# Apple Pay. Google Wallet. Discuss **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 11, 2014, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130 "2014-09-11T00:18:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 3:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/61 "2021-12-06T03:12:32Z")
It’s stitched to your palm? Interesting solution. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/62 "2021-12-06T03:19:06Z")
Well, I thought my meaning was obvious but apparently not. So I’ll explain in great detail. I remove my bifold wallet from its usual place in my left front pocket, open it, remove the Visa card from the top right slot, hold it in my right hand, tap the credit card terminal, return it to my wallet, close the wallet and return the wallet to my left front pocket. Losing the card seems unlikely. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 3:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/63 "2021-12-06T03:32:12Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Losing the card seems unlikely. The point that was lost on you is that no one ever thinks they are going to lose their card/have it stolen. And then they lose their card/it gets stolen. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 3:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/64 "2021-12-06T03:35:27Z")
Similarly, one can lose one’s smartphone, in which case Apple Pay/Google Pay isn’t usable either. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/65 "2021-12-06T03:44:58Z")
But in comparison to a contactless card, it’s “safe” to lose your phone because no one could use it to make a purchase. If I saw you left your contactless Visa (or if I just simply stole your wallet), I could go use it to charge something to you. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/66 "2021-12-06T03:57:16Z")
> [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > Well, I thought my meaning was obvious but apparently not. So I’ll explain in great detail. I remove my bifold wallet from its usual place in my left front pocket, open it, remove the Visa card from the top right slot, hold it in my right hand, tap the credit card terminal, return it to my wallet, close the wallet and return the wallet to my left front pocket. Losing the card seems unlikely. TIL that no one can have a wallet stolen from their pocket. ---
**Author:** ![Dewey\_Finn](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dewey_finn/32/4222_2.png) [@Dewey\_Finn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dewey_Finn)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/67 "2021-12-06T04:04:27Z")
Well, congratulations! You learned something even though it’s a Sunday. Good for you! ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/68 "2021-12-06T04:25:00Z")
> [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](#): > > > [@Dewey\_Finn](#): > > > > Well, I thought my meaning was obvious but apparently not. So I’ll explain in great detail. I remove my bifold wallet from its usual place in my left front pocket, open it, remove the Visa card from the top right slot, hold it in my right hand, tap the credit card terminal, return it to my wallet, close the wallet and return the wallet to my left front pocket. Losing the card seems unlikely. > > TIL that no one can have a wallet stolen from their pocket. No more unlikely than having a phone stolen. ---
**Author:** ![Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eyebrows_0f_doom/32/3119_2.png) [@Eyebrows\_0f\_Doom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Eyebrows_0f_Doom)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 5:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/69 "2021-12-06T05:23:58Z")
Yes that’s the point. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 7:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/70 "2021-12-06T07:46:02Z")
Really. The point is that a naked credit card is an easy target to steal and rack up unauthorised charges. A phone is near impossible to make unauthorised charges with. Modern phones carry enough technology to make them near worthless and a potential liability to steal. In comparison, a credit card is not a lot more secure than just carrying cash. Credit cards are living in the past. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 11:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/71 "2021-12-06T11:26:04Z")
They do manufacture biometric (eg fingerprint scanner) smart cards to mitigate the danger of an unauthorized user stealing the card. But if you already carry a smart phone, it may be redundant. ---
**Author:** ![engineer\_comp\_geek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/engineer_comp_geek/32/504_2.png) [@engineer\_comp\_geek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/engineer_comp_geek)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/72 "2021-12-06T12:07:13Z")
**Moderator Action** Since this thread has drifted pretty far into IMHO territory, let’s move it there (from FQ). ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/73 "2021-12-06T14:55:35Z")
Federal law limits losses on a timely reported lost/stolen card to $50; however, in practice, most if not all banks waive this down to $0 (no loss to card holder). With one phone call, the charges go away & a new card is being issued. Depending upon the issuing bank & type of card, one might be able to swing by a branch on their way home & have a new one printed on the spot. I’ve yet to see a card run out of battery or get dropped/thrown, have the screen crack, & become instantly unusable. ---
**Author:** ![Wolf333](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf333/32/3460_2.png) [@Wolf333](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wolf333)\ **Post date:** [December 6, 2021, 5:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/74 "2021-12-06T17:17:43Z")
I’ve lost a card to a malfunctioning ATM before. ---
**Author:** ![zbuzz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e19b73/32.png) [@zbuzz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zbuzz)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 5:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/75 "2021-12-07T05:56:15Z")
It’s not about making a phone call to cancel a card or liability (you do know that you’re just as covered using a mobile wallet, right?). It’s about security. Mobile wallets are more secure than cards. I’ve never been in line at a store and seen someone not be able to pay because of a dead battery or a dropped phone. But I guess you see this sort of stuff all the time if you’re using it as examples. Remind me not to shop where you do. ---
**Author:** ![Francis\_Vaughan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/francis_vaughan/32/3093_2.png) [@Francis\_Vaughan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Francis_Vaughan)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 1:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/76 "2021-12-07T13:45:49Z")
Coping with credit card fraud is a lot more pain than a phone call if you get properly done over. Don’t kid yourself that the charges just vanish. Colleague of mine years ago had his credit card fraudulently used to buy jewellery. It took ages to get the charge reversed, and in that time he lost the ability to make charges on the card, the charge attracted interest, and the credit card company refused to refund the interest. Sure, your transaction liability is limited, but your time and frustration, especially if the fraud occurs when on holiday - which is often when it does - can ruin your holiday. Everyone I know that has had the experience has had a significantly distressing time sorting things out. It isn’t about the money. Cancelling a card if it is stolen can (and in my experience has) caused all manner of knock on effects. All the tied automatic payments start to fail. I saw a small company lose its internet domain registration for a week because they cancelled a card they thought had been misused. Domain name register tried to charge it, got a cancelled card error, and cancelled the account, deleting the DNS entry. Took nearly a week to straighten out. In the modern era you really don’t want to be cancelling cards. Use the technology available to place another step between your card and the transaction. Not doing so is simply living in the happy simple past. The now is not so forgiving. ---
**Author:** ![Driver8](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5a626/32.png) [@Driver8](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Driver8)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2021, 5:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130/77 "2021-12-07T17:02:15Z")
I used Apple Pay quite a lot pre-pandemic and found it to be pretty reliable. But my phone uses my face as ID which doesn’t work with masks. Prior to that I could take it out of my pocket, get it to register my face and tap it in essentially one fluid satisfying movement. Now I’d need to use the passcode, and it’s easier to just pull out my RFID equipped credit card. I’m not overly concerned with credit card fraud. In the few times we’ve had fraudulent transactions it’s been completely pain free and in at least a couple of times was handled proactively (i.e. the card company detected the fraud, asked if it was legit, and made us whole automatically when we said “no”). My experience with a bank account (a stolen or forged check) was not… that. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/apple-pay-google-wallet-discuss/698130.md?page=3)