RiteAid and CVS disable Apple Pay in preparation for rival payment system CurrentC
According to The New York Times, both Rite Aid and CVS have disabled Apple Pay payments as an available mobile payments options. Rite Aid confirmed the move, while CVS has not responded to inquiries about the change, which was allegedly instituted this week according to consumer online reports.
Ashley Flower, a spokeswoman for Rite Aid, said the company "does not currently accept Apple Pay." She added that Rite Aid was "still in the process of evaluating our mobile payment options."
It is thought the pair are rebuffing Apple Pay in order to advance support on a rival mobile payment system being developed by Merchant Customer Exchange, or MCX. This consortium of retailers include Walmart, Best Buy, 7-Eleven and others. MCX's payments system, CurrentC, is expected to debut next year and will include the ability for merchants to track customer shopping habits as well as process payments.
Apple Pay launched last week with support from a all major credit card companies and a variety of retailers. The mobile payment system is easy to set up and even easier to use.
