MasterCard's 'Fare Free Mondays' Returns to London Next Week for Apple Pay Users

[jowie]

Brilliant! The *only* compelling reason to use Pay in the UK.

 

[Mr Kram]

I didn't say I write checks for anyone. That seems like a huge waste of time. I pay everyone with credit card, Apple Pay, or Facebook cash. Depending on the grocery store, I use Apple Pay or credit card. Both are pretty quick. I get pissed off at anyone who stands there for a minute trying to count out bills and coins to pay for a carton of milk and loaf of bread (or anything else, for that matter.) Get a freaking card.

this was my original point. LOL

 

[idrewuk]

Contactless cards in the UK are pretty standard now. Places that don't take them yet are seen as backwards and out of date. Sainsbury's, the UK supermarket, still have bothered to sort their IT systems out to take contactless yet. Entering a PIN is old hat!

Latest news story on UK take up shows there were over one billion contactless transactions in 2015, and it's growing fast: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35668277

 

[iGeek2014]

Contactless cards in the UK are pretty standard now. Places that don't take them yet are seen as backwards and out of date. Sainsbury's, the UK supermarket, still have bothered to sort their IT systems out to take contactless yet. Entering a PIN is old hat!

Latest news story on UK take up shows there were over one billion contactless transactions in 2015, and it's growing fast: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35668277

I work in Retail and our EPOS provider is 'looking' into contactless terminals.

Does my head in... Plenty of people (myself included) want to use contactless but can't!

 

[Reason077]

Contactless cards in the UK are pretty standard now. Places that don't take them yet are seen as backwards and out of date. Sainsbury's, the UK supermarket, still have bothered to sort their IT systems out to take contactless yet. Entering a PIN is old hat!

It's mind boggling and frustrating that Sainsbury's still haven't enabled contactless, years after installing payment terminals that support it. Their IT people must be so incompetent!

I cringe every time I have to enter a PIN, wasting time and potentially compromising my account's security, for some trivially small purchase.

My closest supermarket is a Sainsbury's but I sometimes I actually walk further to shop at Aldi, M&S or Tesco just so I can use Apple Pay

 

[bigchrisfgb]

Sainsbury's are in the process of updating their till systems so that contactless can be enabled. They won't start contactless payments until every store has the new software update because they don't want customers who go to multiple stores being confused over which Sainsbury's they can use contactless in and which they can't.

For the record Apple Pay has been specifically mentioned by Sainsbury's alongside contactless, so this hints at the possibility of using Apple Pay for transactions over the £30 contactless limit.

 

[Reason077]

Sainsbury's are in the process of updating their till systems so that contactless can be enabled. They won't start contactless payments until every store has the new software update because they don't want customers who go to multiple stores being confused over which Sainsbury's they can use contactless in and which they can't.

I've been hearing that for about 3 years now. It doesn't really make sense to me - other stores like Tesco did gradual rollouts (some Tesco's have different model POS terminals to others), and I don't think anyone got all that confused.

For the record Apple Pay has been specifically mentioned by Sainsbury's alongside contactless, so this hints at the possibility of using Apple Pay for transactions over the £30 contactless limit.

Well, that's something, at least! I tried to use Apple Pay at Argos a couple of months ago, who were supposedly one of Apple Pay's launch partners in the UK. But it wasn't supported at all, even at their "flagship" Tottenham Court Road store.

 

[coffeemadmanUK]

There's an easy solution to that.

Join online, get direct deposit, use mobile deposit if you want to cash a check, and if you need customer assistance, call or message them.

I've used multiple banks which have zero branches around my area.

Please come and try banking in the UK. It's nothing like the US (I've lived in the US so I have experience of both).

The US is far more customer-focused and easier to use than the UK. For example I recently moved and to change my address I *have* to go *personally* into a branch to do so.

So many issues can only be resolved in branches. It's not impossible to bank with someone you don't have easy access to a branch with but it's far from easy.

 

[mike2413088]

Please come and try banking in the UK. It's nothing like the US (I've lived in the US so I have experience of both).

The US is far more customer-focused and easier to use than the UK. For example I recently moved and to change my address I *have* to go *personally* into a branch to do so.

So many issues can only be resolved in branches. It's not impossible to bank with someone you don't have easy access to a branch with but it's far from easy.

Mistake in your post. U.S Banks are not customer focused; that's only reserved for credit unions.

Banks here are known for stealing money, getting bailouts, and having cruddy customer service.

 

[coffeemadmanUK]

Mistake in your post. U.S Banks are not customer focused; that's only reserved for credit unions.

Banks here are known for stealing money, getting bailouts, and having cruddy customer service.

I can only assure you that you have it better. Much better. The stealing/bailouts is irrelevant as that's not what you experience day to day as a customer. But regardless, it's very difficult in the UK to bank without a local branch nearby, and that's the main point here.

The Visa/Mastercard thing is very different over here, so you need to understand that and realise it's not like it is in the US.

 

[Ubuntu]

How about doing it EVERY MONDAY from now on, instead of a virtuous "Aren't we wonderful!" promo month? If you are giving something kind, make it PERMANENT.

And if someone is giving you something for free, be grateful.

 

[uid15]

And if someone is giving you something for free, be grateful.

Yes Mum, thanks Mum.

 

[Ubuntu]

Yes Mum, thanks Mum.

Haha!

 

[idrewuk]

I can only assure you that you have it better. Much better. The stealing/bailouts is irrelevant as that's not what you experience day to day as a customer. But regardless, it's very difficult in the UK to bank without a local branch nearby, and that's the main point here.

The Visa/Mastercard thing is very different over here, so you need to understand that and realise it's not like it is in the US.

I wouldn't say so. I bank with first direct, who don't have any branches. I've done everything either online or over the phone.

 

[coffeemadmanUK]

I wouldn't say so. I bank with first direct, who don't have any branches. I've done everything either online or over the phone.

But they don't offer Mastercard as an option - again, a major point.

I didn't say it was impossible. But if you want to, say, put money into your account, or put a cheque in you have to either mail it in or *drum roll* vist. a. branch. (HSBC I believe for you).

Again - not saying it's impossible, and for some people it may work fine. However for a lot more people, a bank is still very much required.

 

[jowie]

I wouldn't say so. I bank with first direct, who don't have any branches. I've done everything either online or over the phone.

I agree. Even banking with Nationwide, Lloyd's and TSB, the last time I went into a branch was probably about 5 years ago.