Over the last few years, contactless pay has taken over as the leading way to pay for goods in our day to day lives. From tapping bank cards to phones, and now watches, contactless pay makes purchasing items quick and easy. Most modern technology comes with some form of contactless functionality, and Fitbit is no exception.
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What is Fitbit Pay?
Before you know how it works, you need to know what it is. Fitbit Pay is a way for you to buy things in-store using your Fitbit watch. It utilizes near field communication, or NFC, to communicate with a point of sale (POS) card reader to send money from your linked bank account to the retailer’s account.
It is a safe, secure, and quick alternative to cash or card payments. All you have to do is tap your Fitbit on the screen, and the money is paid. You don’t even have to take a wallet out of your pocket.
The feature is handy, no doubt about that, but it’s not available on all Fitbit devices. It first launched on the Iconic and has since been present on a few of the newer models of watch, most notably the Versa 2 and Charge 3.
How Does Fitbit Pay Work?
So, how does it work? It’s really quite simple. First, you need to hook up your bank card to your Fitbit device. Then, when you’re in-store, launch Fitbit pay from your tracker, and hold it up against the contactless reader. That is, literally, all there is to it. Spending money has never been easier!
How to Connect a Bank Card to Your Fitbit
To get started using Fitbit Pay, you need to have a bank card registered with your Fitbit account. You can use a US American Express card, a credit card, a debit card, or a Visa card, so long as your bank is supported.
If your bank doesn’t support the feature, then you are out of luck. More and more banks are coming on board with alternative payment technology as time goes on, so keep an eye on whether or not your one does in the future.
If your bank does support the feature, then head on over to the Fitbit app on your phone and tap on your device in the top right corner.
From there, hit the wallet option and tap on “Get started.” On the next screen, enter all of your card’s details (number, expiry date, CCV, etc.) and then hit next.
Type in your address then accepts the terms and conditions. You aren’t going to read them, but you really should.
You then have to verify your card via your bank’s chosen method. This can be email confirmation or SMS, depending on which one you are with. Either way, once you enter your code, hit verify, and you’re done.
What Banks Support Fitbit Pay?
There are a lot, A. LOT. Far too many to put in this article. This does mean, though, that chances are yours is there as well.
Some of the most notable ones, however, include:
- Bank of America
- Alliance Bank
- American Express
- Wells Fargo
How Can I Remove a Card From Fitbit Pay?
So, say you want to try and cut down on your reckless spending, or perhaps you’ve lost your bank card and need a reissue, or maybe you’re moving banks altogether, you’re going to need to remove your bank card from your Fitbit account.
Firstly, open the app on your phone. Then, navigate over to your account and hit on the wallet option. Here you can see a list of cards hooked up to your account. Find the one you want to remove and hit “Suspend.”
This won’t deactivate your card, but it stops it from being used until you un-suspend it. If you want to remove a card from your account completely, you’re going to need to head over to your dashboard on the Fitbit website.
From here, open up your settings and click on your device image. Navigate to the Fitbit pay option. Click deactivate Fitbit pay. This removes all cards from your account.
Is Fitbit Pay Safe?
Yes, it’s just as safe as any other payment method. The function uses state of the art, industry-standard encryption technology to ensure that your details remain confidential, and it also has a two-step verification system, requiring you to set up a four-digit pin code to use the service.
Why Should You Use Fitbit Pay?
Of course, you may be wondering why you should bother using Fitbit pay in the first place. It seems like so much hassle as opposed to just paying the traditional way, right?
Well, it’s a lot safer than carrying cash, that’s for sure. It can also save you the hassle of having to carry around a clunky wallet full of notes, receipts, and cards. It’s quick and easy, no more awkwardly fiddling with your wallet at the cashier, just tap your wrist and you’re good to go.
Its two-step verification is another great reason to go with it. If someone finds your lost bank card, they can immediately go into a shop and start tapping with it. With Fitbit Pay, even if someone has your device, they can’t use it without your four-digit pin.
You can also use it internationally, so there’s no hassle related to transferring your cash over to a different currency.
Conclusion
So, that’s how Fitbit pay works. It’s near-identical to any other contactless pay technology, with the exception of the added security measure. It uses near field communication (NFC) to link up with contactless pay terminals in stores, allowing your bank to communicate with the retailer, and transfer the funds needed.
It’s quick, easy, and safe, and more and more banks are supporting it every day. If you are still skeptical, you need only look at the countless users making use of the function online. It is quickly becoming the new cultural norm for payment and refusing to adapt to it may result in you being left behind.
It’s always good to be cautious, but you really have nothing to fear here. Think of it like tapping with your card or phone, or like paying for something online.
