Unable to use dual-network debit cards with Apple Pay in Australia

It is a software change (not hardware) and unfortunately you can’t get it back once you lose it. The RBA mandated a change to digital wallets that removed the choice from the customer and gave it to the merchant. This applies from iOS18 for any one who adds a new card or deletes and re-adds a card. If you don’t do this you still have the network choice option.

Basically dual network cards seem to load correctly in the wallet but are not working as the merchant terminal can only see the default card (usually credit). It does not recognise the second network (eftpos). It is not clear whether the problem lies with Apple or the banks.

Please keep hassling your bank. Their front line staff are generally unaware of what is going on and you need to push for them to take it further. At the moment they are trying to blame the merchant but it affects them just as much as it affects us (the customer).

Apple are aware of the issue but the more people that can log the problem with them the better the chance of getting it fixed. You need to get past the first level call centre and through to a second level case manager. I have a document I can send to help them understand if you have any issues.

I believe the forums are by language, not individual countries.

Apple updated their support article on dual network cards September 19, so I suspect this is a change due to iOS 18 and perhaps local banking regulations.

>>When you make a transaction in-store, the merchant chooses whether the transaction made by a dual-network debit card will be processed through the eftpos network or the international network.<<

Use dual-network debit cards with Apple Pay in Australia - Apple Support

The article states the merchant will choose the network. I believe this is a change from past UI options and practices.

You’re welcome to seek clarification from Apple Support.

Australia

(61) 1-300-321-456

Currently there are only a handful of countries that offer dual network cards. Visa talked about offering dual network cards in the US in 2025 or 2026, but most people were not enthusiastic about it. When given the option, consumers pick credit over debit because of the rewards offered on credit card purchases.

If you contact Apple Support please post a reply. I’m curious to learn what’s happening.

Thank you for the update and additional information.

I suspect possibly a hardware change on the iPhone 16 has disabled that feature until the bank supports it on the newer hardware. The account associated with the card needs to tell the Wallet software to display the feature. Your friend’s older iPhone has the feature on iOS 18, so support is in the Apple software.

I’ve talked to friends in the payment network industry and what I’m being told by several people is it’s a merchant issue. They may not have updated software or it may be misconfigured. However, we’re all in the US and don’t have first hand experience with this particular issue.

The merchant now controls the option of which network the payment goes through. My understanding is the merchant can preconfigure the network or they can respond to the customer request and select a network based on the customer’s input. The selection will not be visible on the terminal. When software is updated by merchant, the terminal will offer the option for the consumer to select a network before starting the transaction.

One can only hope. For now however, for contactless transactions the merchant chooses/preconfigures the network, the customer has no say.

Physical cards route correctly through the merchant’s chosen network contactless/when tapped (in this case eftpos) but the digital wallet for the same card will only route through the one default network (Visa/Mastercard). The merchant’s choice is not being applied because dual network is not functioning correctly with Apple Pay. The merchant cannot choose either.

If the customer wants choice they must physically insert the card into the terminal. This is the only way but is discouraged since COVID and I haven’t carried a physical card in nearly 5 years. Have to again now.

The problem is related to the information being provided by the NFC chip but it is still unclear whether it is the way the card is being provisioned by the bank or the way iOS is presenting the data to the terminal.

Use dual-network debit cards with Apple Pay in Australia – Apple Support (AU)

What country are you in?

Transactions process fine, that’s not the issue. The problem is the terminal should be being offered two choices instead of only one.