Apple Pay there, then gone: Customers of Amazon’s American Express business credit card may have been surprised this week to discover that contactless payments via iPhone or Apple Watch (or via the Safari browser on a Mac) were disabled. American Express officially announced this via email on July 8, 2024, but not everyone affected received the email. The rationale is also questionable to say the least.
Advertisement
Private customers never got Apple Pay on Amazon
Amazon has been offering the so-called Amazon Business Prime American Express card for several years. This business is linked to an account in Amazon Shops. The card offers many benefits, including extended payment terms. Standard features previously included Apple Pay – a novelty for Amazon Germany, as the e-commerce giant’s now discontinued private customer credit card, a Visa card in cooperation with Berlin’s LBB, never received Apple Pay. But now the contactless fun is over.
In American Express’ justification email it was stated that it would not be possible to use Apple Pay as a payment method in the future due to “Apple Pay guidelines for co-branded credit cards” (sic!). The credit card issuer further stated, “This decision was made by Apple.” American Express did not provide any further information about what these guidelines should be and Apple itself did not provide any information. iPhone-Ticker.dewhich was the first media outlet to report on the matter, did not comment.
Long-standing partner Amex – co-branding possible elsewhere
American Express is one of the long-standing partners in Apple’s payment service. Amex cards were used by Apple Pay in Germany from the very beginning. The justification for having problems with the guidelines seems confusing, as there are co-branded cards that have been and are supported within Apple Pay for years. For example, this includes Lufthansa Miles & More Credit Card. For business customers, the end of support is very annoying as it costs convenience in everyday business. Now you have to carry the physical card with you again.
According to Cashy’s blog, there are reports of this process Amazon Amex card also in France and Italy Affected. Apart from the Amazon Business Prime American Express card, the Amazon Business American Express card (ie without “Prime” in the name) no longer supports Apple Pay in Germany.
(B.Sc.)
