Anyone have a payment ring or smart ring?
Discussion
I have no idea if this should be in Gadgets, Watches, or Finance.
I like the idea of an NFC ring for payments, but have no idea if any of the brands out there are any good, are they reliable, how much they cost, and so on.
The idea of just waving my hand over the contactless payment point of Tube barriers like some kind of wizard as the gate magically opens, really appeals to me. That as well as not having to get my phone out of my coat for paying for drinks at a bar. You get the idea.
I have read that Apple are developing a smart payment ring, which would be ideal as it would no doubt seamlessly integrate into my already existing Apple Pay account and ecosystem, however this could be a long way off, if it even exists beyond a rumour.
I was looking at the McLear RingPay 2 in silver, as it just looks like an ordinary wedding band. But the annoying thing is that it expires permanently after 3 years apparently, which seems a bit rubbish if you've paid £120 for it.
https://mclear.com/product/ringpay-silver/#ring_fa...
Anyone got a payment ring?
I like the idea of an NFC ring for payments, but have no idea if any of the brands out there are any good, are they reliable, how much they cost, and so on.
The idea of just waving my hand over the contactless payment point of Tube barriers like some kind of wizard as the gate magically opens, really appeals to me. That as well as not having to get my phone out of my coat for paying for drinks at a bar. You get the idea.
I have read that Apple are developing a smart payment ring, which would be ideal as it would no doubt seamlessly integrate into my already existing Apple Pay account and ecosystem, however this could be a long way off, if it even exists beyond a rumour.
I was looking at the McLear RingPay 2 in silver, as it just looks like an ordinary wedding band. But the annoying thing is that it expires permanently after 3 years apparently, which seems a bit rubbish if you've paid £120 for it.
https://mclear.com/product/ringpay-silver/#ring_fa...
Anyone got a payment ring?
Edited by Mont Blanc on Friday 1st March 14:57
21st Century Man said:
Yes. I have a McLear ring pay (in Silver). I bloody love it!
The only negative, which isn't really a problem, is that it's not linked directly to my bank account, instead I have to have an account with McLear and funds are transferred to that, automatically, I can select various levels/limits via the app.
A positive is that if used abroad the fees are minimal and the clearing rate isn't a rip off, compared to a lot of bank cards. It's not dissimilar to say Starling Bank, who are very good/fair on foreign usage.
I got mine as a compromise, but I'll probably go the whole hog when it expires and get chipped in my thumb muscle.
The Mclear in silver is by far the nicest one out there that I have seen.The only negative, which isn't really a problem, is that it's not linked directly to my bank account, instead I have to have an account with McLear and funds are transferred to that, automatically, I can select various levels/limits via the app.
A positive is that if used abroad the fees are minimal and the clearing rate isn't a rip off, compared to a lot of bank cards. It's not dissimilar to say Starling Bank, who are very good/fair on foreign usage.
I got mine as a compromise, but I'll probably go the whole hog when it expires and get chipped in my thumb muscle.
I have no issue at all with the ‘top up’ system they use. I think it is quite sensible.
I still think they are a cool piece of tech!
PF62 said:
loafer123 said:
Baroque attacks said:
OzzyR1 said:
Works OK, but if I get on the tube I can't just touch the card as before - have to get my phone out, unlock it, open the wallet app, select the right card to use etc.
My phone is set up to use my current account as default for contactless so I have to scroll through on screen to use my business card or another.
No idea how a ring would work unless you only want to pay from a single account.
Are there no shorter routes? iPhone had a double click of the side button and preferred card is there ready to go.My phone is set up to use my current account as default for contactless so I have to scroll through on screen to use my business card or another.
No idea how a ring would work unless you only want to pay from a single account.
Just set the card you want to pay with as an Express Travel card and then you just wave the phone (or the watch) over the reader and it takes the payment without needing to unlock the phone (or double clicking the side button on the Watch) - https://support.apple.com/en-gb/HT212171
And yes there is some security as not any old retailer is allowed to set their machines to be compatible with this so it doesn't impact paying normally.
I just had a look in my Apple wallet and neither my Visa Debit or M&S Credit card can be set as an Express Card
Easternlight said:
If you want to travel light is it really so hard to stick a tenner in your pocket.
Jeez I'm getting to old for all this.
Stop the world I want to get off.
You must be joking. Cash is a way bigger hassle and inconvenience than anything discussed in this thread. Jeez I'm getting to old for all this.
Stop the world I want to get off.
For starters you have to physically travel to an ATM on a regular basis to acquire cash, and ATM's are becoming ever harder to find. Then you have to carry your cash around in a wallet, then when you do buy something with it, the transaction takes longer as the cashier has to fish around counting your change, then you spend the rest of the day walking round with a pocket full of coins.
The idea that in 2024 some people would walk around buying things by handing over lumps of metal and sheets of polymer is bonkers to me.
markiii said:
so if we put our cards in an RFID proof wallet to avoid scams, why the hell would you want a payment ring or rfid implant?
I've never owned an RFID-proof wallet. I would have zero worries about the security of a payment ring. Plus, as others have pointed out, the money doesn't just come out of your bank with a payment ring, it goes via a top-up system, making it actually more secure than having a Debit card in your pocket.Shiv_P said:
On the Android phones with Google wallet, simply set a default card in google wallet.
Then to pay, unlock phone, touch phone to contactless reader (without opening app), and voila, payment made without having to open the app at all.
Yes, similar to the iPhone, to pay with your main/default card you just double click the side button, look at the phone for Face ID to check you, and thats it. You don't need to touch the screen or select anything.Then to pay, unlock phone, touch phone to contactless reader (without opening app), and voila, payment made without having to open the app at all.
But the suggestion by another poster that you can set an 'express card' in the iPhone which can be used to pay without doing anything at all, doesn't seem to be correct from what I can see.
mikey_b said:
Mont Blanc said:
Yes, similar to the iPhone, to pay with your main/default card you just double click the side button, look at the phone for Face ID to check you, and thats it. You don't need to touch the screen or select anything.
But the suggestion by another poster that you can set an 'express card' in the iPhone which can be used to pay without doing anything at all, doesn't seem to be correct from what I can see.
On your iPhone, go to Settings, Wallet and Apple Pay, and scroll down to see ‘Express Travel Card’. Pick one of the installed cards to use in Express Mode. I have 6 cards added to Apple Pay, and all are available for selection.But the suggestion by another poster that you can set an 'express card' in the iPhone which can be used to pay without doing anything at all, doesn't seem to be correct from what I can see.
The text at the bottom of that screen says:
“You selected Express Travel card works automatically without requiring FaceID or your passcode. Just hold iPhone near a supported public transport reader.”
When I tried the Apple instructions of clicking on the three dots by the card there was no option for it.
Excellent
Still want an RFID ring though
21st Century Man said:
Well f
k fk fk and fking fk fk.
I just got an email from McClear Ringpay saying they are closing down and my ring will cease working from the end of October. Any funds in my account will be returned, as will a pro rata amount for the cost of the hardware.
Just this afternoon I've used it several times and even had a chat with several people in the pub about it, having used it to pay for a pint and bag of crisps. I bloody love it and will miss it.
Oh well, time to go the whole hog and get chipped I suppose.
Balls.k fk fk and fking fk fk.I just got an email from McClear Ringpay saying they are closing down and my ring will cease working from the end of October. Any funds in my account will be returned, as will a pro rata amount for the cost of the hardware.
Just this afternoon I've used it several times and even had a chat with several people in the pub about it, having used it to pay for a pint and bag of crisps. I bloody love it and will miss it.
Oh well, time to go the whole hog and get chipped I suppose.
That's the one I was fancying, just hadn't got round to actually buying it yet. I guess I kind of dodged a bullet... But at least it sounds like they are being reasonable with the refunds.
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