This is your Member Reference Number (MRN). You’ll need to provide this when you make an appointment with an EAP counselor or contact your EAP by phone.

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Mobile Payments

You can pay for purchases through digital wallets stored in your smartphone, apps, a key fob or even a watch. These items store your credit or debit card numbers. When it's time to pay, you just hold your device near a mobile payment terminal.

Since your credit or debit card is linked to your payment app, the protections against fraudulent purchases are the same as they would be if your actual card was used. Before you decide to use these services, find out if your phone has the chip that enables mobile payments. You also need to know if your card issuer participates in that mobile payment service. Some questions to ask:

  • Does the device transmit your credit card numbers or send a device-specific account number to the retailer?
  • How does the mobile payment provider protect your privacy?
  • Is there a PIN or fingerprint needed to access or use your mobile payment service?
  • Is it possible to freeze your wallet if your phone is lost or stolen? Can this be done remotely?
  • How do you dispute a purchase?

Consumer Action's Mobile Payments Guide has more tips. Review the guide at http://www.consumer-action.org/news/articles/mobile_payments_guide_fall_2015.

U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). (2016, January). Mobile payments. In Consumer action handbook (p. 7). Retrieved December 2, 2016, from https://www.usa.gov/

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