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Apple announces Apple Card credit card

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Re: Apple announces Apple Card credit card

#521
post #503

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Variable APRs range from 13.24% to 24.24% based on creditworthiness. Rates as of March 2019. > Late or missed payments will result in additional interest accumulating toward your balance. From the footnotes in the apple card announcement page.

Is 13% really considered low rates in the US?

Only in the sales brochure.

24% is predatory.

Re: Apple announces Apple Card credit card

#522

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They said it doesn't have anything embossed or printed on it, and call it "beautiful", so I doubt it'll have a mag stripe.

You can see what sure looks a mag stripe at 2m58s in the video at https://www.theverge.com/2019/3/25/18277417/apple-pay-credit... Disappointing.

Though very few and far between at this point, I'd say there are still a few times a year when I explicitly need to swipe a magstripe on my credit card - most recently a rural gas station in the California desert where I was seriously dependent on being able to fill up a tank.

I think many people, myself included, would still consider a credit card without the option to fall back to magstripe a nonstarter for their primary physical payment method.

Re: Apple announces Apple Card credit card

#523

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Once you start looking for it, you'd be surprised at how many places offer. I've never "seen" anyone else using it, but I'm in the position to "see" only a few minutes each week as I'm waiting in line. Isn't this because Apple Pay is essentially built on top of the Visa/Mastercard/Amex contactless solutions?

Yes, but only "newer" ones. So larger chains you see them, but mom and pops will take a bit longer. Depends on when they got their merchant account/hardware. My point was that it's more common than you think, and it's used outside of tech circles.

Contactless MasterCard was deployed sporadically in the US 15 years ago. Few stores had the readers and few banks issued the cards so it died due to lack of demand. It is questionable that Apple will carry enough influence to better that track record.

Re: Apple announces Apple Card credit card

#524
I'm guessing the 'virtual' aspect of this card will be activated relatively soon - before the physical delivery of the new sleek metal card.

Small businesses are the ones who still get bitten by fees, not just on payment processor level but on the physical machines themselves, the fees are still pretty high with some of the larger players locking companies into longer contracts too. [1] This needs to change.

There seems to be a lot of consolidation playing out too with the likes of WorldPay (who are the largest payment processor here in the UK) getting acquired [2].

[1] https://merchantcards.co.uk/providers/ [2] https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/72211/vantiv-closes-wo...

[1]

Re: Apple announces Apple Card credit card

#525
post #228

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look no further than the recent issue where Patreon competitor Subscribestar had payment processors Stripe and PayPal stop processing their payments for _political_ disagreements with the purported beneficiaries of the donations through the platform. PayPal said that it was actually one of the underlying payment processors, and it was suspected to be MasterCard. That incident was the first time I've ever taken the ne…

The CC networks are known cave to political pressure to shut down certain merchants. Apple is likely no better or worse here. example: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2015/07/caving-government-pres...

I have a news site too http://www.uptopnews.com/

Re: Apple announces Apple Card credit card

#526
post #246

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Look no further than the recent issue where Patreon competitor Subscribestar had payment processors Stripe and PayPal stop processing their payments for _political_ disagreements with the purported beneficiaries of the donations through the platform. PayPal said that it was actually one of the underlying payment processors, and it was suspected to be MasterCard. That incident was the first time I've ever taken the ne…

I’ve been told political campaigns focused on MC/Visa forced a policy change on Fetlife (specifically which kinks you’re allowed to admit to being into) a few years back. I’m not into the kink which caused it (and I won’t repeat it here) but that left a bad taste in my mouth. IMO, people should be free to discuss what they’re into, even when it’s something much more harmful than the kink involved.

More information for those interested: https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2017/03/payment-processors-are...

Re: Apple announces Apple Card credit card

#527
post #410

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It's 2% cash back on Apple Pay, 3% cash back on Apple products, and 1% cash back on non-Apple Pay, non-Apple products. Do you know a better card that always gives 2% cash back, no cap?

Fidelity Visa is 2% on everything, no cap, no annual fee. Citi DoubleCash is 2% on everything, dunno if there's a cap, no annual fee. (you have to redeem into a bank account, not as statement credit, to get the full 2%) USAA Limitless is 2.5% cash back on everything, no cap. (military only, no longer available), no annual fee. If you have enough cash invested with Merrill Edge ($100,000, including IRAs) the Bank of A…

The 2.5% cash back USAA Limitless card is not available for new applicants, but still works for existing holders. It is excellent. No international transaction fees, good exchange rates, works great with Apple Pay. If it ever becomes available for new applicants again, I recommend applying for it. Where else can you get risk-free instant 2.5% ROI? That's comparable to current rates for 1-year Certificates of Deposit.

Re: Apple announces Apple Card credit card

#528
post #91

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Here in the Southeast of the US, the adoption of Apple Pay (and I presume Samsung Pay) has definitely been increasing. Square/Clover/all the POS's used by coffeeshops and other small businesses have been taking Apple Pay for a few years now. But recently CVS started taking it, and CVS is everywhere (~6,200 stores in the US). Whole Foods is on Apple Pay. I understand Target will be following soon. It's still not 100%…

You don’t just need technology penetration. You also neeed consistently working devices that inspire confidence to customers that they’ll work. How often have you done this dance: 1. Notice the POS reader has an icon on it that vaguely indicates it supports some kind of NFC payment. 2. Pull out your phone and wave it around the reader. 3. No response from reader. Do I need to press something on my phone? 4. Still no…

Not as stupid as Lowes allowing you to initiate a debit transaction with the chip and then forcing a swipe instead. Can't wait for them to get hacked.

Re: Apple announces Apple Card credit card

#529

I got all excited and then realized that almost none of the new services that were announced will offer me anything as a European. Apple Card most likely won't be coming to Europe any time soon. The streaming service is also not likely to come to Europe as it includes US-only services such as Hulu and Amazon Prime. I am aware that this is a bit of a 1st world problem, but all of these services being US-only can be re…

Don't know where you are in Europe, but usually there are a few offers available from quite a lot of providers. Here are Ireland and Germany: https://www.justwatch.com/ie/tv-series/battlestar-galactica https://www.justwatch.com/de/Serie/Battlestar-Galactica Fully agree though on feeling like a second-class citizen regarding a number online services.

The more west you go, the better it gets :-) justwatch.com doesn't even have a page for Romania [1]; 404 Not Found.

[1] https://www.justwatch.com/ro/Serie/Battlestar-Galactica

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