Should You Use Paze? (And What the Heck Is It Exactly?!)

There I was, sipping my morning coffee, casually checking email- when I nearly did a spit take!

It was because of an email I got from my bank. Apparently, they were enrolling my credit card in something called Paze. Without asking. Without me clicking anything. Without my even knowing what the heck it is.

I was NOT happy about them signing me up for, and sharing my credit card info with, this service I’d never heard of. That just didn’t feel right.

But I took a few deep breaths and did some digging into Paze. I’ll share what I learned with you here, because there’s a good chance your credit card company has done the same thing to you.

The short answer is this: Paze is the credit card companies’ shiny new answer to digital payments. It’s basically their attempt to keep up with the likes of Apple Pay and Google Pay.

But is Paze worth your time? Should you trust it, or should you hit “unenroll” faster than deleting spam? Stick around, and I’ll break it all down for you.

What in the World Is Paze?

Paze is a digital wallet that stores your credit and debit card information. It’s the banks’ attempt to compete with Apple Pay and Google Pay.

It’s run by a company called Early Warning Services. They’re the ones behind the Zelle payment network many banks use.

The idea behind Paze is to make online shopping easier than convincing your cat to take its medicine. Instead of typing your card details in every time you want to buy another “World’s Best Grandpa” mug, Paze lets you check out with just your email address and a one-time code sent to your phone.

Because of this, Paze keeps your actual card number hidden when you make online purchases. The online store never sees your real information. It’s like wearing a mask, but for your credit card.

Big banks like Bank of America, Chase, Capital One, and Wells Fargo are behind this new service, and they say it’s all about making your life easier.

They also claim it’s even safer than using your actual credit card since they can’t access your credit card number. And we all know the banks never say something unless it’s in our best interest (wink).

Is Paze Safe, or Should I Hide My Money Under the Mattress?

The big question is: “Is this newfangled doohickey safe, or should I go back to bartering with my neighbor’s chickens?“

The good news is that Paze is probably a smidge safer than using your credit card directly online. It creates a unique code for each transaction, so merchants never see your actual card number.

It’s like giving them a photocopy of your card that self-destructs after one use – very “Mission: Impossible,” minus the Tom Cruise stunts.

To use Paze, you just need your email address, and you’ll get a one-time code sent to your phone to complete the transaction.

(So, if you use Paze, it’s even more essential you have a secure, private email account you can trust.)

Why You Might Want to Say “No Thanks”

While Paze is probably about as safe as any other online transaction, there may be some reasons you won’t want to use it. Here are a few reasons you may want to opt-out.

1. Automatic Enrollment: Many credit card companies are automatically signing folks up for Paze. It’s like being volunteered to bring potato salad to the church picnic – you didn’t ask for it, but suddenly you’re involved. If that rubs you the wrong way (and I don’t blame you at all if it does!), then tell your credit card company to unenroll you.
2. It’s Yet Another Thing to Manage: If you’re already juggling more logins, passwords, and accounts than you care to handle, Paze is one more digital ball to keep in the air.
3. Limited Acceptance: Right now, Paze isn’t accepted everywhere. It’s like trying to use your library card at the DMV – it just won’t work.

Should You Use Paze?

So, is Paze worth using? Well, if you’re already using something like Apple Pay or Google Pay, Paze doesn’t really offer anything new or better. It’s basically the same thing, just with a different name and fewer merchants accepting it right now.

If you’re happy with the service you’re already using, there’s no reason to switch.

However, if you haven’t jumped on the digital wallet bandwagon yet, Paze might be worth a look. It could make shopping online easier and more secure than entering your card details every time.

But remember, it’s entirely up to you—no pressure from us or from your bank (at least, we hope not).

The Bottom Line: To Paze or Not to Paze?

Paze isn’t going to revolutionize your life like the invention of the TV dinner. But it might make online shopping a tad easier.

If you decide to give it a whirl, just remember: it’s there to make your life easier, not to confuse you more than trying to program your VCR in 1985.

And if you decide Paze isn’t your cup of tea? No worries. You can always opt-out and go back to your trusty old credit card.

Either way, just remember: this should be your choice.

The banks are trying to make things easier for themselves by automatically signing you up, but it’s your money and your information, so do what feels best for you.

And if you decide not to use it? Just smile politely and wave goodbye to Paze—it’s not a party you have to attend.