Apple Pay with American Express is not working anymore - iOS 18.1.1

AmEx had an issue earlier this year in U.K. It took about 6 weeks for them to totally resolve the issue. I thought it might be related, but you’re in Germany, so I doubt it unless more reports from Germany in the community here.

I suspect now, one of two generally related issues. Many countries place a hard limit on the transaction amount allowed for electronic wallets. In addition, merchants can also but a ceiling on electronic wallet transactions.

Another issue arises when some countries require a PIN be entered to complete large transactions. Apple Pay does not support PINs and feels Face ID is more secure. This could also be the issue.

Apple Support in Germany may have more specifics or other known issues. Here is their contact number, if you want to pursue the matter.

Germany

0800 6645 451

Connect with German Sign Language support

Apple is not a bank and cannot approve or decline transactions. The Secure Element in your iPhone transmits an encrypted one time use token to the merchants transaction terminal. The merchant transmits the encrypted data to their credit card processor who then transmits it to the Payment Network Operator. In your case the PNO is also the bank, American Express. The PNO reviews the charge for fraud etc and the bank approves based on various factors including fraud, account balance, credit limit etc. The bank then approves or declines the transaction. The data flows back to the merchant with either approval or decline.

If American Express says they aren’t receiving transaction data, the merchant or their credit card processor is stopping transaction.

If that’s the case I suspect it’s the merchant or processor requiring a PIN or the amount is over a threshold and being stopped. Why would they stop a transaction? Probably related to a fraud protection issue, bank regulation issue, etc.

The transaction software the merchant uses is almost always provided by the credit card processor. It could be some as simple as the software needs an update. The software could be programmed to require a PIN above a certain limit. Why have a limit? Merchant might lose fraud protection if over and doesn’t want the risk.

Im happy to answer additional questions if you’d like.

I believe it’s a merchant issue, not an American Express or Apple Issue.

If it were a device issue, Apple Pay wouldn’t work anywhere. Same for Apple Pay services. The data was transmitted to the transaction terminal. Apple Pay is essentially done at that point. The merchant’s software could block the Apple Pay transaction or the company that provides the card processing services could block Apple Pay.

I doubt AmEx can track it down either.

What country are you in, UK by chance?

Is Apple Pay working with any other payment methods?