Contactless payments with smartphone supporting NFC

thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 14:35
Last edited 08/05/2019 - 14:35

Hi I saw a person using their phone (iPhone I think) to tap & pay at Coles awhile ago.
Always wondered how this works.
(my thought is bank support>add card to payment app>put finger on fingerprint sensor & hold on PayPass eftpos terminal)

I have an iPhone SE (supports NFC) but never actually tried it (I’m with WBC which seems to be one of the Bank’s holding out on supporting).
I think it could be useful when frequenting shops which support Tap & Pay.

Please share your experience, or any information about it I am missing (lack of wide-spread support / hidden fees).
Thanks.

Mobile

Comments

  • sugarfree on 08/05/2019 - 14:51
    +2

    Just works as a normal tap and pay card. No extra fees. Actually more secure than using your physical card

    • thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 14:55

      Thanks for your comment. Yes thought so, since it requires you to verify with fingerprint.

      Only other thing really holding you back from being wallet-free is Drivers License / Identification card, which I read awhile ago is being trialled right now (Service NSW asked for volunteers to trial it, but trial still required you to carry your physical ID card as well as having the App).

      • sugarfree on 08/05/2019 - 16:26
        +5

        No it’s also more secure because your card numbers are never shared with the merchant

      • SnakeCasablanca on 09/05/2019 - 16:11

        I jam my Drivers Licence card behind my phone case. Its so great to not need a wallet.

        • thebadmachine on 09/05/2019 - 16:52

          I do that with Opal card, so I just pull out my phone when scanning. I wonder when Opal will be NFC supported. I read somewhere Opal scanning stations (when entering / leaving station) recently started accepting credit/debit cards with Tap & Pay.

          In Brisbane they use a different public transport paying system. So each time I visit I have to borrow a card, or make one for myself eventually. They should just combine all public transport payments into one App nation wide.

  • indium on 08/05/2019 - 14:52
    +2

    I prefer it to using a physical card as I find it faster to just pull out my phone. I also only carry around 1 physical card and have 4 cards + loyalty cards on google/samsung pay which makes my wallet less bulky. Also works fine overseas.

    • thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 14:56

      I see, so you can add loyalty cards onto phone App as well.

      • indium on 08/05/2019 - 15:21

        Yep, however I only use samsung pay for this as it beams the barcode rather than just displaying it on the phone therefore works flawlessly. Some companies like Myki and Woolworths Rewards let you use nfc on your phone however it works too slowly at the moment.

        • thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 15:22

          Thanks for the detailed info.

  • altomic on 08/05/2019 - 14:53

    Nfc is basically turning your phone into a tap and go card

  • bobbified on 08/05/2019 - 14:56
    +1

    I use a samsung galaxy watch (LTE) for NFC payments. It's linked to my CBA credit card via Samsung Pay.

    Press watch button > Enter (watch) PIN and hold against pay machine. Works great!

    It means I don't have to worry about my wallet and phone (that I leave on my desk) when I'm wandering around the office and decide to go have a coffee meeting or go straight out to lunch.

    • thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 15:01

      Entering PIN would be a bit too fiddly for me (probably takes as long as pulling your wallet & card out though).
      Hopefully in the near future there can be some kind of bio-metric sensor (evolution of face recognition) in the smart-watch which can identify it is you.

      • bobbified on 08/05/2019 - 15:08

        Entering PIN would be a bit too fiddly for me

        I know what you mean. I wasn't expecting to use the payment function much, but the way that Samsung has designed the keypad (numbers around the edge of the screen, similar to analogue clock) makes it quite easy.

        When I have wallet and watch, I often still pull out my wallet by habit. It's when I don't my wallet, then the watch comes out. The LTE in the watch means I don't even need the phone to be close by.

        • thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 15:11

          I like the idea of putting your finger on the sensor in advance, then just tapping (so the only lag is the electronics).

          • apsilon on 08/05/2019 - 15:32

            @thebadmachine: I do this using Google Pay. When I'm the next to be served I unlock my phone ready to go. With Woolies at least you can also link you rewards card so tap for that as well. Still have to enter PIN on the terminal for purchases over your cards limit.

            • thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 15:35

              @apsilon:

              Still have to enter PIN on the terminal for purchases over your cards limit.

              Yes that was expected. Although fingerprint should be enough to qualify as PIN.

      • coxjon on 08/05/2019 - 15:11
        +1

        Apple Watch unlocks with PIN when you put it on and then doesn't need a PIN for purchases since it detects when it is being worn and locks only when you remove it - super handy for paying for stuff like at the servo.

        • thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 15:16

          I know I must be out-of-date, but I am still weary of going all high-tech unless I absolutely need it.
          (Another user called me out on another thread for running my Apple TV @ 720p and watching only 480p SD content on it)

          One thing that bothers me about Apple Watch is battery-life (if going the watch payment route I would rather a Garmin Watch with a week or more battery).
          I will be quite happy with paying with my phone. Watch payment will be a few more years down the line for a person such as myself (I’m waiting for the smart-watch to completely replace the smart phone).

        • bobbified on 08/05/2019 - 15:19

          Apple Watch unlocks with PIN when you put it on and then doesn't need a PIN for purchases since it detects when it is being worn and locks only when you remove it…

          Now you've got me thinking! Im going to check to see if Samsung does that. I tend to only use it once a day or so and remove my watch at night. I probably wouldn't even notice if it had that function!

          Thanks!

          • AdosHouse on 08/05/2019 - 15:47
            +1

            @bobbified: Yes it does. You only need to unlock it once, after that you can make multiple payments without entering the pin again. Once you take it off it needs a pin again.

            • bobbified on 08/05/2019 - 16:03

              @AdosHouse: Thanks for letting me know! Might make me default to the watch more often now haha =)

              • AdosHouse on 08/05/2019 - 16:07
                +1

                @bobbified: Watch is a blessing for me, my work is about 100m from a Woolworths, and I'm constantly doing Wollies drinks/lollies/snacks run for myself and the staff. I always forget to pick up my wallet or mobile from the office first, so I just tap with my watch.

  • Seraphin7 on 08/05/2019 - 14:56

    I've got an ING card linked up through Google Pay. I've had this set up for some time … maybe 2 years? You just need an account/bank that supports the feature and off you go.

  • neyo on 08/05/2019 - 14:57

    Welcome to the 21st century. Add your WBC card to your apple pay and you should be good to go. Any fees are the same as if you were using your credit card to tap and pay

  • MagicMushroom on 08/05/2019 - 15:20

    Apple charge loyalty for using their NFC which is pretty bad practice for consumers.

    • thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 15:31

      I found this:
      https://www.itnews.com.au/news/banks-surrender-on-apple-pay-…

      Australia's big banks have backed down from their push to be allowed to pass on Apple Pay fees to their customers after the technology giant accused them of trying to discourage use of its platform.

      In the latest episode of an ongoing spat between Apple and Westpac, NAB, CBA, and Bendigo and Adelaide Bank, Apple last week accused the four of free-riding on its investment into the payments platform, and of deliberating delaying its local growth.

      The banks have been lobbying the ACCC to allow them to form a cartel so they can pressure Apple into opening up the near-field communication (NFC) chips in its iPhones, and to drop its restriction on passing on Apple Pay fees to their customers.

      In its draft decision on the matter last November, the ACCC knocked back the banks' request. It will make its final decision next month.

      • MagicMushroom on 08/05/2019 - 15:52

        Because access to NFC is free on Android devices, I see why banks don't like to be part of Apple pay. Melbourne's myki is also not available on Apple devices for the same reason.

        Funny how Apple blames the banks for discouraging use of it's platform.

        • thebadmachine on 08/05/2019 - 16:01

          Banks should be able afford to take on the 0.15% fee (Tap & Pay is usually for small transactions). That’s bad if they gave in and agreed to pass on fees to consumers (Apple Pay).

          • MagicMushroom on 08/05/2019 - 16:16

            @thebadmachine: Yeah agree that fee should not be placed on customers, but the banks also don't want to pay extra when the android counterpart doesn't charge them. Banks either need to swallow up the fee or ditch IOS.

          • AdosHouse on 08/05/2019 - 20:35

            @thebadmachine: Why should the banks take on the fee? They will simply pass it on to the customers. Don't like the fee, don't use Apple Pay.

    • Cavok on 09/05/2019 - 09:10

      There is no fee to the consumer for ANY Apple NFC transactions. Any fees are absorbed by the provider. If anything it reduces cash handling costs and makes it more frictionless to spend money.

  • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2019 - 15:46

    I used to have one of those paytags you stick to the back of your phone. They were ok, except those ipad looking eftpos machines barely recognized it.
    I now have apple pay, and it is more sensitive to the eftpos machine. So much better, not to mention the added ID protection in order to activate it.

    I love it because i can go for a jog and buy a coffee along the way.

  • trustnoone on 08/05/2019 - 15:54

    I love it, I use android pay though, it creates a 'virtual card' of your physical one so the card number they have differ to yours (for security) allows you to change it to another if you need to but takes money from the same card.
    It also accepts multiple cards which is helpful if you have multiple for different uses, you can easily switch.
    Also useful because I have my barcode cards in there so I have both in the one place.

    Its used basically as you say, you put your phone against it and it beeps through. It also keeps a little log (don't know if you can go longer) of your payments, helpful to see how much you paid for something if you forgot.

    • thebadmachine on 11/05/2019 - 22:41

      It also keeps a little log (don't know if you can go longer) of your payments, helpful to see how much you paid for something if you forgot.

      I can see payment history in my banking app, but it would be more convenient if the ‘log’ was able to be accessed more easily (without logging in / a widget would be nice).

  • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2019 - 18:28

    I started using cba app NFC tap and go but found it a bit hit and miss.

    Transferred over to gpay and never had a problem. Works quicker and 100% of the time.

    • AdosHouse on 08/05/2019 - 20:36

      What sort of problems did you have with the CBA app? Simply curious.

      I used to use the CBA app, but started using Google Pay since I can simply swipe up from the home screen to open it, instead of opening the CBA app. I also use Samsung Pay if I am wearing my Galaxy watch.

      • [Deactivated] on 08/05/2019 - 20:42

        With cba I found I had to hold my phone for longer over the terminal and then often I would then get a message similar to "phone moved too quickly" or similar.

        There is an option in the cba app so you don't need to open app but just unlock the phone.

        Not sure if gpay sends more power to NFC chip but I can just swipe phone past terminal with 99% success rate. This is why I prefer gpay.

        • AdosHouse on 08/05/2019 - 20:48

          CBA like to make the app copy their physical cards, where you have to do card gymnastics to make them work. LOL.

        • MagicMushroom on 09/05/2019 - 09:28

          You don't need to unlock the phone to use Gpay. I think by default it's wake up the screen so lock screen is fine.

          • apsilon on 09/05/2019 - 09:40

            @MagicMushroom: Unless I've changed a setting and don't remember doing it, you have to unlock the device, you just don't need to launch the app.

  • treeman on 09/05/2019 - 15:06

    I've been using it for around a year and hardly ever take my wallet with me anymore.

    One thing though is that sometimes I'll need to get cash out for whatever reason…maybe buy something at a charity stall etc.

    But I am unable to do so…is there a work around? Can I get something enabled?

    Cheers.

    • kerfuffle on 09/05/2019 - 21:29

      Assuming you have your bank ATM nearby, use the cardless cash function on your banking app if there’s one. Or carry emergency cash around like $100 (hello, cash only restaurants)

  • [Deactivated] on 09/05/2019 - 16:25

    I have stopped carring a wallet about 4 years ago. No wallet at all, cards on phone NFC. Police dont need the plastic licence just the number. Andvyes, stopped carrying cash as well.

    • thebadmachine on 09/05/2019 - 16:50

      I’m pretty sure you need to carry your physical drivers license with you when driving.
      (In NSW there is a digital license trial (App) going on, and in the requirements of the trial it stated physical license must be with you at all times when driving.

      • [Deactivated] on 11/05/2019 - 13:32

        (VIC) The plastic card is useless, your "licence" is the number attached to the plastic. There needs to be a "reasonable" excuse if you don't have it, like … I forgot it at home?

        • thebadmachine on 11/05/2019 - 17:42

          I see. I understand in NSW there is a possible fine attached, something along the lines of ‘driving without license’. I would recommend against relying on the police officer to cooperate with an excuse (at least in NSW).

  • thebadmachine on 11/05/2019 - 22:39

    Going by the lack of comments such as ‘I was wondering the same thing’.
    Seems like I am the odd one out here, having never paid with a smart phone.

    From my perspective it really does seem like a useful and progressive payment method.
    Thanks everyone for your comments.

  • thebadmachine on 21/05/2019 - 23:29

    Just came across this short video by Bloomberg, thought it was relevant.

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