As we reported would happen, Apple Pay will be going live in the U.K. today. The service launches in the country with support from more than 250,000 stores, including Waitrose and Transport for London on its transportation networks. Currently, 8 U.K. banks support Apple Pay. Those banks are American Express, First Direct, HSBC, Nationwide, NatWest, Royal Bank of Scotland, Santander and Ulster Bank. Notably missing from that list is Barclays, who is said to still be in negotiations with Apple to support the platform.
Apple Pay launched in the United States last October and the rollout to the U.K. was announced last month at WWDC. We exclusively reported earlier this month that the service would launch on July 14th. In the U.K., there is a £20 cap for almost all transactions. That cap will rise to £30 later this year in September, as we reported earlier this year.
For those unfamiliar with the service, Apple Pay is a contactless payment service that Apple hopes will replace the wallet as usage and support expands. The service is compatible with the iPhone 6, iPhone 6 Plus, and Apple Watch, taking advantage of fingerprint and NFC technology.
You can try to add cards to Passbook by changing Region to United States and following the steps. Works with some UK banks.
— Benjamin Mayo (@bzamayo) July 13, 2015
250,000 locations in the U.K. currently support Apple Pay, and that number will likely continue to grow as time progresses. Locations that accept payment via the platform are below:
- Lidl
- M&S
- Post Office
- Liberty
- McDonalds
- Boots
- Costa
- Waitrose
- Pret
- BP
- Subway
- Wagamama
- Spar
- KFC
- Nando’s
- New Look
- Starbucks
- Dune
- JD Sports
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As at 12:45am (when I’m reading this), it isn’t live yet. Also, I’ve been told by my bank that there is a daily limit of 5 contactless transactions (regardless of amount). This would likely include Apple Pay transactions.
just tried my santander card and it still does not work
I just changed my region to US and tried my RBS card. Worked! Have now changed my region back to Australia purely for metric measurements.
Same region switch method worked for me too. Changed iPhone region to US, added NatWest card, text from NatWest saying card activated for Apple Pay, changed back to UK and the card still in passbook. Apple watch isn’t picking up the new card but guess not everything is live yet.
Changed to US and Natwest card worked hand didn’t :( changed back to UK and the “add” option disappears
Awesome! I’m going to Nando’s today, might try it out.
please excuse my ignorance but where do i set it up, thank you in advance
No luck with First Direct
Nope it didn’t work for me either with FD.
Same with HSBC as to be expected
It appears that HSBC has moved down into Coming Soon on the Apple UK website.
Seems to be working for me on RBS. Changed region to US, added card and changed back to UK region. Apple Pay option still present.
Will ios9 public beta people be ok?
I’d like to know this too
Worked for me. Suddenly at 7:15,this morning
Yes, it has just activated for me on iOS 9 beta, also includes the double tap on home button to activate setting.
It’s so ridiculous that the UK would get this before Canada. I bet our greedy banks are holding out for higher kickbacks and our ISPs are probably doing what they can to block it given they want to set up their own networks.
Why is it ridiculous?
UK has always been second to the US for Apple launches.
It would be nice to have this released U.K. morning time and not Pacific time!!
6:02am and the option appeared in the UK region on iOS 9 public beta!
NOW LIVE AS OF 6AM – PASSBOOK APP IN UK REGION UPDATED TO SHOW APPLE PAY.
Watch not updated
Yeah, same. Phone running ios9 beta, watch hasn’t added apple pay functionality.
Added independently so now working on bioth
Live now! BUT tried HSBC and Halifax; “Card Not Added” “Contact your card issuer for more information”.
:-(
shouldn’t be long now… common- wake up HSBC!
Shouldn’t be long? I’m afraid you are highly likely to be waiting until the autumn.
HSBC will be available later this month, Halifax decided they didn’t want to join until some time in autumn but didn’t give any specific date.
Just been told by First Direct that the service won’t be activated until the 24th July… wtf!?
at 6.30am I still can’t add my HSBC card
First Direct has moved from “participating bank” to “coming soon”: http://www.apple.com/uk/apple-pay/
Apple UK website updated to remove Apple Pay as ‘Coming Soon’ and to exclude HSBC from launch!!
*REPEAT* HSBC WILL NOT LAUNCH APPLE PAY TODAY
What a balls up by HSBC
https://www.apple.com/uk/apple-pay/
HSBC have been removed from the Apple UK website as a launch partner for Apple Pay
Working. Now about to try it on the underground.
First direct/hsbc/m&s bank now delayed until the end of July. Twitter is full of unhappy people
Blame HSBC if you are a member. You don’t leak Apple plans or you get shafted.
Apple employees leaked Apple plans first! So did Waitrose employees
Went live at 8am for me. Used it at Co-Operative and worked a dream. Lady shouted out a manager as she didn’t believe me it worked like a normal card! They were all impressed with how smooth it went though!
I think we are going to see a lot of this, including managers who aren’t trained. I’m assuming the till would give the same authorisation as it would if people were using contactless cards, so its just the staff who will think we are trying to scam them!
Yes exactly. I said it works like contactless and to just select card. I can understand why she was a little skeptical at first. Finally I feel futuristic haha
Just to save time for anyone who got as confused as me; if you’ve got a non-NFC iPhone, but have an Apple Watch, you’ll need to go in to the Apple Watch app and then into Passbook & Apple Pay to add your cards, as the option won’t appear in your phones Passbook.
Reblogged this on Reviews, Commentary & Opinion.
I think all the people moaning about Apple Watch not having a ‘killer app’ are going to eat their words. I know it’s on iPhone 6 as well but paying for stuff by swishing your wrist is mind blowing. ‘No killer app’ my arse!!!
Paid with my Santander Card at the Co Op today, so cool!
I just used my Apple Watch at Subway. The receipt revealed the full substitute credit card number and expiry date allocated to me by Apple. Last 4 digits matches the one in the app.
That’s not supposed to happen is it???
I’ve tweeted a blurred pic to my bank. My Twitter name is @evand
Anyone who is using iPhone with ios 9, have you been able to use apple pay with the apple watch?