topic Re: Samsung Pay in Credit Cards

Samsung Pay

UncleB — Fri, 04 Aug 2017 02:22:01 GMT

Hey everybody,

I'm two weeks into my Samsung Pay experience, and so far so good. I've had good luck using it at the usual places, but the jury is still out if I'll continue using it once the new wears off. In most cases it does seem to add time to the checkout experience (other than Publix, where swipe transactions are still much quicker than EMV) but it's not slowing me down enough to be annoying (usually).

I will add that I'm enjoying the promos... there was a Capital One promo a week or so back (use three times, get a rewards card) and there's now a USAA promo (use your USAA card three times, get $15 rewards card). I'll definitely continue to use it as long as these promos are around.

What are your experiences? Feel free to share the good and the bad here. And of course any tips from seasoned users are welcome!

Re: Samsung Pay

pizza1 — Mon, 07 Aug 2017 03:16:49 GMT

Well, I can't add any experiences UnlceB, since I don't even use the Apple Pay with my own phone, but those rewards are nice, and definitely add up. Every little bits helps

Glad its going well for you so far!

Re: Samsung Pay

Anonymous — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 12:51:14 GMT

I wanted to try it 2 years ago but it won't let you pay on a rooted device, and i can't stand stock Samsung Android so I've never been able to use it.

Might try on my next phone before rooting it but for now real cards remain my only option.

Re: Samsung Pay

UncleB — Tue, 24 Apr 2018 02:08:45 GMT

@pizza1 wrote:
Well, I can't add any experiences UnlceB, since I don't even use the Apple Pay with my own phone, but those rewards are nice, and definitely add up. Every little bits helps

Glad its going well for you so far!

Thanks!

I admit the Capital One and USAA promos have been my primary motivation so far, but it's actually OK.

So far it's been consistent; I have seen some weird random error messages from the terminal at Wal-Mart but it's always worked. Usually I just keep holding it there and it goes through, except for a few days ago where it said 'security code error'. I had to touch 'cancel' on the self-checkout screen before reselecting 'credit' and trying again (it worked the second time).

I've still not tried it with a Wal-Mart cashier, and I'll probably avoid doing so for a while. My store seems to have a high turnover and can be really hit-or-miss even with a 'normal' credit card - self checkout is always easier (and if you happen to need help the cashiers there are usually experienced).

Re: Samsung Pay

UncleB — Sun, 27 Jan 2019 21:10:26 GMT

@Anonymouswrote:
I wanted to try it 2 years ago but it won't let you pay on a rooted device, and i can't stand stock Samsung Android so I've never been able to use it.

Might try on my next phone before rooting it but for now real cards remain my only option.

Yeah, there were a few things I really didn't like about the Samsung software.

The second day I had the new phone I installed the Google dialer and messages... the Samsung version was OK I guess but I was already used to Google's version and there was no good reason to change.

With those two changes I've got things back to "normal" enough to manage - the other stuff is mostly under the hood for me so I can work around it. I was thankful to find instructions on switching the buttons in the nav bar around to match what I was used to... I have no idea why Samsung chose to change that.

Samsung Pay is cool, though... no complaints so far, although I would never rely on it completely - you'll have to pry my plastic cards from my cold, dead hand.

Re: Samsung Pay

DantGwyrdd — Tue, 08 Aug 2017 20:21:05 GMT

Last year the rewards redemptions were insanely lowered around Christmas time so I made out with a bunch of free/discounted Samsung stuff since you could get a $50 off coupon code for samsung.com for some ridiculously low amount of points (ended up with two free wireless chargers, one of them portable power banks, a couple of free 128 gig SD cards, gear vr for ~ $10, and $50 off an SSD drive) so I'm hoarding my points now hoping they might do something similar this year as well and if they don't I'll probably just redeem for credit on that reloadable e-debit card (right now best redemptions are the $50 for 10k points and up).

Re: Samsung Pay

UncleB — Wed, 09 Aug 2017 03:38:38 GMT

@DantGwyrdd wrote:
Last year the rewards redemptions were insanely lowered around Christmas time so I made out with a bunch of free/discounted Samsung stuff since you could get a $50 off coupon code for samsung.com for some ridiculously low amount of points (ended up with two free wireless chargers, one of them portable power banks, a couple of free 128 gig SD cards, gear vr for ~ $10, and $50 off an SSD drive) so I'm hoarding my points now hoping they might do something similar this year as well and if they don't I'll probably just redeem for credit on that reloadable e-debit card (right now best redemptions are the $50 for 10k points and up).

That's awesome and definitely something to watch for!

Something I figured out (by accident)... I got the Samsung Rewards card as a new customer, and after getting it to $0 I deleted the card. Upon earning the USAA promotion they automatically loaded what I thought was another Samsung Rewards card, but upon closer examination it appears to be the same card that was loaded for the first promo (the transactions from the first promo are present), just reloaded with the new promo.

I've wondered if the Samsung Rewards card would 'auto drain' if used at a store, but honestly that's just adding another moving part to an already gangly process so I'll likely leave that for somebody else to explore. I've read that Amazon GCs can be purchased for any amount from within the Samsung Pay app, so if that's accurate there's little to be concerned about in any case.

Re: Samsung Pay

DaveInAZ — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 13:20:55 GMT

I don't know about Samsung Pay as my phone is an LG. I did try Andoid Pay. My older LG G2 is just fine for me, but it doesn't have the finger scanner, so Android Pay required that I lock the screen with a PIN. I'm not going to enter a PIN 20 times a day to check text, email, weather, etc. just for the 2-3 times a week I might use Android Pay, so I quickly uninstalled it.

I had a Wells Fargo account earlier this year for the new account bonus, and they also offered a one time $10 bonus for using the Wallet mobile pay feature on their Android app. To use it you just had to open the app & enter a PIN for that app and you're good to go. That's the way to do it, a PIN for the app, not the entire phone.

Re: Samsung Pay

UncleB — Sat, 12 Aug 2017 15:06:53 GMT

@DaveInAZ wrote:
I don't know about Samsung Pay as my phone is an LG. I did try Andoid Pay. My older LG G2 is just fine for me, but it doesn't have the finger scanner, so Android Pay required that I lock the screen with a PIN. I'm not going to enter a PIN 20 times a day to check text, email, weather, etc. just for the 2-3 times a week I might use Android Pay, so I quickly uninstalled it.

I had a Wells Fargo account earlier this year for the new account bonus, and they also offered a one time $10 bonus for using the Wallet mobile pay feature on their Android app. To use it you just had to open the app & enter a PIN for that app and you're good to go. That's the way to do it, a PIN for the app, not the entire phone.

I know what you mean... if it weren't for the fingerprint scanner I doubt I would bother, either.

I took advantage of the Wells Fargo promo as well; it turns out you have to have a 'default' mobile payment method set so Samsung Pay was disabled if the WF payment app was active. I used it at a Coke machine to get the $10 credit (applied instantly), then I promptly changed back to S. Pay.

I did have something unusual to happen a few days ago... I used Samsung Pay at Sears (first time) and nothing happened when I held the phone over the NFC reader so I held it over the magnetic strip reader, and it accepted it like a card was swiped (so far, so good...). Then it asked for the CID from my Amex, which the digital card doesn't have.

I told the cashier I only had the last four digits of the digital number, but not the CID, and he suggested trying that. I initially objected but tried anyway for 'giggles' and was surprised when it worked (I was actually already taking my wallet out... LOL). So, I have no idea if either Sears or Amex simply let it "slide" due to the low dollar amount ($17) or if the last four of the digital card number actually is the CID. In any case, it worked.

The only situation Samsung Pay has failed has been at Walmart with my Wells Fargo Propel Amex - I've gotten a 'card declined' message both times I've tried (different from the usual mis-read messages I've occasionally seen). S. Pay works at Walmart with my USAA card, and the plastic WF Propel works there with no problem. I called WF to see if there was an account issue and they didn't have a record of the decline so it's a glitch somewhere between my phone and the Walmart register. Notably I've used S. Pay with the WF Propel Amex at Kroger with no problem (as a test only... I always use my BCP at Kroger) so the issue is unique to Walmart/S. Pay, at least for me.

Next I might try the PRG/Samsung Pay combination at Walmart to see if I'm having an Amex network issue or a Wells Fargo issue (in any case the issue is unique to Walmart). I'm also using the self checkout at Walmart so I can consistently see what's going on (I don't have to wonder if the right button is being pressed behind the counter).

Re: Samsung Pay

Anonymous — Tue, 15 Aug 2017 05:44:35 GMT

Just now noticed something strange about activating Capital one card on samsung pay ( for promo.) My husband loaded my capital one card on his s8 and verified & used on samsung pay without problem ,earned 10$ . Now we trying to load his brand new cap one platinum card that he received and activated today, on my s7 but wallet app is saying this card isnt eligible for samsung pay?? But its capital one platinum. Mine worked and his isnt eligible? Both are from capital one. How can that be? Has any one else experienced this?

Re: Samsung Pay

UncleB — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 01:25:24 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Just now noticed something strange about activating Capital one card on samsung pay ( for promo.) My husband loaded my capital one card on his s8 and verified & used on samsung pay without problem ,earned 10$ . Now we trying to load his brand new cap one platinum card that he received and activated today, on my s7 but wallet app is saying this card isnt eligible for samsung pay?? But its capital one platinum. Mine worked and his isnt eligible? Both are from capital one. How can that be? Has any one else experienced this?

This is weird, indeed. You might consider reaching out to Capital One about that (although I admit the quality of the answer you get will be highly variable); it's at least worth a shot, though.

To close the loop (no pun intended) on my Wells Fargo Amex Propel issue, I finally got it to work at Walmart. The first time it was declined (yet again) but I let it time out on the phone and tapped 'retry'; it worked the second go around (I had to hit 'clear' and then reselect 'credit' on the Walmart register screen as well). I'll likely just use my USAA Limitless Visa with S. Pay at Wally from now on... much less friction with that one.

Possibly notable to some... after all that drama, the transaction was approved but it didn't show up on the app (!)... not a big deal, but it didn't count towards increasing my rewards level and I missed out on the Samsung Rewards points. That's the first time that's happened so I'm not going to do any of the 'cures' I've read about just yet (remove and re-add the card) but it was almost humorous that after all that effort that was the one transaction that didn't 'count'. LOL

Re: Samsung Pay

DantGwyrdd — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 01:41:27 GMT

@UncleB wrote:

Possibly notable to some... after all that drama, the transaction was approved but it didn't show up on the app (!)... not a big deal, but it didn't count towards increasing my rewards level and I missed out on the Samsung Rewards points. That's the first time that's happened so I'm not going to do any of the 'cures' I've read about just yet (remove and re-add the card) but it was almost humorous that after all that effort that was the one transaction that didn't 'count'. LOL

Yeah there's still bugs. My Citi DC went through a period where the purchases wouldn't register, but would go through (removing and re-adding fixed it), and now I was trying to do the USAA promo and it registered the first two purchases, but not the third one (sent a quick report about it to customer service, we'll see what if anythig comes of it) AND Walmart is actually the place where I had the most problems with it as for some reasons their POS devices seem to be the most picky when it comes to phone placement.

Speaking of funny tho, what I find hilarious is my local CVS which is NFC enabled and the option pops up as one of the payment formats (swipe, chip, contactless or however they phrase it), but when you actually try it it rejects it saying you can't use contactless at that terminal and to swipe or insert chip instead.

Re: Samsung Pay

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 02:36:01 GMT

Called capital one and got the card verified . No problem. Its now working in samsung pay

Re: Samsung Pay

UncleB — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 02:39:04 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Called capital one and got the card verified . No problem. Its now working in samsung pay

This is fantastic! We hear so much about customer service 'fails' these days it's nice to hear about something working out!

Re: Samsung Pay

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 02:57:05 GMT

Love Samsung Pay. Hardly ever carry a handbag anymore. I have been using Spay for a year now on my phone & smartwatch. Use it 8 out of 10 payments. If they add department store credit cards then I will be using it 9 out of 10 times.

Re: Samsung Pay

UncleB — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 03:03:06 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Love Samsung Pay. Hardly ever carry a handbag anymore. I have been using Spay for a year now on my phone & smartwatch. Use it 8 out of 10 payments. If they add department store credit cards then I will be using it 9 out of 10 times.

That's really my only complaint - they need to get Synchrony!

In my case the main card I miss is my beloved Sam's Club MasterCard... if they could ever get Synchrony MC/Visa cards onboard that would be huge to me.

I hear ya on the PLCC/store cards as well... if they could get that worked out, well, you said it best - for most people that would indeed be 9 out of 10.

Re: Samsung Pay

Anonymous — Wed, 16 Aug 2017 18:08:36 GMT

Yep . I already got 10$ amazon gift card for using the cap one card that i had to call in for verification. . So basically with two capital one cards and two samsung devices we got 20$ amazon gift cards. If anyone else faces the error with capital one that says ' this card isnt eligible' etc just call capital one cusotmer service and ask to speak to mobile apps department. They will verify it for you . Apparently its a known error it seems.

And so far my fav mobile pay promo has been discover's 50$ for 10 transactions through andriod pay.

Re: Samsung Pay

WolfMan — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 01:23:55 GMT

I love Samsung Pay. The MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) makes it awesome. I love when a clerk says "We can't take apple pay" then it works, and I just say, "It's not apple pay." Sometimes they ask more about it, and I'm happy to explain the technology.

Rarely do I ever have a problem. It works very well.

Re: Samsung Pay

UncleB — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 02:05:17 GMT

@WolfMan wrote:
I love Samsung Pay. The MST (Magnetic Secure Transmission) makes it awesome. I love when a clerk says "We can't take apple pay" then it works, and I just say, "It's not apple pay." Sometimes they ask more about it, and I'm happy to explain the technology.

Rarely do I ever have a problem. It works very well.

I agree, @WolfMan!

I admit that while I consider myself a 'friendly' person I'm usually not one to seek out extra conversation during a transaction (with a few notable exceptions... I have a few clerks that I see regularly and know on a first-name basis who I look forward to talking to). That said, most of the time I've used it either the cashier is already familiar with Samsung pay or they don't notice I'm using it.

I've now used it at Wal-Mart again with my WF Propel Amex; it seems to consistently decline the first attempt, but then it's approved on the second try. Now that I feel I have that card 'conquered' I'll likely fall-back to my trusty USAA Limitless for future Wal-Mart trips, which usually works with no problem (and give me the best rewards at WM anyway).

I used it at Belk a few days ago, and it was drama-free there other than the transaction didn't register in the app (and I didn't get the points!). I used that same card (BCP) a little while later at Kroger and the transaction (and S. Pay points) showed up normally, so I guess it was just a glitch (that's the second time this has happened). I noticed that Belk has the same style terminal that Kroger and Publix uses, and I've had great luck at all those places (it's actually faster than using a card, especially at Publix).

I've made platinum level with Samsung Rewards this month but I'm not sure I'll be as diligent in making the effort to get the 30 transactions next month. I'll continue to use it at the 'easy' places, but I'm not going to try to go completely 'walletless' like some do. I also only use it when there's a customer-facing PIN pad available... it's too much effort to hand my phone over (and I'm not comfortable reaching across the counter into the cashier's space).

One change I would like to see is for Samsung to allow more than 10 cards to be added. That would let me add some of my SD cards so that I could give them an occasional workout without having to actually take them out of the box where they're kept. As it is, I only load the cards I actively use.

Re: Samsung Pay

Anonymous — Mon, 21 Aug 2017 03:00:51 GMT

I love Samsung Pay! Love it! I only switched from Apple to Samsung about a year ago (still have a work issued iPhone, though, some I'm not completely out of the Apple jungle); I used to be a hard core Apple fan, but I've now seen the light!

I've been using Samsung Pay for about 9 months, and haven't had any issues. I used Apple pay before, and there were a lot of places Apple wouldn't work, where Samsung does. Heck, Samsung Pay doesn't even need an NFC enabled terminal to work, it'll work on regular swipe machines, too; it sends a signal to the swipe reader to make it think you actually swiped a card.

And the promotions are really nice...