Google Pay or GPay—formerly Google Wallet—We’ll cover the basics of what Google Pay is, what it has to offer and what you need to know before you start using it.
Consumers can simply flash their phone to make a purchase through an NFC connection. This gives modern merchants more flexibility when it comes to offering customers the payment options they want most. In 2018, Google revamped it’s solutions for online and mobile payments, placing everything under the same Google Pay umbrella.
Consumers can use Google Pay for online payments, contactless purchases, in-app purchases and so much more.
How does Google Pay work?
Google Pay enables sending and receiving money, but unlike other digital wallets, the payments can be received directly into the bank accounts. So the entire concern of receiving money in wallets and then transferring into the bank account has been eliminated.
Interestingly, a person doesn’t have to be on the Google Pay app to receive payments.
Set up Google Pay or Gpay
The first thing you need to do is get the Google Pay app. Google Pay is also available on iOS. Once you download the app, the setup instructions are the same as the Android version.
1. Download the app from the Google Play Store to install it.
2. Open the Google Pay app, and tap the Get Started button.
3. Next, tap the Connect to Gmail button. A window will pop up asking for your permission to give Google Pay access to your device’s location.
4. Google Pay wants to know your location so it can notify you when you’re in a place that accepts Google Pay or uses your loyalty cards. To use the locate feature, tap the blue-lettered Turn On button at the bottom of the screen.
5. Across the bottom of the Google Pay app are four tabs: Home, Payment, Passes and Send. Go to the Payment tab, and then tap on the Add Payment
Method button.
6. You also have the option to add a new card to your account. To do so, tap Add a New Card and then hold your card in the camera window that pops up. After the camera captures your card’s information, verify your card’s expiration date and CVC number.
7. Hit the Save button at the bottom of the screen. Read the Terms of Service, and tap the Accept & Continue button at the bottom.
8. Next, your bank will verify your card, and you’ll get a message stating that your lock screen will be used for Google Pay. Once you understand that, hit the blue Got It button at the bottom.
9.You’ll find yourself on the Verify Your Card screen. Choose where you want to receive the verification number. Depending on your card you can have it sent to either your email or phone number. Once you choose, tap the Continue button.
Set a default card for Google Pay
You can store multiple cards on Google Pay and even set one up as the default card.
1. Tap the stored card you want to set as default.
2. When the card’s details screen pops up, tap the Default for in-store payments slider button. It takes a minute or so to turn blue. How long exactly? Well, I had enough time to add a nickname for my card
Key Features of GPay
Google Pay has two levels to it. First of all, this is a digital wallet and convenient way to shop for consumers. With a mobile app, users can make purchase online, in-store, and in apps. Google Pay is also suitable for sending money to friends. For customers, features include:
- Support for major banks in the US and 28 other countries
- Integration with various mobile banking apps
- In-store and in-app online payments
- Accepted in more than a million stores accepting NFC
- Use and save mobile tickets, transit cards, and boarding passes
- Multiple layers of security preventing fraud
- Request for cash in the app or send money
- Transfer money to bank account instantly
Benefits of Google Pay
Digital payments have their place, and Google Pay is a great option for some. Here are a few of the benefits you can enjoy when you use this payment method:
- A slimmer wallet. Google Pay lets you carry all of your cards electronically, so you might not have to carry the physical cards with you.
- Protection against potential credit card theft. If you don’t have your cards on you, you can’t lose them if you leave your wallet or purse somewhere and they can’t be stolen.
- Harder to hack. Using electronic payments keeps your card information away from skimmers and other devices that scammers use to swipe your credit card info.
- Easily split bills and share expenses. Being able to send your friend your part of the dinner bill immediately cuts back on IOUs and makes it easier to split other shared expenses.
