Apple Pay is a convenient and free mobile payment solution. This technology was born in the United States at the end of 2014 before arriving in France in July 2016. Basically, it allows you to pay for your purchases in stores or on the Internet. In this article, I explain the concept and uses of Apple Pay.
Taking out your iPhone rather than your credit card to make a purchase in a store is possible. Indeed, contactless payment is the most used feature of Apple Pay. However, this service is exclusively for users of Apple devices with an iOS operating system.
Similarly, to be able to use Apple Pay, you must associate a compatible bank card with it. To do this, choose a bank that has an agreement with Apple. And to create an account, you must be over 15 years old.
It’s simple, fast and secure. Your credit card data is not stored on your device. Even at the time of your payment, you do not have to fill in your banking information. Indeed, Apple Pay does not use your card data, but only a virtual number specific to your device as well as a unique transaction code.
In addition to being a contactless payment method, Apple Pay can therefore also be considered an electronic wallet.
Apple Pay is not for everyone. To benefit from the service, you must have one of the following devices:
To activate your account, you must have a valid Apple ID. With the pre-installed app, Wallet, you can start paying with Apple Pay. You can add up to 8 bank cards in Apple’s service.
When you pay for your purchases, you pass your smartphone in front of the optical reader of the payment terminal provided for this purpose. Authentication is done with the thumb via Touch ID or by looking at the screen via Face ID, or even by means of the PIN code.
From your smartphone, you have access to the history of transactions you have made from your bank’s mobile application.
Apple Pay is a very convenient payment method. Indeed, it allows you to pay for your purchases more quickly and safely. No need to take out your credit card or enter a code on the payment terminal.
With Apple Pay, the payment limit corresponds to the limit of your bank card as well as the amount available in your account. You can therefore spend more money, as long as you have enough funds in your bank account.
Just like the absence of a maximum amount allowed, there is also no restriction as to geographical location. Thus, you can benefit from the service under the same conditions, wherever you are.
However, it is important to specify that some merchants may impose a limitation on their payment terminals. Also, some banks are also free to set their own payment limit with Apple Pay.
To avoid surprises, find out about any ceilings before making a purchase. Payments for purchases by Apple Pay are generally limited to 300 euros. In this case, it is possible to carry out your transaction in several times.
To take advantage of the Apple Pay payment method, you must access the Wallet application, which is preinstalled on your device. To associate your bank card, you can scan it directly or enter your information manually.
In vending machines, supermarkets, metro stations, or even to pay for taxis, Apple Pay works wherever contactless payments are accepted.
By using Apple Pay, you will avoid endless payment procedures. Indeed, you pay for your purchases with a simple gesture or look. For this, two authentication solutions are available to you.
With Touch ID . You simply have to approach your iPhone to the contactless payment reader. Place your finger on Touch ID and you’ll see a checkmark and “OK” appear on your screen.
With Face ID . First you need to identify yourself. To do this, double-click the side button and look at your iPhone to validate your authentication. Next, hold your iPhone up to the payment terminal and hold it until you see a check mark and “Done” appear on your screen.
To communicate with the payment terminal, Apple Pay uses NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. The chip only activates when the Apple Pay application is activated. This avoids the risk of hacking.
In addition, by using Appel Pay, you greatly limit fraud in stores. Indeed, each transaction is traced. This facilitates complaints in the event of a malfunction.
On Apple Watch, double-tap the side button. Scroll to select the card you want to use. Finally, approach your watch to the payment reader. A soft beep will confirm that the payment information has been sent.
Once the transaction is validated, you will receive a notification in the Notification Center. If you don’t want to receive notifications, you can disable them in your different cards. You can also clear your transaction history.
Compared to using a traditional card, Apple Pay has a high security mechanism. You can make an online payment in several instalments, without fearing the risk of your account being blocked.
First, a thief won’t be able to make payments for you, whether in-store or online. Indeed, biometric identification, via Touch ID or Face ID, is required for each operation. There is therefore no risk, especially since your card data is not present on your iPhone.
In addition, if you are the victim of a theft, you can connect to the iCloud to try to locate your device. In the event of proven theft, there is an option allowing you to delete the saved cards or altogether all the data on the phone.
The same procedure applies if you have lost your Apple Watch.