I subscribed to the Wall Street Journal for 12 months using their introductory offer, and paid with Apple Pay on their website (cool!).
After 3 months I received the email:
"The payment for your WSJ membership has been declined by Apple Pay."
My credit card had not changed so I called WSJ customer service. They responded that I should call Apple, that it was their issue. But first I called my bank. They saw that the transaction had been declined, but could not give me a reason for the rejection. I then called Apple, who told me that it was not an Apple issue. That the WSJ had to re-bill the subscription. Here's why.
When you set up a credit card in your wallet a virtual credit card number is created. [You can find the last 4 digits of this number by going into Settings/Wallet & Apple Pay and select the appropriate card. You will see the last 4 digits of the credit card number in the Device Account Number]. When using Apple Pay you aren't charging your credit card number, you are charging the virtual credit card number. In addition the virtual credit card number is tied both to your credit card and your phone. If you change your phone, you are prompted to re-enable the credit card in your wallet. When you do that you get a new, different, virtual credit card number. Checking my WSJ bill I saw that the last 4 digits of the rejected charge were different that those as shown in Settings/Wallet & Apple Pay for my card on my phone.
So that is what happened, I got a new phone, the virtual credit card number changed, and the WSJ charge to the old virtual credit card number generated by the old phone was rejected.
As it turns out the WSJ site had no options for changing the credit card number. I called customer service again, they again told me that I had to contact Apple. I told them why it was their issue. They said "wait a moment", and I was then disconnected.
My conclusions after all of this:
1. Apple Pay via credit or debit card has nothing to do with Apple once the virtual card number is generated. If problems occur it is up to the billing vendor or your bank to resolve them, using the correct virtual card number.
2. Paying with Apple Pay on websites can be problematic if issues occur. As a new technology websites even as sophisticated as the WSJ do not fully understand how to handle problems.
Apple is, however, involved if it is an issue with Apple Pay Cash.
If you see on your credit card/bank statement the payee is:
Apple pay - then this is the virtual credit/debit card - Apple not involved
Apple Pay Cash - then if you text messaged cash, then Apple is involved
iTunes, App Store - Apple is involved. Contact iTunes/App store support.
After 3 months I received the email:
"The payment for your WSJ membership has been declined by Apple Pay."
My credit card had not changed so I called WSJ customer service. They responded that I should call Apple, that it was their issue. But first I called my bank. They saw that the transaction had been declined, but could not give me a reason for the rejection. I then called Apple, who told me that it was not an Apple issue. That the WSJ had to re-bill the subscription. Here's why.
When you set up a credit card in your wallet a virtual credit card number is created. [You can find the last 4 digits of this number by going into Settings/Wallet & Apple Pay and select the appropriate card. You will see the last 4 digits of the credit card number in the Device Account Number]. When using Apple Pay you aren't charging your credit card number, you are charging the virtual credit card number. In addition the virtual credit card number is tied both to your credit card and your phone. If you change your phone, you are prompted to re-enable the credit card in your wallet. When you do that you get a new, different, virtual credit card number. Checking my WSJ bill I saw that the last 4 digits of the rejected charge were different that those as shown in Settings/Wallet & Apple Pay for my card on my phone.
So that is what happened, I got a new phone, the virtual credit card number changed, and the WSJ charge to the old virtual credit card number generated by the old phone was rejected.
As it turns out the WSJ site had no options for changing the credit card number. I called customer service again, they again told me that I had to contact Apple. I told them why it was their issue. They said "wait a moment", and I was then disconnected.
My conclusions after all of this:
1. Apple Pay via credit or debit card has nothing to do with Apple once the virtual card number is generated. If problems occur it is up to the billing vendor or your bank to resolve them, using the correct virtual card number.
2. Paying with Apple Pay on websites can be problematic if issues occur. As a new technology websites even as sophisticated as the WSJ do not fully understand how to handle problems.
Apple is, however, involved if it is an issue with Apple Pay Cash.
If you see on your credit card/bank statement the payee is:
Apple pay - then this is the virtual credit/debit card - Apple not involved
Apple Pay Cash - then if you text messaged cash, then Apple is involved
iTunes, App Store - Apple is involved. Contact iTunes/App store support.
