cwhyles
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Q: "Card not available" message on watch

I tried using Apple pay here in the UK for the first time today. My cards are set up on both iPhone 6 and watch. When I tried to pay using the watch it did nothing and gave a message "Card not available". The card has been correctly set up and verified.

 

In the end I paid with cash. Lucky to have enough with me.

 

I did not have the card with me. Is that required? If so it doesn't say so anywhere.

Apple Watch 42mm, iOS 8.4.1

Posted on Sep 13, 2015 4:03 AM

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cwhyles

Q: "Card not available" message on watch

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 13, 2015 4:16 AM in response to cwhyles
    Level 8 (39,756 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 13, 2015 4:16 AM in response to cwhyles

    On your iPhone, in the Apple Watch app > My Watch > Passbook & Apple Pay:

    - Are your cards listed there?

    - Is your Default Card set correctly?

  • by cwhyles,

    cwhyles cwhyles Sep 13, 2015 4:16 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 13, 2015 4:16 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Yes, they are set up correctly. The debit card was easy, the credit card much more difficult requiring a telephone call to the bank.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 13, 2015 4:16 AM in response to cwhyles
    Level 8 (39,756 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 13, 2015 4:16 AM in response to cwhyles

    Also: you say your watch "did nothing".

     

    - To pay using Apple Pay on your watch via a double-click on the side button, that double-click needs to be significantly quicker than the slower speeds at which a double-press on the iPhone's Home button will cause display recently used apps to be displayed.

    - You can test this now: you don't need to be at a payment terminal to bring up your card(s) and choose between them (by swiping) as if you were about to pay in a store.

  • by cwhyles,

    cwhyles cwhyles Sep 13, 2015 4:35 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 13, 2015 4:35 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    I tried, with a patient shop assistant, multiple times. I think you might be overlooking the most important question, which is whether you need to have the card nearby? I didn't take the card to the shop. Perhaps I misunderstand how Apple Pay works: is it just a front end to the card NFC?

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 13, 2015 4:38 AM in response to cwhyles
    Level 8 (39,756 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 13, 2015 4:38 AM in response to cwhyles

    You certainly do not need to have the card nearby - the process works entirely independently.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 13, 2015 4:42 AM in response to cwhyles
    Level 8 (39,756 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 13, 2015 4:42 AM in response to cwhyles

    Did you bring up Apple Pay on your watch before you held it towards the reader, with the picture of your payment card displayed on the screen of your watch as you tried to pay?

  • by cwhyles,

    cwhyles cwhyles Sep 13, 2015 4:41 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 13, 2015 4:41 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Ok, that resolves that then, thank you. That still leaves a puzzle.

     

    If I try it here at home, a quick double click gives me a message "Ready..." and "Hold near the card reader to pay". I got that in the shop as well.

     

    The shop assistant told me that someone had successfully used an Apple watch to pay. I can't think what is wrong with mine. I don't know any other shop near here that takes it either.

  • by cwhyles,

    cwhyles cwhyles Sep 13, 2015 4:44 AM in response to Jonathan UK
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Sep 13, 2015 4:44 AM in response to Jonathan UK

    Yes, I did have the app open.

     

    Perhaps I should have tried my phone as well, but I felt I was wasting too much time, although the shop wasn't busy.

  • by Jonathan UK,

    Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 13, 2015 5:03 AM in response to cwhyles
    Level 8 (39,756 points)
    Apple Watch
    Sep 13, 2015 5:03 AM in response to cwhyles

    Possibilities include:

     

    • Your watch may not have been presented correctly to the terminal:
      • The watch face should be facing and parallel with the terminal, aligned centrally with the contactless logo on the terminal screen and closer than 10cm.
      • It should be held in that position for up to a few seconds, until you hear the confirmation beep and haptic pulse.
    • Your watch may have a temporary software issue:
      • Try restarting (and, if that doesn't help, force restarting) your watch: Restart your Apple Watch - Apple Support
        • Unpairing and re-pairing may also help, but you will have to add the cards to Apple Pay again afterwards (even after restoring your watch from backup during pairing): Unpair your Apple Watch and iPhone - Apple Support
          • New software updates for iPhone and Apple Watch are also being released this week (16 September). Update your iPhone first, then in the Apple Watch app go to My Watch > General > Software Update.
        • Your watch may have a hardware issue - contact Apple Support if you decide this seems likely: https://www.apple.com/support/watch/contact/
        • The merchant may have a software or hardware issue with their terminal. Any metal objects placed nearby (eg stapler) can also interfere.

         

        In the first instance, perhaps try restarting your watch and trying it again in due course.

         

        You can also report the failed transaction to Apple now. The feedback form asks for details of issues with specific merchants, transactions and payment cards, so it can help Apple to identify and investigate issues: https://www.apple.com/feedback/apple-pay.html

      • by cwhyles,

        cwhyles cwhyles Sep 13, 2015 5:41 AM in response to Jonathan UK
        Level 1 (0 points)
        Sep 13, 2015 5:41 AM in response to Jonathan UK

        Sounds as if it could have been the way I was holding the watch. I was trying to see the screen. I'll try again sometime.

         

        Thanks for the advice, Jonathan.

      • by Jonathan UK,

        Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 13, 2015 5:46 AM in response to cwhyles
        Level 8 (39,756 points)
        Apple Watch
        Sep 13, 2015 5:46 AM in response to cwhyles

        cwhyles wrote:

         

        Sounds as if it could have been the way I was holding the watch. I was trying to see the screen.

         

        You're welcome!

         

        And that certainly explains it - you should not be able to see the screen whilst paying.

      • by cwhyles,

        cwhyles cwhyles Sep 13, 2015 8:56 AM in response to Jonathan UK
        Level 1 (0 points)
        Sep 13, 2015 8:56 AM in response to Jonathan UK

        I've been back to the shop and eventually got Apple pay working on the watch, but not without hiccups. I made several attempts holding the face of the watch close to the reader, but didn't get any haptic feedback. I decided to try with my iPhone 6, and as I was opening Passbook I felft my watch nudge me. I tried with the watch and it worked.

         

        Not at all the usual smooth Apple experience. Let us hope it improves with the iOS 9 upgrade. Maybe Passbook will run natively on the watch.

      • by Jonathan UK,

        Jonathan UK Jonathan UK Sep 13, 2015 9:01 AM in response to cwhyles
        Level 8 (39,756 points)
        Apple Watch
        Sep 13, 2015 9:01 AM in response to cwhyles

        Thanks for updating - I'm glad to hear that you got it working!

         

        cwhyles wrote:

         

        Maybe Passbook will run natively on the watch.

         

        Apple Pay already does - you can use it without having your iPhone nearby and/or connected. You could, for example, leave your iPhone at home and still be able to pay with just Apple Watch