Wrong Amounts on ApplePay

Question

Level 1

3 points

Wrong Amounts on ApplePay

ApplePay is reporting wrong amounts in all "Two Steps" transactions. "Two Steps" transactions are typical for Restaurants, Gas Stations and similar activities taht there is a reservations for an amount and then the confirmation of the final charge. In the case of Restaurants, the initial bill is charged and then most often than not the "tip" is added making the total charge the same as one has signed the receipt for. By the same token, Gas Stations reserve the maximum possible (Amex, $99; Visa $150; etc) initially and then when the transaction is concluded the correct amount is charged. In my case, monitoring my American Express on Apple Pay, on 3 occasions ApplePay only registered the First step and never the second. Specifically, on the restaurant it only registered the actual bill and not the tip that I included. on 2 Gas stations the same took place. I have only the $99 charge and never the correct amount that was $15.50 and $25.60.

Have other experienced this issue?

Is Apple aware of this? Is Apple planning to correct this problem?

iPhone 6, iOS 8.1

Posted on Nov 4, 2014 1:39 PM

Reply

Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

UhuraDog

Level 1

131 points

Nov 9, 2014 9:58 PM in response to Sailingnuts

Hi Sailingnuts,

That's actually not an issue with Apple Pay. What you're noticing is with AmEx PassBook (and now Apple Pay) they show you a lot more detail than you're used to seeing. I've had PassBook for my AmEx enabled for several years and I've always noticed the high holds/pre-approvals some merchants request, as you're now noticing yourself.

Each merchant chooses the amount to request from the bank to ensure you'll be able to make final payment. For example, some gas stations chose $50, others $99 (Shell), and I've even seen some request $150 (Costco) pre-approval from my AmEx. Once they "hear" back from your bank you're good for $99 (Shell as an example) they let you pump until you're full or get to $99. That won't update until the merchant then sends final details of the transaction. Sign into your online account detail and you'll notice. AmEx is really good about showing every detail at each step. For example, here's an image of a fill up 12 hours ago at a Shell. It's still showing pending. You'll note that AmEx even comments about the "pre-approval" process.

The actual transaction amount for me was about $60. Until the merchant releases the pre-approval and posts the actual amount, it'll continue to show as pending with the $99 hold. Also, for this example it was using my physical AmEx card and not Apple Pay as unfortunately Shell had joined the Dark Side (a merchant in the MCX CurrentC scheme, but that's a story for another thread).

I hope this helps you better understand the holds/pre-approval processes between merchants (typically gas, hotel, car rentals, etc). It's also reason for using a CC with those types of vendors since if you use cash or debit, they would require a "deposit" and that means you'd be out of pocket for those amounts until they deem the transaction closed.

-U

Reply

Answer 2

Sailingnuts Author

Level 1

3 points

Nov 11, 2014 3:44 PM in response to Sailingnuts

I am sorry but both of you just repeated what I stated on my post. And the problem is not with American Express. American Express on their site or on their Mobile App have the correct information and the two step process accounted for. The problem with ApplePay, when one pays with a card and NOT with ApplePay, using American Express, is that the API, on the Apple side, does not understand the 2 step process and consider the transaction completed on the first step. It does not matter how long as the API DOES NOT return to get the 2nd step. I have checked several times on the mobile App as well as on the website, after some minutes (1 to 15, in average) American Express completes and posts the second and final step. ApplePay never does.

This has been escalated to the ApplePay engineering team and they are checking.

Reply

Answer 3

Nov 4, 2014 7:08 PM in response to Sailingnuts

Hi ..

You need to contact Apple directly.

Click here > Set up and use Apple Pay - Apple Support

Then scroll or swipe to the bottom of that page then click or tap: Contact Apple Support

Reply

Answer 4

EmSurfer

Level 1

19 points

Nov 9, 2014 11:38 PM in response to Sailingnuts

UhuraDog is spot on. This is with American Express. Not with ApplePay. Once the transaction goes through, the final amount will show up on your American Express Card.

Reply