MasterCard Offers Apple Pay Users Free Public Transit in London Starting Today

[iliria]

I've come to expect huge numbers of negative and apple bashing posts for any given article. But I saw this article and wondered how anyone could possibly have anything negative to say about it. I was wrong.

Of course you will do. You'd be naive to think otherwise. We are not sheep. So for everything that Apple does there will be those that like it and those that dislike it. Just like anything else.

As for this current promotion I for one won't fall for it. I don't particularly fancy Apple having a record of my bank and credit cards. There has to be a reason why Apple Pay is being so heavily promoted. After all there has to be a benefit in it for both Apple and Mastercard. No business (especially Apple) does anything for free nowadays.

And if in the future Apple Pay intends to go the same way as Paypal (i.e. the system can be used for purchases of any amount) then there is a risk in UK that people would lose the section 75 protection.

I can understand using Apple Wallet for storing store loyalty cards since there's so many of them but why one would need to use Apple Pay beats me. Slimming down the wallet? - surely not, most people dont walk about with more than 3 or 4 bank or credit cards in their wallets. Plus I would bet that most of the people that use Apple Pay still carry those same cards in their wallet anyway. Speed and convenience? - surely not, contactless pay is everywhere and just as easy to use.

I have yet to be shown the purposefulness of ApplePay...

 

[Dunkrag]

I can't imagine how slow this would be with people having to authenticate their payment in a busy turnstile environment. Not a good use case for Apple Pay.

You can't have used it..
Paid for the tube today on the watch and it was just as quick as using oyster..

 

[Farsider]

Of course you will do. You'd be naive to think otherwise. We are not sheep. So for everything that Apple does there will be those that like it and those that dislike it. Just like anything else.

As for this current promotion I for one won't fall for it. I don't particularly fancy Apple having a record of my bank and credit cards. There has to be a reason why Apple Pay is being so heavily promoted. After all there has to be a benefit in it for both Apple and Mastercard. No business (especially Apple) does anything for free nowadays.

And if in the future Apple Pay intends to go the same way as Paypal (i.e. the system can be used for purchases of any amount) then there is a risk in UK that people would lose the section 75 protection.

I can understand using Apple Wallet for storing store loyalty cards since there's so many of them but why one would need to use Apple Pay beats me. Slimming down the wallet? - surely not, most people dont walk about with more than 3 or 4 bank or credit cards in their wallets. Plus I would bet that most of the people that use Apple Pay still carry those same cards in their wallet anyway. Speed and convenience? - surely not, contactless pay is everywhere and just as easy to use.

I have yet to be shown the purposefulness of ApplePay...

My understanding is with ApplePay, your card is stored securely on your phone. It's not stored with Apple. That said, I would imagine you have an iTunes account with a credit / debit card attached to it so it's a moot point really.

 

[iliria]

My understanding is with ApplePay, your card is stored securely on your phone. It's not stored with Apple. That said, I would imagine you have an iTunes account with a credit / debit card attached to it so it's a moot point really.

Fair enough, Apple doesn't get hold of the card details. However as far as secure on your phone is concerned that reminds me of the fact that when it comes to electronic storage once you place the information there it never leaves the drive. Having iTunes with ONE credit card attached is not the same as having details of ALL my cards in one place.

However my most important question remains the purposefulness of the Apple Pay system...

 

[Farsider]

However my most important question remains the purposefulness of the Apple Pay system...

People probably said the same thing about credit cards when we were a cash only society.

I think it's just progress.

Convenience aside, the biggest benefit that I see is your credit card details are never transmitted or given to the retailer so fraud is hypothetically reduced.

 

[rdlink]

No wonder us Londoners get a bad rep. No need for that.

If it makes you feel any better I find most Londoners to be quite nice, if not a tad passive-agressive. And it's a lovely city, in spite of the occasional wanker...

 

[rdlink]

Might have been a bit harsh but the essence is still true: when in London, do what other Londoners do and how they do it. If I was to live out in the sticks and then go to New York, I may find the way they go about their daily life a bit peculiar, but I would go with the flow and try to blend in, not chastise them for expecting me to behave in a particular manner. When in Rome, do as Romans do.

That's awfully strong language from a resident of a city that derives almost 10% of its gross annual income from tourism, and in which the tourism sector accounts for 13% of the jobs.

Hope you didn't put that little diatribe on your application for London city ambassador... ;-)

 

[iliria]

I think it's just progress.

Convenience aside, the biggest benefit that I see is your credit card details are never transmitted or given to the retailer so fraud is hypothetically reduced.

With Contactless you never give your card details to the retailers either so that has already reduced that risk anyway.

Is it just progress? Or are we just ingesting whatever Apple throws at us blindly?

 

[Farsider]

With Contactless you never give your card details to the retailers either so that has already reduced that risk anyway.

I'm afraid you are giving your card details over when you use your contactless card. Look at your receipt......and you type in your card details when you pay online too.

You don't hand them over with ApplePay in either situation.

 

[Recognition]

I use contactless and ApplePay in about equal amounts for my daily six-transaction commute and no longer use Oyster at all. It is slower than Oyster. By less than a tenth of a second as far as I can gauge it. Do you really think this will have a significant impact on the queues to get through turnstiles?

What really makes an impact on the queues at gates is when somebody has insufficient balance on their Oyster card, the dreaded red 'seek assistance' pops up on the display, the person tries again, and again, then backs out of the gates, forcing everyone behind to take a step backward, and then traverses the gates, to find an attendant.
I hate those people! Just check your balance before you risk it if you're unsure!

 

[IvanX]

That's awfully strong language from a resident of a city that derives almost 10% of its gross annual income from tourism, and in which the tourism sector accounts for 13% of the jobs.

Hope you didn't put that little diatribe on your application for London city ambassador... ;-)

If you are going to mention figures, I would appreciate if you could you please include citations to support those numbers.

I acknowledged that it is strong language, but it does not mean that it is wrong. I have often been told that I say things that other people think but do not have the courage to speak of. I am not against tourism but tourists are guests and it is normal to expect them to conform to standards of behaviour expected of locals. And they should do their research beforehand, so not to be surprised/offended/etc. While no one would bat an eye lid if I was to speak in audible voice on a train in the UK about something I saw on TV last night, doing so in Japan is very bad mannered, so I would not dream of it.

 

[rdlink]

If you are going to mention figures, I would appreciate if you could you please include citations to support those numbers.

I acknowledged that it is strong language, but it does not mean that it is wrong. I have often been told that I say things that other people think but do not have the courage to speak of. I am not against tourism but tourists are guests and it is normal to expect them to conform to standards of behaviour expected of locals. And they should do their research beforehand, so not to be surprised/offended/etc. While no one would bat an eye lid if I was to speak in audible voice on a train in the UK about something I saw on TV last night, doing so in Japan is very bad mannered, so I would not dream of it.

Actually, it's rude, to be frank. People are humans, not robots. If someone takes an extra half second to get through the turnstile it's not something to get your knickers in a twist about, whether they're a tourist or a resident. If I was going through the turnstile and you were rude to me for taking a half second longer than you thought I should you'd be pretty butt hurt after I got finished giving you a very public dressing down.

Here's your citation: http://www.uncsbrp.org/tourism.htm

 

[iGeek2014]

Well that's disheartening. I've always enjoyed visiting London, been a tourist there about four times. Sad to know my presence is so unwanted!

Next time the chance arises for you to visit you'll be greatly welcomed by those of us who appreciate your presence!

I don't work in London but I do work in Retail and it's always wonderful to meet people from various parts of the World.

(And if it's any consolation I always 'rush' through the London Underground and end up taking one step forward and ten steps back!)

 

[gforce78]

If you are going to mention figures, I would appreciate if you could you please include citations to support those numbers.

Dude, it's a forum for people to express their opinions and make comments, not an academic paper, I don't think we need to start providing citations for every reference and statistic, just take everything you read with a grain of salt.

 

[digger10]

If you are going to mention figures, I would appreciate if you could you please include citations to support those numbers.

I acknowledged that it is strong language, but it does not mean that it is wrong. I have often been told that I say things that other people think but do not have the courage to speak of. I am not against tourism but tourists are guests and it is normal to expect them to conform to standards of behaviour expected of locals. And they should do their research beforehand, so not to be surprised/offended/etc. While no one would bat an eye lid if I was to speak in audible voice on a train in the UK about something I saw on TV last night, doing so in Japan is very bad mannered, so I would not dream of it.

Relax mate, I often can't be bothered to look for my Oyster and use a contactless card if I've one to hand. Say I've just bought a coffee on the way in. Caught myself doing a little hitch-step to account for the latency before the barrier opens. You barely break stride.

I can't imagine your blood-pressure when standing behind a tourist trying to pay for something with a magnetic swipe credit/debit card and you just know the young looking shop assistant is not quite sure how it process it.

 

[JimmyHook]

Free??? Let's bash Apple and call it a gimmick!

- MacRumors

PS: this blog is the single largest failure of an apple fan site ever. Seriously. Ban the trolls

 

[jimthing]

Yep, Londoners at commute time certainly are very much ******s, likely explained by the cost of living and often the long hours earning enough to survive exorbitant rent/flat prices, and/or long time-consuming packed commutes. Seeing some of the daily dead faces, asleep-dropped heads, etc., tells you something about city life for many – likely same in most big cities, actually.
I was a little shocked the other day to read that 25% of Londoners are still officially statistically defined as in poverty, by Western standards. That's 1 in 4 people you see around you at any one time on the street.

"A whole extra second at the gate, pfft – what the hell do you think you're doing mate, taking my precious time up!" /s

 

[Dunkrag]

With Contactless you never give your card details to the retailers either so that has already reduced that risk anyway.

Is it just progress? Or are we just ingesting whatever Apple throws at us blindly?

You absolutely do hand over your details when using your card even in contactless mode. You don't with Apple Pay.

It stops me fumbling in my wallet for the card each time I want to use it.

Lose your card and someone else could use it for contactless payments until you realise and cancel. You are insured against these transactions of course but still have to go through the ball ache of claiming back. Not sure that is possible with Apple Pay if you lose your phone unless someone also cuts off your finger for the print- not even sure that works..

3 fairly obvious advantages before I've even thought about it over using cards.

 

[Tech198]

kewl...

prepare for increased congestion as everyone leaves their cars at home and all rushes for this free deal.

everyone will be packed in like sardine cans.

 

[tullys]

I could be wrong and no doubt will be corrected but I wouldn't have thought many people would use this free offer as most people, bar tourists, in London on a Monday are residents or daily commuters into the city and are using Oyster or a rail ticket with prepaid zones.

I've been in London twice recently with a paper ticket provided given to me FOC and it has felt quite antiquated and even conspicuous.

Notably the offer ends before the school holidays start of this could turn into a Hoover free flights promotion https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_free_flights_promotion

 

[Qbnkelt]

NFC is not as fast as Oyster when it comes to "from tap to walk through" process.

While I do not have metrics to support my claim, I suspect that most Londoners have at least one contactless card by now. As such, they are probably well aware how it works. But NFC, whether through a contactless debit/credit card or phone is still physically slower than Oyster.

You clearly have no idea how London works, so please stay away. And while people may be saving money, those who don't have a MasterCard and an iDevice aren't.

Not quite the same chip, Oyster cards have RFID and NFC is a subset of the RFID family. Close, but not the same.

At busy stations, during rush hour, when queues for some gates -- not turnstiles -- are half a dozen or so deep, every additional half a second matters. With Oyster, I can keep walking throughout the motion of touching the yellow reader. With NFC, I have to walk up, touch, wait a bit and then walk through. It definitely disrupts the momentum.

Wow. Just wow.

Every half second matters. Really?!?!? I'd hate to have my life so regimented that I can't spare half a second.

I work in DC. We get plenty of tourists here, with a system that is a shadow of London's or NY's. You know what I do? I remember that if I'm a stranger in another city, like say London, I might be lost or I won't be so sure where I stand. And if I can I try to help the tourists who come to visit my city because I might make or break a favourable impression of the city.

Imagine that.

 

[Qbnkelt]

Next time the chance arises for you to visit you'll be greatly welcomed by those of us who appreciate your presence!

I don't work in London but I do work in Retail and it's always wonderful to meet people from various parts of the World.

(And if it's any consolation I always 'rush' through the London Underground and end up taking one step forward and ten steps back!)

Thank you! ️ I've always felt welcomed in London. Never knew this sentiment existed, against us tourists. And we can't avoid the Underground any more than we can avoid the subway in NY.

It's bad enough on those of us who find ourselves having to ask the conductor for directions and to be met with a wall of clipped Cockney or East/South London accent where the only thing I can understand is "love" and have to get on the train go to the next station get off the train and find another conductor. That's an actual story. My kids were looking at the very nice conductor and then turned to me and asked what he'd said.

If we all had tolerance for people different from ourselves, our world would be the hot mess it is today.

 

[coffeemadmanUK]

I could be wrong and no doubt will be corrected but I wouldn't have thought many people would use this free offer as most people, bar tourists, in London on a Monday are residents or daily commuters into the city and are using Oyster or a rail ticket with prepaid zones.

I've been in London twice recently with a paper ticket provided given to me FOC and it has felt quite antiquated and even conspicuous.

Notably the offer ends before the school holidays start of this could turn into a Hoover free flights promotion https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoover_free_flights_promotion

Actually more and more are using contactless because it caps weekly amounts. Last November it was already at 8% of all journeys and I imagine more now. I know very few people who now bother to get a travelcard.

 

[Farsider]

Thank you! ️ I've always felt welcomed in London. Never knew this sentiment existed, against us tourists. And we can't avoid the Underground any more than we can avoid the subway in NY.

It's bad enough on those of us who find ourselves having to ask the conductor for directions and to be met with a wall of clipped Cockney or East/South London accent where the only thing I can understand is "love" and have to get on the train go to the next station get off the train and find another conductor. That's an actual story. My kids were looking at the very nice conductor and then turned to me and asked what he'd said.

If we all had tolerance for people different from ourselves, our world would be the hot mess it is today.

Trust me - that guy is a bad egg. Many many Londoners are friendly. Commuters (like myself) generally look tired and a bit grumpy due to the 2/3 hours of travelling everyday.....but we're not. I get stopped a lot and help many many people in stations and platforms. London is a City high in complexity - the Tube must be very daunting to the uninitiated.

Accents and language barriers you're never going to be able to avoid. I've been to Manhattan many times I can't understand NY'ers a lot.....particularly the drivers on the Subway.

Its all part of the fun

 

[Qbnkelt]

Trust me - that guy is a bad egg. Many many Londoners are friendly. Commuters (like myself) generally look tired and a bit grumpy due to the 2/3 hours of travelling everyday.....but we're not. I get stopped a lot and help many many people in stations and platforms. London is a City high in complexity - the Tube must be very daunting to the uninitiated.

Accents and language barriers you're never going to be able to avoid. I've been to Manhattan many times I can't understand NY'ers a lot.....particularly the drivers on the Subway.

Its all part of the fun

Oh I know about the accents. I was giving the reasons why some tourists from this side of the pond may seem lost or confused.

By the way, I'm a mutt (Irish x Cuban) who was born in Galway and has lived in a Galway suburb, Dublin, Madrid, L.A., and now in the country in extreme NW Virginia and work in DC. The differences amongst us is, as you correctly said, part of the fun.