Some London establishments unable to use Amex contactless, need the chip

[Quickstatus]

Strange.

Several establishments in London can't do Amex contactless (Apple Pay). Comes up as declined, but Amex says not declined.

It is accepted but need to insert the card into the chip reader slot.

The TfL public transport network will do Amex contactless (where contactless accepted)

 

[levelnine]

Had the same issue in Paris recently. Indeed, at supermarket self-serve check outs, you would select Amex separately from Visa/MC and the first step would be to ask you to insert your card, denying you the option to tap while offering tap to pay for Visa/MC.

I found it particularly annoying as I was working on the minimum spend for an Amex card that I don't have a physical copy of, only Apple pay.

Fortunately I'm also working on the minimum spend for a Visa card, which I do have a physical copy of.

Lesson for the day: always be working on at least two minimum spends at once .

 

[Princess Fiona]

Strange.

Several establishments in London can't do Amex contactless (Apple Pay). Comes up as declined, but Amex says not declined.

It is accepted but need to insert the card into the chip reader slot.

The TfL public transport network will do Amex contactless (where contactless accepted)

I didn’t have any issues in London with mine luckily.
Use it extensively with Apple Pay

 

[justinbrett]

There’s a few places in Australia that do that - AMEX only works by inserting but Visa can be tapped.

 

[cjd600]

Same (very intermittent) issue in the US recently

 

[SYD]

I get the same using 28° MC. Tapping physical card or Apple Pay worked most of the time in UK last year and US recently but some merchants you needed to insert chip card.

Note: I find inserting a card is more likely to trigger DCC options (at least for MC).

 

[Quickstatus]

So far Apple Pay tap no good:
Kensington palace
2 restaurants

 

[SYD]

So far Apple Pay tap no good:
Kensington palace
2 restaurants

Tapping the physical card didn‘t work either?

 

[Ade]

Strange.

Several establishments in London can't do Amex contactless (Apple Pay). Comes up as declined, but Amex says not declined.

It is accepted but need to insert the card into the chip reader slot.

The TfL public transport network will do Amex contactless (where contactless accepted)

Opposite situation in Chennai, India last week.

Tap using the physical card - declined. Person behind the counter asked if it is a "foreign card", I said yes, was told it won't work for foreign cards. I requested to try again, but this time I tapped using iPhone, payment successful. Same thing at at least 3 different places.

Inserting the card into the chip reader slot - also did not work, surprisingly!

 

[slowbro]

There’s a few places in Australia that do that - AMEX only works by inserting but Visa can be tapped.

yup, happened to me when I try to pay at Zara stores

 

[http_x92]

Interesting to hear these stories for the UK and the US, will make sure to bring the US physical card then especially for supermarkets where it is 6x points on with the Hilton Surpass and 4x MR for the Gold card.

 

[kyle]

There’s a few places in Australia that do that - AMEX only works by inserting but Visa can be tapped.

A local Asian grocery store comes to mind.

 

[levelnine]

Interesting to hear these stories for the UK and the US, will make sure to bring the US physical card then especially for supermarkets where it is 6x points on with the Hilton Surpass and 4x MR for the Gold card.

Remember only for US supermarkets, and in the US you always need to carry the card with you as plenty of places don't have contactless pay, even big stores like Walmart.

 

[Quickstatus]

Tapping the physical card didn‘t work either?

didn't try as they specifically said that Amex needs to be inserted into chip reader slot.

 

[SYD]

didn't try as they specifically said that Amex needs to be inserted into chip reader slot.

Yep, I’ve had that experience in Oz with AMEX.

 

[Quickstatus]

had that experience in Oz with AMEX.

Luckily I have not. Have always been able to tap when "Amex accepted"
I wonder if it's related to the type of merchant terminal?

 

[SYD]

Luckily I have not. Have always been able to tap when "Amex accepted"
I wonder if it's related to the type of merchant terminal?

That would be my guess. Especially if the merchant knows you need to insert the card.