Stores are not accepting myApple card.

Question

Level 1

27 points

Stores are not accepting myApple card.

Recently, the two most recent retailers I've tried to use my Apple Card at have refused it. Both have previously accepted it. In both cases, the message was something like "This reader does not accept this type of card." So it's not my card specifically, it's the Apple credit card. (It seems extremely unlikely that two stores have quit accepting MasterCard, so it's either Apple, or the bank that issues the card. And FWIW I am up-to-date on my payments.)

What's going on?

Posted on Nov 7, 2025 12:48 PM

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Answer 1

lkrupp

Level 7

22,099 points

Nov 10, 2025 8:22 AM in response to daniel.q

It is entirely possible that the merchant’s point of sale (POS) terminal is not configured properly. Understand that the physical Apple Card is made of titanium, not plastic. Therefore it does not work with tap-to-pay. It works with swiping or chip readers.

This is assuming you are referring to the physical Apple Card, not the virtual card in your Wallet. As it is a Mastercard there should be no issue of fees being increased that would affect only the Apple Card.

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Answer 2

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,562 points

Nov 10, 2025 10:38 AM in response to daniel.q

Fees with merchants are negotiated by their merchants bank or gateway service. They are negotiated by in regard to the specific payment network operator, not per card. So, a merchant will pay a percentage of each transaction to Visa, a potentially different percentage to Mastercard and a potentially different percentage to American Express. Fees are not negotiated per card type.

How were you attempting to pay, using the chip or swiping the magnetic strip?

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Answer 3

Jeff Donald

Level 8

44,562 points

Nov 7, 2025 1:13 PM in response to daniel.q

Apple Card is a MasterCard credit card issued by Goldman Sachs Bank. Is that the card you’re referring to? If so, it could be because the merchant does not accept MasterCard credit cards.

Are you referring to Apple Cash card, Apple Gift card or even Apple Account card?

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Answer 4

daniel.q Author

Level 1

27 points

Nov 9, 2025 7:21 PM in response to Jeff Donald

Yes, I'm referring to the Mastercard Apple credit card issued by Goldman Sachs. (I'd forgotten the name of the bank.) But both of the stores that refused the card ("This reader does not accept this type of card.") have previously accepted the same card via ApplePay on the same phone. So their choice to refuse the card is new. And FWIW, a different store accepted the card today. So the bank is not refusing my card.

I'm wondering if the conditions that the bank is imposing on merchants (higher fees than other cards?)has prompted some stores to start refusing it very recently.

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