Apple Pay FAQs

Apple Pay is new to iOS 8.1 (launched last week) and it's incredibly easy (and fun!) to use. There still aren't a lot of vendors who access Apple Pay, but the list is growing (and I expect it to be wildly popular over the next year).

Over the course of the last week, I have had several readers write in and ask me various questions like "How do I know if a store accepts Apple Pay?" and "How do I enroll a credit card?". In light of these questions, I thought I would post Apple's own Apple Pay FAQ page. There's some great information here!

What do I need to use Apple Pay?

Apple Pay will be available in the United States with iOS 8.1.

Here's what you need to use Apple Pay:

How do I set up Apple Pay?

You can start using Apple Pay as soon as you add your first credit or debit card to Passbook. 

To add a credit or debit card on iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus, open Passbook. If you don't have any cards or passes, tap Set Up Apple Pay. If you do have cards or passes, pull down your pass stack and tap Add button.

 

If you have a credit or debit card from a participating bank on file with iTunes, you'll be prompted to add it to Passbook. You can also choose to add a different card using the iSight camera or by entering your card information manually. Then your bank will decide whether to approve adding your card to Apple Pay. They might ask you to provide more information to complete the verification process.

To add a credit or debit card on iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3, go to Settings > Passbook & Apple Pay, tap Add Credit or Debit Card, and then follow the same steps for iPhone above.

Learn more about how to set up and use Apple Pay.

What should I do if I have an issue adding a credit or debit card to Apple Pay?

Your card issuing bank is ready to help you with issues when adding credit or debit cards to your iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, or iPad mini 3. You can contact your bank or AppleCare, who will help you resolve your issue.

Where and how can I use Apple Pay to pay in a store or within apps?

You can use Apple Pay with your iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus to pay in stores that accept contactless payments. Look for one of these symbols at checkout:

 

Some stores might have this symbol on their card readers and point of sale terminals, but they might not be currently set up to accept contactless payments including Apple Pay. At the current time, this includes 7-Eleven, Home Depot, and Jack in the Box. If you can’t use Apple Pay at a store that is displaying the contactless payment symbol, please let us know using our Apple Pay feedback form.

On iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, iPad Air 2, and iPad mini 3, you can use Apple Pay to pay within apps when you see the “Buy with Apple Pay” or “Apple Pay" button as a payment method. Look for these buttons in apps:

 

Learn more about how to set up and use Apple Pay.

When I’m paying in a store using my debit card in Apple Pay, should I choose Credit or Debit on the terminal?

When presented with this choice, we recommend you to choose “Credit” to get the most consistent Apple Pay experience. Choosing “Debit” may not always work successfully with some older merchant payment terminals and backend systems.

Will I have to sign a receipt when paying with Apple Pay?

As you do today with a plastic credit or debit card, you might need to sign a receipt, depending on the store and the transaction amount.

Will I continue to earn rewards and benefits from my credit or debit cards when I pay using Apple Pay?

Yes. When you pay using Apple Pay, you'll continue to get the rewards, benefits, and security that your credit or debit card provides.

Does Passbook show my recent transactions?

When you view your card in Passbook, you’ll see the last transaction for each credit card or debit card.

 

You can also see the last 10 transactions for your credit cards, but not your debit cards. Just tap the credit card and tap.

Depending on your bank, you might see only transactions made from your device. Or you might see all transactions made from your credit card account, including all Apple Pay devices and your actual credit card.

Why is my transaction amount sometimes reported differently in Passbook?

Some banks provide only initial authorization amounts to Passbook, which might be different from the final transaction amount. Depending on your bank, you might see different transaction amounts from locations such as restaurants, gas service stations, hotels, and car rental companies. Always refer to the credit or debit card statement from your bank for final transaction details.

How do I return an item that I bought using Apple Pay in a store?

The cashier can use the Device Account Number to find the purchase and process the return, just like they would with a traditional credit or debit card payment. To see the last four digits of the Device Account Number, go to Passbook, tap the card, and tap.

If the cashier needs your card details to process the return, you can follow the same steps for making a payment. Hold your iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus near the reader, select the card you used to make the original payment, and authorize the return with Touch ID or passcode. Depending on the return and refund policies of the store, it may take up to several days for the return transaction to appear on your credit or debit card statement.

How secure is Apple Pay?

Apple Pay is more secure than using a traditional credit or debit card. Every transaction on your iPhone or iPad requires you to authenticate with Touch ID or your passcode. Your card number and identity aren’t shared with the merchant, and your actual card numbers aren’t stored on your device or on Apple servers.

Learn more about Apple Pay security and privacy.

How does Apple Pay keep my information private?

When you pay in stores, neither Apple nor your device sends your actual credit or debit card numbers to merchants. When you pay in apps, the merchant will only receive information like name, email address, billing and shipping address you authorize to share to fulfill your order. Apple Pay retains anonymous transaction information such as approximate purchase amount. This information can’t be tied back to you and never includes what you are buying. Apps that use Apple Pay must have a privacy policy that you can view which governs the use of your data.

Learn more about Apple Pay security and privacy.

What should I do if my iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen?

With Apple Pay, you authorize each purchase with Touch ID or your passcode. These features help prevent other people from using Apple Pay on your iPhone or iPad.

If your iPhone or iPad is lost or stolen, you can go to icloud.com/find or use the Find My iPhone app to suspend or permanently remove the ability to pay from that device with Apple Pay. Your cards will be suspended or removed from Apple Pay even if your device is offline and not connected to a cellular or Wi-Fi network. You can also call your bank to suspend or remove your cards from Apple Pay.

Can I continue to use my plastic credit or debit cards if I suspend or remove my cards in Passbook?

When you suspend or remove your cards in Passbook, your device-specific Device Account Number is suspended or removed. You can continue to use your plastic credit or debit card.

I’m a merchant. How can I accept Apple Pay in my store?

To accept Apple Pay in your store, contact your payment provider.

I’m an app developer. How can I accept Apple Pay within my apps?

To accept Apple Pay in your app, go to Apple Pay for developers to learn how to get started.

Posted on October 28, 2014 by Kevin Allgaier and filed under How To, iOS, iPhone.