Apple Pay Launches in the UK — This is what it is and how it works
What is it?
Apple Pay is anew contactless payment system that lets people use their iPhones to tap-and-pay in high street shops. It has been launched in the UK today (14th July 2015) but has been available in the US since last October.
Contactless payments have become increasingly popular in the UK since major banks started offering contactless cards. These cards can just be tapped on a shop’s terminal to pay, eliminating the need to type in a pin. Using Apple Pay then you can use your Apple device instead of a card.
What Apple Device Do I Need?
Apple Pay currently works on an iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus and Apple Watch. Before you can use it, you need to link Apple Pay to your bank account. You do this in the Apple Passbook App and simply add Apple Pay. This will then ask you to scan your bank card and it will give simple instructions to verify with your bank. In my case (Royal Bank of Scotland) I had to call the bank to verify this but this was done with a single tap within the App. Once verified, you can then use your device to make contactless payments.
Why Should I Bother?
Speed, convenience, and security are the main reasons. Speed: It’s far quicker to tap your phone against a retailers terminal to pay, than insert a card and then enter a pin number. Convenience: You no longer have to carry your wallet around to pay for things as you can use your phone instead. Security: An existing contactless card hasn’t got any physical security so if stolen can be used by anyone. Apple Pay uses fingerprint recognition so can’t be used if stolen, and can only be used by you.
Does It Work With My Bank?
The banks that support Apple Pay in the UK from today include NatWest, Nationwide Building Society, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander, Ulster Bank, and MBNA. First Direct and HSBC will join later in July and in the autumn, Bank of Scotland, Halifax, Lloyds Bank, M&S Bank and TSB Bank join too. Barclays are apparently still working the details out…
Where Can I Use It?
Most high street retailers that already accept contactless payments will support Apple Pay. Some well known retailers that do so, are Marks and Spencer, Boots, Waitrose, Co-op, Lidl, Spar, Post Office, BP, Costa Coffee, Starbucks, Wagamama, Nandos, KFC, Pret A Manger, Subway, McDonald’s.
You can also use Apple Pay online and some well known online retailers that support it so far are; Argos, Domino’s, Hungryhouse, Just Eat, Lastminute.com, Miss Selfridge, Ocado, Topshop and Zara.
And Finally…
If you’ve found this blog post useful, I’d appreciate it if you scrolled down and clicked the “recommend” and/or “share” button. And if you’ve already setup and used Apple Pay yourself, I’d really like to know what you think of it so far?
