What is wrong with these companies?

seriously. and most people (when quitting a service) won't hassle to ask for it back unless it's a huge amount.

If you have no cell service in the area can you still charge? Sorry I'm new to this, just wondering if preloading the app would allow you to charge without a cell/internet connection?

I hear you but I think we need more details. I do find it really lame when they can't just use a credit card. Haven't hit one somewhere I didn't have cell access. That is nuts. I'm fact it really begs the question insisting on call phone. Much less cash.

Travesty said:

If you have no cell service in the area can you still charge? Sorry I'm new to this, just wondering if preloading the app would allow you to charge without a cell/internet connection?

Click to expand...

One would think you should be able to... that said, it would be moronic to install a charging station in an area with bad cell service for any device you support (apple, Droid, whatever) - 'cause, "duh", how would anyone charge if they were forced to only use an app.

Additionally, Charge point does offer a nfc card. I have a card for everyone but E.A. ('cause they don't offer one, which really just pisses me off.)

I've used chargers where I didn't have an account or their app on my phone and I just used a credit card. You need a chip card (almost all debit/credit cards have a chip now) for the card reader to recognize it and you'll likely pay a few cents more per kW than if you have an account, but otherwise it hasn't been a hassle.

Also, the apps don't use the cell network to validate the transaction, etc.; they use NFC to communicate between the phone app and the charging unit, and the wired telco network to communicate between the unit and "the mother ship". This is similar to using your credit card at a gas station or supermarket.

CrossBones said:

...

Also, the apps don't use the cell network to validate the transaction, ...

Click to expand...

This part is only partly correct... as I can in fact initiate a charge session on all the public chargers that I've used with an app, to start the session... phone nowhere near the charge station, which required that my device have data service.

Sadly, most of the time (for me) the NFC functionality is either not working or my device can't pull up the correct app (going to a phone pay feature, like apple or google pay) which makes the NFC tap to start charging worthless at that moment. 99% of the time I have to use the app to start the charge (with a start charge like swipe or click) since the NFC app function just isn't perfect.

The cards that some services provide on the other hand, (since it's their card) have no problems, tap and go.

And now this...
Planned System Maintenance for Shell Recharge Applications
System Maintenance is planned for Monday, April 24, 8-9:30 PM PDT/Tuesday, April 25, 11 AM-12:30 PM SGT where services on Shell Recharge applications may be intermittently disrupted during this period.

It is all so dumb.