store, then I went to check out with my iPhone using Apple Pay. They said they just turned off their NFC terminals and I wouldn't be able to pay.

So I said "Well, I only have my phone with me, I guess I will get all this stuff at Walgreens instead"...... So I just left and went to Walgreens.

I hope they think long and hard about the inconvenience this has caused when they are restocking all of their shelves with the items in my cart.

 

[flyinmac]

That's funny because what I see them saying is they want to reduce risk, not save time.

Oh, you mean the mindless double talk? We'll argue this side, then switch and argue the other side when the first side didn't work, oh, wait let me switch back to the other argument again, oh, still not working, let me switch back... whichever... Either way, it's all just mindless temper tantrums because someone dared defy your almighty god of the cash pile.

 

[farmkittie]

So I went to CVS after I read this. I loaded up my shopping cart to the max from accessories from all around the store, then I went to check out with my iPhone using Apple Pay. They said they just turned off their NFC terminals and I wouldn't be able to pay.

So I said "Well, I only have my phone with me, I guess I will get all this stuff at Walgreens instead"...... So I just left and went to Walgreens.

I hope they think long and hard about the inconvenience this has caused when they are restocking all of their shelves with the items in my cart.

I'm afraid it's probably just punishing the staff who have to put everything back. Also might make for bad image of Apple Pay customers. Maybe if someone bought a few items that they normally would buy and say, "oops, I'm sorry I just have my iPhone with me today". In reality I just ask now beforehand.

So far, no cashier had heard of Apple Pay. I can't wait until I find one who knows what it is and what I'm trying to do to pay.

 

[BPMCH02]

Apple should ban the Curren C app from the App Store snd that would fix this issue really quick...

 

[Joebarchuck]

That the clerk has no say is not the issue and if it happens three times, four times, 10 times a day, he will report it to his manager which will report it to corporate and then they might reconsider, we cannot let these merchants do this. The CurrentC solution is awful and needs to be stopped asap.

Except that the store employees have no say over whether or not they can turn on the NFC terminals. I guarantee you that anybody who could actually make such a decision will never know you did that. So what did you really accomplish?

When it comes down to it, you're doing more harm than good. On a smaller scale, that includes this thread. You've given ammo to the seething Apple haters that are just dying to spin this whole NFC thing into something that makes Apple look bad. And really, if what you're doing becomes commonplace, who can blame them?

 

[\-V-/]

Oh, you mean the mindless double talk? We'll argue this side, then switch and argue the other side when the first side didn't work, oh, wait let me switch back to the other argument again, oh, still not working, let me switch back... whichever... Either way, it's all just mindless temper tantrums because someone dared defy your almighty god of the cash pile.

Or because it reduces risk.

 

[clickerman]

So you'll choose to believe the banks will pass the fee along, even though you haven't seen it happen?

I am in china right now sourcing new product ( canton fair in guangzhou) , so I don't have the opportunity to check my merchant credit card statement. Over the long term , though I don't see how the banks will accept new charges without passing them along to the merchant

 

[\-V-/]

I am in china right now sourcing new product ( canton fair in guangzhou) , so I don't have the opportunity to check my merchant credit card. Over the long term ,though I don't see how the banks will accept new charges without passing them along to the merchant

There is zero difference in fees for the merchant between Pay and swiping a card.

 

[Black Belt]

Store have proven time and again to be ridiculously bad at securing customer information, they simply can't be trusted. Now these clowns want direct access to my bank account? Screw that! There are FAR less legal protections for fraudulent debit transactions.

 

[oddnendz]

Correct. This is why Apple Pay is so poorly received by businesses, especially small businesses. Apple Pay is a handout to major credit card companies because it locks in their ridiculous fees and hurts businesses.

Sorry, I am on the side of small business over Apple and their 30% cut any day.

smh, whatever, if you can't be bothered to read the thread and realize that Apple is not asking of 30% from brick and mortar business ..... go ahead go use CurrentC....

 

[Terrin]

The solution is simple. Apple and Google should just not allow apps from these merchants on their App Stores UNLESS Apple and Google pay systems are allowed at the stores.

 

[\-V-/]

smh, whatever, if you can't be bothered to read the thread and realize that Apple is not asking of 30% from brick and mortar business ..... go ahead go use CurrentC....

He's mistaking what Apple charges developers to put their app(s) in the App Store for Pay.

 

[flyinmac]

I actually switched to Walgreens today from being a CVS customer for over a decade but if I go to another merchant that refuses Apple Pay if they have NFC capabilities, I will leave all merchandise there and go somewhere else. If we start a movement of people doing this, they will back down from their non-secure, stupid CurrentC solution which takes money out of your checking account... What the hell, don't they understand people DO NOT want money taken out of their checking account. There is no way this system will work unless they accept credit cards and even though they will be too late and too third party for the majority of people to adopt the system.

And like your strategy will be effective. Retailers aren't stupid... They'll fix your cart stuffing movement with extreme swiftness.

Hey, anyone remember cart racks where you had to "rent" your cart? yeah, good luck getting out of the store without it costing you if you fail to return the cart. Oh, wait, the cart won't go back into the rack full of groceries... hmm... who's restocking their own groceries now? Oh, dump it in the isle in protest... Security to isle 3... you see, you start some stupid national movement of cart stuffing, and you'll only find it costing you more time and money and possible legal fees and citations for your stupidity.

Oh, and don't forget, you are a trespasser on their property unless you are intending to purchase. They do have ways to keep you out, or penalize you for making a scene. One local retailer had the police show up and arrest someone for throwing a hissy fit. Funny, apparently he didn't consider that out local police station sits right in the core surrounded by all the stores, they were there before the guy made it out the door.

 

[\-V-/]

And like your strategy will be effective. Retailers aren't stupid... They'll fix your cart stuffing movement with extreme swiftness.

Hey, anyone remember cart racks where you had to "rent" your cart? yeah, good luck getting out of the store without it costing you if you fail to return the cart. Oh, wait, the cart won't go back into the rack full of groceries... hmm... who's restocking their own groceries now? Oh, dump it in the isle in protest... Security to isle 3... you see, you start some stupid national movement of cart stuffing, and you'll only find it costing you more time and money and possible legal fees and citations for your stupidity.

Oh, and don't forget, you are a trespasser on their property unless you are intending to purchase. They do have ways to keep you out, or penalize you for making a scene. One local retailer had the police show up and arrest someone for throwing a hissy fit. Funny, apparently he didn't consider that out local police station sits right in the core surrounded by all the stores, they were there before the guy made it out the door.

Sounds like you need to take a chill pill ... or smoke a doobie.

 

[mantan]

The solution is simple. Apple and Google should just not allow apps from these merchants on their App Stores UNLESS Apple and Google pay systems are allowed at the stores.

Or do they negotiate a piece of the pie. If push comes to shove, is Apple's interest your privacy or getting a check?

Given the potential risks of CurrentC and fallout if a breech happens that Apple would stay clear of it. But they absolutely love money so....

 

[oddnendz]

He's mistaking what Apple charges developers to put their app(s) in the App Store for Pay.

I know. Hence "brick and mortar business"

 

[GrimmsGirl]

Damn you CVS. I'm stuck with CVS because my company only provides prescription discounts through CVS Caremark..kinda locked in until my company moves to an new provider like Walgreens.

I would double check that assumption. My company also offers discounts through CVS Caremark, which is honored at just about every pharmacy in my town from CVS, the local grocery stores, RiteAid, Walmart all the way to Walgreens. Which is where I just switched all my prescriptions to.

It's not that CVS doesn't accept Apple Pay. It's that CVS deliberately turned off NFC after (apparently) they saw a trend developing. I prefer the movement towards secure and anonymous payments, rather than even more tracking of my spending habits and the storage of my personal information in some "uber secure triple encrypted" cloud. I am perfectly capable of finding my own coupons and deals, I don't want to be or need to be "targeted" based on my previous purchases. I will even spend a few pennies more to regain and retain some privacy. To each their own, I guess.

 

[flat five]

Oh, you mean the mindless double talk? We'll argue this side, then switch and argue the other side when the first side didn't work, oh, wait let me switch back to the other argument again, oh, still not working, let me switch back... whichever... Either way, it's all just mindless temper tantrums because someone dared defy your almighty god of the cash pile.

lol you're the one having the temper tantrums.. you don't see that?#

 

[\-V-/]

lol you're the one having the temper tantrums.. you don't see that?#

 

[terraphantm]

Maybe the retail stores are disabling apple pay because they don't want to pay an additional processing fee to apple. If this is the case and I support cvs and the rest of the stores

The retailers pay no fee to Apple. Only banks pay

 

[ProfessorHenry]

Oh and by the way. I went to an apple store today and bought a new iPad air 2. Tried to pay with Apple Pay (I mean i am at an Apple store, right?) and the guy say of course they accept Apple Pay. 60 seconds later he admits he has no idea how to do it and I end up paying with plastic.

Wait, you didn't throw a tantrum and just paid with plastic? What a wuss!

 

[flyinmac]

Or because it reduces risk.

Yes, I noticed the switch in arguments...

And, no one has proven that it reduces risk... we haven't even seen this thing in the wild for a week yet. Nobody had hacked into credit cards on day 4 or 5 yet either.

You know, storing credit cards / access to credit cards in a wireless phone, and transmitting those transactions wirelessly... yeah I don't think so. My phone holds no financial information... likewise, I don't store it on my computer.

Every year, someone makes some promise about new security measures, it never pans out. Like everything that has come before it, Apple uses a bunch of words and theories that the public buys into. Sounds great as it passes through your ears. But, it's only a matter of time before it proves to be as susceptible as anything else. And, probably more so.

Don't store information in your phone, don't store it on your computer. Those are the easiest ways to give away access to those who care to spend enough time to find a way in.