Why is Apple Pay permanently imbedded in Uber?

Satchmo wrote:

The payment networks you mention to which Apple Pay is "akin" all work through cards over which consumers have control and can remove from the Uber app. What this reminds me is to be wary of using Apply Pay, not that it's available to use for Uber. I don't need any company's reminder about how I can pay. I can turn off notifications from the Uber app, but I can't delete Apple Pay from the app. You have offered no reason why I should not be able to control whether Apple Pay is attached to any app to which I don't want it attached. What is the reason why I should have no choice? Why do I have to envision nefarious things to control my credit?

What did Uber say when you contacted them? They are the only ones that can change the app to tailor it how you prefer. Apple Pay is useless without having any cards in your Apple Wallet, and even if you do have cards added there for Apple Pay use, it still requires your Face ID/Touch ID or Passcode to use it. You do have control over your Apple Pay use. That additional authentication step for security is not provided when you simply add your credit card to an app.

Do you have cards added in your Apple Wallet? If so, remove them. If not you can tap on that Apple Pay button in Uber all you want and it will do no good.

Have no idea what you are referring to with nefarious things controlling your credit. I can tell you if you have given a company your credit card number, that data could be disclosed in a data breach that would be disastrous for your credit. There is nothing stored on those companies servers for Apple Pay where a compromise on their servers would result in any harm to your credit. One time purchases for such things as a ride share charge on Uber would only get a one time use unique token that does not expose any details about the card that was billed.

I can defer to Jeff Donald as his expertise in this field is unmatched.

Satchmo wrote:

There is a huge distinction between allow and refuse to disallow.

And it is Uber that makes that distinction for you in their App. They can certainly remove it if they wish and if you let them know how you feel about it, they may listen.

https://help.uber.com/en/

Here’s a screenshot of my Uber Wallet.

Note the Apple Pay link. The screenshot below is when I tap Apple Pay option.

No payment methods. The payment methods are secure in your Apple Wallet app.

When I pay using Apple Pay, Uber triggers Apple Pay and it’s activated on your iPhone, but the transaction still needs to be verified by Face ID and authenticated by double clicking. Apple Pay is an option.

You can contact Uber and ask them if they can remove it. Uber wants to allow their customers to use Apple Pay as a payment method, so they include it in their app. It is up to Uber what payment options they want to make available to you and how they are displayed in their app.

Apple Pay is just a payment option like google Pay, credit cards, PayPal etc. If you don’t want to use it, pick a different payment method.

Satchmo wrote:

But Apple Pay cannot be removed from the Uber Wallet once added while individual credit cards can be removed, so it's not just another payment method.

Apple Pay is not a credit card or debit card like mine or your individual payment methods. It’s more akin to a Payment Network like Visa, American Express or Mastercard. All it is, is a reminder it’s an available payment option.

What nefarious things do you envision happening?

Without the connection to Apple Pay, how do I tell Uber I’m going to pay with Apple Pay? I have to be able to select it somewhere. Virtually every website has a place to select Apple Pay and various other payment forms.

Not to belabor my analogy, but it’s the other way around, cards work through networks. Look at my screenshot. It lists payment network options, not individual banks or the cardholder. Your cards are controlled by the networks and banks that issue the cards.

No offense intended, but I don’t think you fully understand how Apple Pay works and the benefits and features it offers.