New Apple Cash Accounts Now Branded as Visa Cards

[Justin Cymbal]

I just did mine. As with yours it worked perfectly and replicated to my other devices. Just used it a couple of mins ago to purchase a coffee at a cafe which the old discover card never worked at

I do have the visa debit logo on my card though on my iPhone

That’s a good point- Visa is widely accepted pretty much everywhere, unlike Discover so it will be nice knowing that if they take Apple Pay, then you will be able to use this and not have to ask whether or not they take Discover

 

[gomichaelgo]

Apple Cash works great

I prefer to use my Apple Cash card over my other cards for small purchases at convenient stores because the Apple Cash card never asks for signature or pin

You obviously forgo any rewards points that you would otherwise earn (with a credit card) but for purchases under $10 at a convenience store, I’d much rather the ease of not having to type in a pin or sign for it

I always make sure I have around $25 on my Apple Cash account for this very purpose and it definitely is convenient to not have to sign or enter a pin when buying something small at the gas station

I use Apple Pay (credit card) and don't have to sign often. The only places that I can recall having to sign are places where a tip is added to the purchase. Otherwise, grocery stores and stuff don't require it.

 

[philrock]

If you are in the US, with the new IRS regulation, from now on if you put $600 or more into your Apple Cash account in a year, do you think you will get a 1099-K form that you will have to reconcile (such as taxable payments from other people, non-taxable? payments from other people, such as when you split a dinner bill, non-taxable gifts from other people, and non-taxable transfer that is your own money) for tax filing? 'cause that'd be a pain. And you will get a 1099-K from every payment handler that has processed $600 income for you. I have stopped accepting payments on PayPal and all other apps because of this until I understand the situation more, or until forever. I assume Apple Cash would be among payment handlers for which the new rule applies.

This is disturbing and another unfortunate example of not only overreach but also targeted at folks that can afford it least. That regulation gives the IRS the power and authority to review bank accounts (at will) of anybody that exceeds that $600 threshold...meanwhile on Wall Street....

 

[switz]

The consolidation of the banking world will make it even easier for big brother to monitor every dime that comes in and and goes out. In the argument for what is taxed and the tax reporting of your paying money to others, the government position is to collect revenue form every source. If you spend $600+ at Starbucks over a year, for example, you might have to fill out a 1099 type form and send a copy to Starbucks and the IRS and the state ......

 

[Justin Cymbal]

I use Apple Pay (credit card) and don't have to sign often. The only places that I can recall having to sign are places where a tip is added to the purchase. Otherwise, grocery stores and stuff don't require it.

I primarily only use Apple Cash at convenience stores because they almost always require a pin and Apple Cash does not require you to enter a pin which makes it super convenient - It’s supposed to be contactless payment yet they still require a pin? lol

For everything else, I use my Apple Card or AMEX and earn rewards/cash back and yes, I rarely have to sign for things

 

[FastLaneJB]

I primarily only use Apple Cash at convenience stores because they almost always require a pin and Apple Cash does not require you to enter a pin which makes it super convenient - It’s supposed to be contactless payment yet they still require a pin? lol

For everything else, I use my Apple Card or AMEX and earn rewards/cash back and yes, I rarely have to sign for things

Weird that you have to enter a PIN after using Apple Pay. That never happens in the UK and I’d assume is the same across all of Europe. At least the places I’ve travelled to.

 

[dreamerstree]

Question that I can't seem to find a definitive answer for: if I deactivate and reactivate to go from Discover to Visa, do I keep the balance I have on the card right now? I would assume yes, but I'd rather not risk it.

 

[QuarterSwede]

Just read this line in this article:

”If you currently have a Discover Apple Cash account, deactivating Apple Cash in Settings on your device and then reactivating it will generate a new Apple Cash Device Account Number on the Visa network.”

I’m definitely planning to do this but considering today is the first day of this transition, I’m definitely going to wait a week or two, maybe even do it at 3 AM just so that it doesn’t cause issues with the servers because from past experience that is always a proactive way to avoid problems and lengthy phone calls to customer service if anything does go wrong with transitioning this.

Financial institutions do all their updates/maintenance overnight. Might not be the greatest time. Although, I guess it depends on where the servers are.

 

[No5tromo]

Not sure what markets Apple Cash is available in but Discover unlike Visa is not available in many countries, so this might be what this is about

 

[mashdots]

I'm reminded of that Futurama episode where Fry tries to buy something in the year 3000 with a visa and mastercard and being told that those cards haven't existed in 500, 600 years. But then when he tries to use Discover, the guy says "Sorry, we don't accept discover."

Question that I can't seem to find a definitive answer for: if I deactivate and reactivate to go from Discover to Visa, do I keep the balance I have on the card right now? I would assume yes, but I'd rather not risk it.

Yes, you keep your balance. The card is merely the method by which your money can be accessed.

 

[lkrupp]

No logo on my card but details show its a Visa Debit and I have had it for a few years. So, updated I guess

Must be a rolling update. My Apple Cash card still says Discover Debit in the details. Patience is a virtue.

 

[dreamerstree]

I'm reminded of that Futurama episode where Fry tries to buy something in the year 3000 with a visa and mastercard and being told that those cards haven't existed in 500, 600 years. But then when he tries to use Discover, the guy says "Sorry, we don't accept discover."


Yes, you keep your balance. The card is merely the method by which your money can be accessed.

Thanks!

 

[Expos of 1969]

I always make sure I have around $25 on my Apple Cash account for this very purpose and it definitely is convenient to not have to sign or enter a pin when buying something small at the gas station

I feel for you guys in the US. What antiquated systems you have to put up with. Careful when you leave the gas station, you don't want a dinosaur to step on you...

 

[jhollington]

Yes seems so, since Discover is nearly unavailable in Europe.

In Canada, too. Even Amazon Canada and Walmart Canada don't take Discover cards.

For now, it should make it easier for Americans to use Apple Cash when travelling. In the longer term this really is key to rolling Apple Cash out internationally, although I imagine Apple still has to get through the necessary banking and regulatory hurdles.

 

[Justin Cymbal]

Weird that you have to enter a PIN after using Apple Pay. That never happens in the UK and I’d assume is the same across all of Europe. At least the places I’ve travelled to.

Yeah, we do a lot of things differently here in the US with regards to payments.

I believe we are the only country in the world that still requires signature for credit card transactions as if that is somehow supposed to authenticate the person using the card

It’s only debit cards that require the pin every time. Credit cards don’t have pins so therefore don’t require them unless the merchant wants a signature but gas stations and convenience stores oftentimes require a signature if paying with credit card

Very pointless for gas stations to require this for every transaction, even under $10 when using Apple Pay so it’s nice to be able to use the Apple Cash loophole to get around that until they eventually change their policy…

 

[Michael Scrip]

It makes me wonder why Apple went with Discover in the first place?

It sounds like Discover isn't really available outside the US... and even inside the US it's not that popular.

🤔

 

[Goodeye]

I just did mine and it took about 30 seconds and now I am on the Visa network. No issues at all.

Same, I need to travel to Europe this summer for work so I might as well convert it now.

 

[brofkand]

Just read this line in this article:

”If you currently have a Discover Apple Cash account, deactivating Apple Cash in Settings on your device and then reactivating it will generate a new Apple Cash Device Account Number on the Visa network.”

I’m definitely planning to do this but considering today is the first day of this transition, I’m definitely going to wait a week or two, maybe even do it at 3 AM just so that it doesn’t cause issues with the servers because from past experience that is always a proactive way to avoid problems and lengthy phone calls to customer service if anything does go wrong with transitioning this.

Certainly no harm in waiting but I just did it and no problems. Granted I only had like $1.50 in my Cash so not much of a risk.

 

[twolf2919]

If you go into card details it will say “visa” network, OR when you attempt to pay with the Apple Cash Card the logo shows up. Mine also says Visa (now?).

That's literally what the OP said. I guess mine is still Discover Network as that's what it says in the details :-(

 

[brofkand]

It makes me wonder why Apple went with Discover in the first place?

It sounds like Discover isn't really available outside the US... and even inside the US it's not that popular.

🤔

They wanted to make a deal with someone who would let the Apple brand be prominent. At the time greendot/discover was probably the only one who would return their calls. I wonder if greendot is still the bank behind Apple Cash or if they're moving to someone else.

 

[eXoenDo]

Disabling and Re-enabling for me was not successful. When attempting to "set up" Apple Cash again, I get a "Services Unavailable" message. So try at your own risk.

 

[Michael Scrip]

They wanted to make a deal with someone who would let the Apple brand be prominent. At the time greendot/discover was probably the only one who would return their calls.

So maybe originally Visa turned them down... but now they're going with them a couple years later?

 

[brofkand]

So maybe originally Visa turned them down... but now they're going with them a couple years later?

Yes, this is not new for Apple. With the first iPhone Apple wanted to deal with Verizon. But Verizon wouldn't cede to Apple's demands (Apple wasn't going to engrave the Verizon logo on the phone for one thing) so Apple made a deal with Cingular. Once the iPhone became a hit, Verizon capitulated.

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

I haven't been using Apple Cash. However I look at it as my savings or emergency account, haha.

 

[Robert.Walter]

How to:
- go to settings > wallet
- switch off Apple Cash at top of page
- switch it back on
- if you are an expat and have set your phone to local region, wou will not see the Apple Cash toggle once you switch off.
- Don’t panic, go to settings > region and set to USA. The toggle reappears. Switch on. Follow the few quick easy steps.
- once card is active set region back to where you are.
- your balance and info is preserved.
- no visa logo on big card in virtual wallet but if you squint you can see it in card in the settings and set up.

No downsides to doing this but it’s probably not necessary as I expect Apple will push through a change eventually. (Appropriate to Just Works Philosophy, most of the world will be blissfully unaware of the transition.)