As predicted, Apple Pay has hit the UK today, on July 14.
UK iPhone users can now make payments with their iOS devices in more than 250,000 sites around the country. The list of retailers supporting the system includes Marks & Spencer, Waitrose, Boots, Lidl, and Spar.
Plenty of popular food outlets are also supporting Apple Pay‘s UK debut, including Nando’s, Pret, Costa, McDonalds, Wagamama, and Subway.
In addition, services like the Post Office and Transport for London (covering Tube, bus, and rail travel in the capital) are supporting Apple’s payment service. You’ll also be able to pay for your fuel at BP petrol stations in this way.
It shoud be noted that a number of retailers that haven’t upgraded their terminals will have £20 capped transactions. However, many outlets will be using upgraded terminals that can accept greater value transactions, including Apple, TfL, and Burger King.
Visa estimates that by the end of the year,
You’ll need to activate your bank card on your iPhone, and Apple is partnering up with HSBC, Lloyds Bank, Bank of Scotland, Royal Bank of Scotland, First Direct, Halifax, M&S Bank, MBNA, NatWest, Nationwide, Santander, TSB, and Ulster Bank to that end. Barclays support is coming “imminently”.
Interestingly, although HSBC leaked the Apple Pay launch date yesterday, the bank has confirmed that the service is “coming later in July” and isn’t available to use at present.
HSBC sent an e-mail to customers revealing Apple Pay won’t be available at launch…
Read More: Can Apple Pay really replace your wallet?
You’ll need an iPhone 6 or an iPhone 6 Plus to make direct use of the Apple Pay system, as those phones come with the necessary NFC chip preinstalled. However, if you have an Apple Watch and an iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, or iPhone 5C, you can combine the two for Apple Pay usage.
Just press your finger to the home button and hold your iPhone up to the payment point to make Apple Pay payments. With the Apple Watch, double tap the side button and hold the watch up to the payment point.
The error message when trying to use Apple Pay with a HSBC card at launch
Watch as we test out the Apple Watch’s credentials as a modern smart device:
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.