Difficult to get Apple pay working

Stop double clicking the side button (power button) and open the Wallet app on your Home Screen.

What is the issue exactly?

What happens when you try to use Apple Pay?

What happens when you double click the side button? Does the Apple Pay option not come up?

Have you restored your cards in the Wallet app on the iPhone 17?

What exactly have you tried? If only so we don's suggest the same things.

Also click here ➜ Apple Pay - Official Apple Support

You mean there's no (+) button at the top of Wallet App?

What region is your iPhone set to? Settings ➜ General ➜ Language & Region ➜ Region

Is it one that supports Apple Pay?

click here ➜ Countries and regions that support Apple Pay - Apple Support