Google Pay and other mobile payment methods?

I’m still holding back. Know people who swear by ApplePay, but am not sure I want to get into that yet.

When I am in Europe, I always pay using my Apple Wallet so that I just have to bring my phone close to the payment device and the NCF will do the rest. It works perfectly with smaller amounts. On larger purchases, on occasion I have been asked to provide the physical card (i.e. to rent a car).

I am sure Android has a similar app. If you have a smartwatch with NCF, you can use that, too.

In Argentina, they are wary against this method and always pretend to see the actual card, which defeats its purpose.

serafina , you are always on tech frontlines! Glad to hear this works so well. No fears in case of getting hacked or losing phone?

Quote from Rice

serafina , you are always on tech frontlines! Glad to hear this works so well. No fears in case of getting hacked or losing phone?

My mother shares your same concern. However, I feel the modern apple iPhones offer enough safety features to sleep well at night. There are also specific settings that one can configure so that the iPhone is trackable even when offline and to wipe the iPhone remotely in case of theft.

I have never used it in Argentina as I have heard from other expats that they have been asked to show the physical card plus ID, regardless.

I only have two local debit cards, one with ICBC that I added in the wallet, and one from Galicia that I am unable to add (no idea why). It is very convenient to pay using your phone, since you have it in your hand anyway. I found it especially useful in airports, given that I have my wallet tucked in the backpack, but I keep my phone in my hand because I am texting, checking flight status, receiving app updates on my flight etc.

Quote from Splinter

And yes, the whole idea of contactless is the issue of security. Talking of which, my new Wise debit card arrived and it's completely blank except for my name, which is the way it should be.

This sounds like a really good development. Let’s hope other cc companies follow.

serafina , thanks for the encouragement about Apple Pay. Mine is an iPhone 15, so I’d expect the security apparatus would be up to date.

There are a few banks that issue blank debit cards, apart from name

The Metro Bank, which I think is a US bank, in the UK issues blank cards, which makes me wonder how they add the card to Apple and presumably Google Pay

Quote from Splinter

In the app, the details are shown to you, but only you. And, you have to 2FA it in the app, which is fine by me.

I've heard that 2FA on Apple's account is seriously hard to sign up for

Must ask my missus what she uses as she's always using her phone to pay for stuff.

I've never paid close attention right enough although I suspect it'll be through individual company Apps like YPF, supermarkets, ML uses rather than Google Pay.

Quote from Splinter

You should try it on your phone. It's dead easy.

I thought it must be if she uses it. Only time she kicked up a fuss was in YPF when the system was down.