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Apple Pay no longer accepted at JCPenney

This affects both the physical stores and the JCPenney app.

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Shelby Brown (she/her/hers) is an editor for CNET's services team. She covers tips and tricks for apps, operating systems and devices, as well as mobile gaming and Apple Arcade news. Shelby also oversees Tech Tips coverage. Before joining CNET, she covered app news for Download.com and served as a freelancer for Louisville.com.
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Shelby Brown
JCPenney's

Shoppers can't use Apple Pay anymore at JCPenney.

View press/Getty Images

For the foreseeable future, you won't be able to use Apple Pay at JCPenney's physical stores or on its iOS app.

"JCPenney made the decision to remove Apple Pay for our stores, we apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused. We will definitely forward your feedback regarding this for review," the company tweeted on Saturday.

The tweet was in response to an unhappy customer whose wife was unable to access Apple Pay at one of the store's locations.

JCPenney said the change was the results of a requirement that retailers start supporting new contactless payment technology by April 13. 

"Given the resources and lead time associated with meeting the new mandate, JCPenney chose to suspend all contactless payment options until a later date. Customers still have the ability to complete their transactions manually by inserting or swiping their physical credit cards at our point-of-sale terminals in stores, an option employed by the vast majority of JCPenney shoppers," a JCPenney spokesperson said in an email.

Other customers noted that retail rivals like Kohls and Target accept Apple Pay. JCPenney began accepting Apple Pay nationwide in 2017 after testing it in 2015. 

Originally published April 22 at 7:05 a.m. PT.
Update, at 12:35 p.m. PT: Added comment from JCPenney.

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