Poll of the Day > Is tap to pay just finicky?

(+) Yeah! (+)

Ive tried using it many times. More than 50% of the time, it fails. Itll decline or something. And then I have to use insert. Does it just suck or something? Do others have trouble with it?
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I recently got a new card and it was the first one I've had that has it, and now that I actually have it, I realize a lot fewer places than I thought accept it. Yeah and half the time when they do have it, it doesn't even work. Seems kinda pointless

Yes, it is.

GrabASnickers posted...

I recently got a new card and it was the first one I've had that has it, and now that I actually have it, I realize a lot fewer places than I thought accept it. Yeah and half the time when they do have it, it doesn't even work. Seems kinda pointless

Yeah. Not that many places have it. I found more than I thought, but many places dont. Even some that promote it dont. Which is really weird...

argonautweakend posted...

Yes, it is.

Do you have it at your store?
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yeah. it works a lot and sometimes doesnt work a lot.

One of the problems is customer focused though. I am not sure where to hold the phone/watch/card as i've seen it "ding" for acceptance in multiple spots. Some people hold it in one spot for 3 seconds, and if it doesnt work they insert it. I'd want them to try a little harder but oh well.

But despite that yeah it is finicky.

Some cards/services give you small benefits for using the tap feature, other than that I kinda don't see much of a point since it doesnt always work. And if it doesn't always work, you need your card as a backup even if you want to use your phone for enhanced security and leaving the physical card at home in a safe or something.

I havent tried the phone or watch tap. I just use the card tap. But I can understand them only trying for a short time if theres a line. Plus, I would hate to have a decline twice in a row. I feel that they should make it work better if they want people to use it, though...
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I haven't had any trouble with it. I use it mainly when the option is available. I don't tap though. I kinda hold it over the entire screen until I hear the confirmation sound.

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SpeedDemon20 posted...

I don't tap though. I kinda hold it over the entire screen until I hear the confirmation sound.

Well, yeah. Its called tap, but you dont really tap it, AFAIK...
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Yeah it works like half the time in my experience so I usually dont bother and just insert the card

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I hate the chips, they just wear down in my wallet (which I don't even carry that often!). I got a new card before my last one even expired cause the chip stopped working. That's why I thought tap would be nice to have until I realized how rare it is

tap is pretty common here, i guess it's not in the US or something

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Kanatteru posted...

tap is pretty common here, i guess it's not in the US or something

Canada is already low tech and with phone tap I haven't pulled out my card for anything under $100 (because the machines don't accept tap above that). Apparently a bunch of americans still swipe cards and even use cheques at checkout. America is ancient.

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is it the same thing as Apple Pay/android pay?

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Mead posted...

Yeah it works like half the time in my experience so I usually dont bother and just insert the card

Yeah. Ive basically stopped using it... Though, I wish it worked more...

GrabASnickers posted...

I hate the chips, they just wear down in my wallet (which I don't even carry that often!). I got a new card before my last one even expired cause the chip stopped working. That's why I thought tap would be nice to have until I realized how rare it is

Tap seems dumb since its it both rare, and rarely works when they have it.

Kanatteru posted...

tap is pretty common here, i guess it's not in the US or something

I was just about to ask if it works better in Canada...

VeeVees posted...

Canada is already low tech and with phone tap I haven't pulled out my card for anything under $100 (because the machines don't accept tap above that). Apparently a bunch of americans still swipe cards and even use cheques at checkout. America is ancient.

You can only use swipe if your card doesnt have the chip, though. And I think most of them have the chip now. Well, you can also use swipe if the place doesnt have the chip, or if the chip fails three times in a row. Checks probably wont go away anytime soon since you can easily use more than you have...

DirtBasedSoap posted...

is it the same thing as Apple Pay/android pay?

I think it works the same, but is different. I use my card for tap to pay. And I havent even set up Apple Pay at all...
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LinkPizza posted...

I was just about to ask if it works better in Canada...

with nothing to compare it to i can't say, but i honestly use my chip very little these days

also yes apple/android pay use the same functionality

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weird, I use Apple Pay all the time and it works great. Pretty much every register here has it.

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Kanatteru posted...

with nothing to compare it to i can't say, but i honestly don't bother with carrying my plastic card around that much these days, so i guess it's not a problem

I guess that does make sense. When you did use tap to pay, did it work most of the time? I think that might be a better question.
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DirtBasedSoap posted...

weird, I use Apple Pay all the time and it works great. Pretty much every register here has it.

A ton of places where I love dont even have it. Thats why I dont use it. What about tap to pay with your card?
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LinkPizza posted...

I guess that does make sense. When you did use tap to pay, did it work most of the time? I think that might be a better question.

check my edit, i didn't make myself clear in that post lol

i can't say it's ever flat out not worked. sometimes i hold the card/phone in a weird way and it prompts me to do it again, but not often

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I don't quite understand the appeal of mobile pay. I can see some arguments for it being safer but I don't really need any more personal data stored in one place. Even without payment options saved the thought of losing my phone is much scarier than losing a card that has good protection against fraudulent purchases and that I can call to cancel at any time.

Also Americans under the age of like 60 don't use checks on common retail purchases, and many people over that age don't either.

GrabASnickers posted...

Even without payment options saved the thought of losing my phone is much scarier than losing a card that has good protection against fraudulent purchases and that I can call to cancel at any time.

hmm, not sure i understand -- the mobile wallet isn't its own card, it's just a digital version of the card you already have. nobody could use it any more than the plastic card (and they usually have face/fingerprint ID for verification). unless that's another thing americans do different for no reason

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well my card cant be used on my phone without my face being scanned first so Im not too worried about that. I just find it way more convenient to use my phone, especially since Im kind of stupid and sometimes forget my wallet.

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Kanatteru posted...

check my edit, i didn't make myself clear in that post lol

i can't say it's ever flat out not worked. sometimes i hold the card/phone in a weird way and it prompts me to do it again, but not often

Oh. Ok. I see...

GrabASnickers posted...

I don't quite understand the appeal of mobile pay. I can see some arguments for it being safer but I don't really need any more personal data stored in one place. Even without payment options saved the thought of losing my phone is much scarier than losing a card that has good protection against fraudulent purchases and that I can call to cancel at any time.

Also Americans under the age of like 60 don't use checks on common retail purchases, and many people over that age don't either.

Yeah. I havent set up anything like that on my phone. I would want it to be used j case on losing it, tbh. Also, not many people is it for common purchases. I usually see it for rent, or big purchases...

Kanatteru posted...

hmm, not sure i understand -- the mobile wallet isn't its own card, it's just a digital version of the card you already have. nobody could use it any more than the plastic card (and they usually have face/fingerprint ID for verification). unless that's another thing americans do different for no reason

I am curious to see if it works better than the card tap to pay, though...

DirtBasedSoap posted...

well my card cant be used on my phone without my face being scanned first so Im not too worried about that. I just find it way more convenient to use my phone, especially since Im kind of stupid and sometimes forget my wallet.

My would probably need my fingerprint. But in that case, it would actually slow down the already slowed down process...
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yep, the fingerprint scanner on iPhones is fucking terrible. I think its because Im a sweaty dude so my hands are literally always slightly damp

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I don't forget my wallet but I can see how it would be nice to not have to take it places. I drive everywhere anyway though so it would be dumb of me not to bring it even if chances of getting pulled over are extremely low

GrabASnickers posted...

I don't forget my wallet but I can see how it would be nice to not have to take it places. I drive everywhere anyway though so it would be dumb of me not to bring it even if chances of getting pulled over are extremely low

I usually have to keep my wallet around since my CDL, CAC, and other stuff is in it. Theres almost never a real reason for me to leave my wallet. Plus, I have a bad habit of not bringing my charger with me when Im running out somewhere quick. And would probably waste all my phone battery on something stupid. So, it would be best for me to keep my wallet either way. Haha.
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There's a transaction limit but it's never an issue otherwise for me.
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Kyuubi4269 posted...

There's a transaction limit but it's never an issue otherwise for me.

Youre in the UK, right?
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LinkPizza posted...

You can only use swipe if your card doesnt have the chip, though. And I think most of them have the chip now. Well, you can also use swipe if the place doesnt have the chip, or if the chip fails three times in a row. Checks probably wont go away anytime soon since you can easily use more than you have...

That is exactly what I mean. The fact that non-tap, non-chip card/machine even exist anymore. I haven't seen one in more than a decade, neither in Canada nor East Asia. And that retailers even accept cheques. The last time I wrote a cheque was for a house.

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VeeVees posted...

That is exactly what I mean. The fact that non-tap, non-chip card/machine even exist anymore. I haven't seen one in more than a decade, neither in Canada nor East Asia. And that retailers even accept cheques. The last time I wrote a cheque was for a house.

Since the chip is still relatively new here, that could explain the older machines. Especially since they dont have to get them. So, they may not want to spend the money on it. Though, the machines that dont accept chips actually are pretty rarely here. Many accept chips, but still not tap or Apple/android pay...

For checks, that is a whole other issue. Though, many people might not use them (or money orders), if more people had like square or something. That being said, since I get cash from my roommate and cant put that into my bank account, Ill probably still use money orders...
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It isn't for me.

I watch my mom hover it above debit machines and it is for her.

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ReturnOfFa posted...

It isn't for me.

I watch my mom hover it above debit machines and it is for her.

Are you in the US? It might just be the US that has trouble with tap to pay...
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LinkPizza posted...

Ive tried using it many times. More than 50% of the time, it fails. Itll decline or something. And then I have to use insert. Does it just suck or something? Do others have trouble with it?

All I ever use is my contactless card. Even then that sometimes doesn't work so I need to insert....

argonautweakend posted...

One of the problems is customer focused though. I am not sure where to hold the phone/watch/card as i've seen it "ding" for acceptance in multiple spots. Some people hold it in one spot for 3 seconds, and if it doesnt work they insert it. I'd want them to try a little harder but oh well.

I'm probably guilty of this with my card. The problem is the sensor isn't clear.

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I use my phone and have zero problems

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I work for a bank and don't really understand the point of tap to pay

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I think it varies with the device at the location. some locations it always works. some locations, as you say, it works half the time and half the time it makes you use the chip instead. (it's possible those locations might have a tap limit set, so if you order more than $20 or something, it makes you use the chip instead.)

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LinkPizza posted...

Are you in the US? It might just be the US that has trouble with tap to pay...

Nah, I'm in Canada. Could be right. I just watched the Canadians struggle with chip insertion first, then saw the USA struggle with it. So I thought it might be similar.

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wwinterj25 posted...

All I ever use is my contactless card. Even then that sometimes doesn't work so I need to insert....

Maybe the UK is a little better with it...

Clench281 posted...

I use my phone and have zero problems

I'm wondering if the phone is better than the card, then... Though, the problem is that not all places take the phone. Very few, it seems...

BADoglick posted...

I work for a bank and don't really understand the point of tap to pay

It's suppose to be contactless. And somewhat faster, I believe... when it works, that is...

Sahuagin posted...

I think it varies with the device at the location. some locations it always works. some locations, as you say, it works half the time and half the time it makes you use the chip instead. (it's possible those locations might have a tap limit set, so if you order more than $20 or something, it makes you use the chip instead.)

The tap limit could be a reason. But I don't think it's just location. Because it work at all the locations at first, then started failing at all of them. I haven't really used it much recently, though...

ReturnOfFa posted...

Nah, I'm in Canada. Could be right. I just watched the Canadians struggle with chip insertion first, then saw the USA struggle with it. So I thought it might be similar.

That would make sense. And it's possible that they haven't worked out the bugs because maybe not many people use it. I rarely see others use it. And I think I've seen more people using phones instead of card tap to pay. Though, I rarely see people using phones, so Idk... Maybe if more people use it, they'll try fixing whatever the problem is. Or maybe they want people to skip and just use phones. I guess for now, I'll just continue to use the chip... I miss swiping, tbh...
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LinkPizza posted...

Maybe the UK is a little better with it...

I'm probably really good at handling it but sometimes additional preferences happen...

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