What is Apple Pay?
Apple Pay is a contactless payment which can be made via Apple products such as iPhone mobiles, iPad and watches. The difference between Apple Pay and other forms of contactless payments, is that there is no limit when it comes to the transaction size, with contactless currently being £45.00.
How does Apple Pay work?
Apple Pay works using an NFC (near field chip) embedded in your device. When held up close to a chip and pin machine the two communicate in the same manner when standard contactless transactions take place via credit or debit card.
Apple Pay for ecommerce
Following the successful launch of face to face payments using Apple Pay, online payments can now be made using similar tech. When shopping online customers simply click the Apple Pay icon and authorise the payment using their device. This can be done on the same device, ie purchasing on a mobile phone and completing the transaction in the same manner or on different devices – purchasing on a laptop and authorising on an Apple device such as phone, watch etc.
Payment Gateways that work using Apple Pay
To accept Apple Pay transactions online, businesses will need a gateway which is Apple Pay enabled. Although a lot of high street banks and acquirers have the function some don’t, so if Apple Pay is a function you are set on it’s important to check with your provider before applying.
If you work in a high-risk industry, finding a provider who will allow Apple Pay transactions can be more complex. For help with this speak to our experts today.
Do all contactless machines accept Apple Payments?
Card machines work with the same technology to accept contactless payments via credit/debit card as Apple Pay. If you have a machine which is contactless enabled, you will be able to accept Apple Pay transactions.
How much does it cost to accept Apple Pay?
It doesn’t cost any more to accept Apple Pay than it does standard transactions, which will be charged at the agreed percentage rates stated at the beginning of your contract. Some merchant accounts offer lower or free fees when it comes to processing contactless payments. Apple Pay should be seen as the authorisation method, not an additional service with extra costs.
If you feel you are paying over the odds for card processing or haven’t reviewed your account for a while, we suggest switching accounts regularly meaning you have the best rates and associated costs available to you. Merchants should compare accounts on a pound for pound basis, ensuring to keep an eye out for hidden fees.
Accepting Apple Pay through Apps
In recent years the increase of App use has been significant, retail and hospitality are with no exception. From gaming to subscriptions, finding a gateway which will integrate with your App will not only streamline the customer journey but also reduce the bounce rate at checkout.
Following the COVID pandemic in 2020, there has also been a huge increase in restaurant and booking Apps, meaning that Apple Pay can be integrated into the Apps communicating payment data between diners and EPOS systems.
How can Merchant Advice Service help?
Merchant Advice Service offer free of charge, non-biased advice to business owners in the UK and Europe, covering all things card payments, business bank account and finance. Together with our banks and brokers we offer a wide variety of Apple Pay and Google/Android Pay enabled payment platforms. To start accepting these payment methods speak to our advisors today.
