⛽ New pain at the pump: When you swipe a credit card at a gas station, it usually checks for a $1 balance, lets you fill up, then charges the full amount. Thieves have caught on. They can use practically any stolen card to rack up hundreds of dollars in free gas. To not get taken, use Apple Pay, Google Pay or the gas station’s app.
Tech tip: How to use your phone to pay for everything
Get ready to ditch your old wallet for a faster, safer option. Instead of swiping your card at checkout, you only have to hold up your phone. Apple and Android smartphones allow you to pay for everything from your next latte to your new favorite sweater using built-in apps.
You can even use voice commands to send money to friends and family. Saying something like, “Hey Siri, send mom $100,” works as long as you have mom set up in your contacts. Tap or click here for five safe ways to pay online.
You can use Apple Wallet and Google Pay to buy things in stores, online or in apps. It’s easy to set up, too. We’ll walk you through the process. Pro tip: I always keep a $20 bill tucked inside my phone case. That way, if a retailer doesn’t accept digital payments, I always have another way to pay.
How to set up Apple Pay on iPhone
If you haven’t already done so, you’ll need to add a card to Apple Wallet. Here’s how:
- Open Settings > Wallet & Apple Pay.
- Tap Add Card.
- Select Debit or Credit Card.
- If you have the physical card, position it within the frame on the screen. The iPhone’s camera will attempt to scan the card details automatically. Alternatively, you can choose the option to Enter Card Details Manually.
- Follow the on-screen instructions to provide the necessary information, such as card number, expiration date and cardholder name. You may also need to verify your identity through additional security measures, such as entering a verification code sent by your card issuer.
- Once you’ve entered all the required information, tap Next or Add Card to proceed.
- Your card issuer will verify the details and may require additional authentication steps, such as providing a one-time password or confirming your identity through their app or website. Follow the instructions provided by your card issuer to complete the verification process.
- Once the verification is successful, your card will be added to Apple Wallet and you can start using it for contactless payments and other supported features.
NOTE: The card you enter will become your default payment method for new charges.
Here’s how to make purchases using Apple Pay:
- To use your default card:
- If your iPhone has Face ID, double-click the side button. If prompted, authenticate with Face ID or enter your passcode to open Apple Wallet.
- If your iPhone has Touch ID, double-click the Home button.
- To use a different card, tap your default card to see your other cards. Tap a new card and authenticate.
- Hold the top of your iPhone near the contactless reader until Done and a checkmark appears on the display.
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Pro tip: If you’re on the go and want to use Apple Pay quickly, there’s a way to bypass your lock screen and go straight to your Wallet.
- If you have a FaceID-enabled iPhone, double-click the side button.
- If you have a Home button model, double-click Home instead.
- Your wallet will pop up and you can pay quickly. Then, verify the purchase with your fingerprint or FaceID.
Google will pay you the difference if your flight price drops
When you’re looking for a hotel, travel discount sites like Kayak, Expedia and Hotels.com are good places to start, but you won’t always find the best prices there. There’s one more step to take that’ll help you undercut even the lowest price you find online. Here’s what you need to do.
Don't want to use Google Pay? Samsung has its own digital wallet app
Samsung Wallet is a hybrid of two existing apps: Samsung Pay and Samsung Pass. This all-in-one app allows you to pay in multiple ways and store sensitive information. But how does it work?
If your Galaxy smartphone is compatible with Samsung Pay (Android 9 or above, not available on iOS), you can use Samsung Wallet.
Amazon wants you to scan your palm to pay - Would you do it?
Have you set up Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone? It’s a fast and easy way to make purchases without having to touch a keypad or reach for your wallet. And once you set it up, you can use it online and in your apps. Tap or click here to use your phone to pay for everything.
Update your Android! Message upgrades, pay with your voice and more
If you have an Android device, you’ll want to hit that “update” button soon. Tap or click here for seven things you didn’t know your Android could do. Google released a significant update for the mobile operating system, adding many new functions and accessibility options.
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Payment apps like Venmo, Cash App, Google Pay, Zelle and PayPal are great for paying for goods and services and sending money to friends. You can even use some of them to split a bill at a restaurant. They’re an easy alternative to credit cards that are becoming more widely accepted as time goes on.
Skip the card: How to pay with your phone or smartwatch
Credit cards have been around for nearly three-quarters of a century and have evolved to the point where you don’t even need to swipe your card or insert it into a chip reader. Using Radio-frequency identification (RFID) or Near-Field Communication (NFC), you need only hold your card close to the reader or tap it to complete a transaction.
Money scams are out of control: How to lock down your bank or payment app
Contactless payment has gained traction, thanks in part to social distancing. Rather than handle cash or even swipe a card, you need only hold your smartphone close to a payment terminal, scan a QR code or send money directly through a peer-to-peer (P2P) app.
Google Pay: Is it safe? Yes, and here's how to use the payment app
Digital wallets are more useful than they’ve ever been. Between the pandemic and the change shortage, we’re all looking for safer and easier ways to pay for stuff.
One of the safest ways to do that is to use a digital wallet to send money or pay for items. There are tons of different options out there — Apple Pay, PayPal, Venmo and Google Pay, for starters — and they all make it simple to complete contactless transactions. Even Amazon has gotten in on the contactless pay action.
Do you use CashApp, Zelle or Venmo? Don't make this mistake
Advances in technology have made every aspect of our lives easier. This has become more obvious with people staying home during the pandemic.
Many of us have been able to work from home during these troubling times and one tool that’s made that happen is video conferencing apps like Zoom and Google Meet. Tap or click here to find out which video conferencing service is right for you.
Are you paying for Android apps you don’t use? Here’s how to cancel them
It’s so easy to get roped into a new subscription or two when you’re using your phone or tablet. It starts with those enticing free app trials and ends with months and months of autopayments for services you aren’t using.
Amazon has a new way to pay with just a wave of your hand
We’re still in the midst of a pandemic, which means it’s important to take precautions against catching or spreading COVID-19. We’ve all made helpful changes — things like washing our hands regularly, disinfecting our homes and workplaces, or wearing masks.
How-to: Set up mobile payments to avoid coronavirus
Just a few months back, it may have seemed obsessive-compulsive to wash your hands after every interaction. But with the specter of the coronavirus looming large, hygiene is at the forefront of everyone’s minds.
Frequently cleaning your hands and devices is one of the best ways you can protect yourself. If everyone takes action to reduce the spread of germs, it can slow the creep of infection. Tap or click to see the best disinfectants you can use for your gadgets.
10 amazing things you can do with Google Pay
You’ll probably spend some money no matter where you go or what you do. So why make that process any more difficult than it has to be by carrying around an overstuffed wallet of cards and payment methods?
If you’re a user of Google Pay or are just thinking about trying it, there may be some things yet to learn about it. Much like Apple Pay or Samsung Pay, Google’s contactless payment system allows you to pay for something with your phone almost anywhere contactless payment methods are accepted.