Jan 16, 2017, 6:55 am
Last edit by: storewanderer
Older (archived) threads: 2014-16
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- What is EMV contactless?
EMV contactless is a form of contactless/NFC that uses the same security and encryption that is used when inserting a chip card into an EMV-enabled terminal. Other than not having to sign/enter a PIN for smaller transactions, the security is effectively the same as chip and PIN/chip and signature.
In contrast, MSD contactless is an older version that is designed just and only for the United States. This effectively uses much the same flow as a swiped card transaction with the same rules.
- What is CDCVM?
CDCVM stands for Consumer Device Cardholder Verification Method. It's a method of telling the terminal that the customer verified their identity using their mobile device. Terminals that support it will waive the signature/PIN requirement typically in place for larger transactions, potentially saving time at checkout.
More info: https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202527
- Does EMV contactless need to be supported to support CDCVM?
Typically, yes. (However, there are some exceptions below.)
- Why can't I tap my foreign-issued contactless card at most places in the US?
This is likely because the store does not support EMV contactless. Foreign issued contactless cards typically do not support MSD contactless since other markets have had EMV for quite some time. In contrast, most stores in the US have yet to get the necessary certifications/software for EMV contactless so they are typically MSD-only--if contactless is enabled at all. (See below for a list of stores where your card will likely work.)
- I paid for a purchase with Apple/Android/Samsung Pay and still had to sign for it.
Most likely, the store in question does not have EMV contactless enabled (see above question). However, there are instances where CDCVM does not work even with EMV contactless enabled. Restaurants that allow tip adjust, for example--where the tip amount is written on a paper receipt and entered by the staff later--cannot support CDCVM. It may simply be a matter of the merchant's processor or the POS software in use not supporting it too.
Another common reason is if you used a US-issued AmEx card with a mobile wallet. AmEx currently does not allow EMV contactless support in mobile wallets for these cards, so they always run as MSD contactless. Because of this, CDCVM is not supported (with very few exceptions, as noted below).
Note: if you used Samsung Pay, you may have paid with MST instead of NFC. Since MST emulates the magnetic pulses that the terminal receives when swiping a regular card, the normal magstripe rules apply.
- How can I tell whether EMV contactless was used?
An easy way to tell if you have Apple Pay is to pay with a Visa or MC while in airplane mode. Wallet will then show a transaction amount next to "Payment" for the card that was used. Alternatively, EMV-related information will typically print on the receipt (AID, etc.) if EMV contactless was used.
(Non-exhaustive) list of EMV contactless supporting merchants in the US:
- 7-Eleven
- 99 Ranch
- Albertsons (Safeway, Vons, Pak N Save, Jewel, Acme, Shaws, Star, Carrs, Randalls, Tom Thumb, Haggen, Eagle, Lucky UT/SoCal)
- Apple Store*†
- Athleta
- Auntie Anne’s Pretzels
- Banana Republic
- Costco Wholesale
- CVS
- DuaneReade*
- El Pollo Loco
- EG Group US (Quik Stop, Kwik Shop, Tom Thumb, Turkey Hill) Note: cashier must press "Electronic Payment" to activate NFC
- Five Below*
- Five Guys
- GAP
- Grocery Outlet*
- Harmon's Grocery
- H&M*
- Jolibee
- Kohl's*
- Lush Cosmetics*
- Maverik
- McDonald's*
- Meijer
- Old Navy
- Panera Bread
- PetSmart
- Ray's Food Place
- Round Table Pizza
- Royal Farms
- Red Ribbon Bakeshop
- Sheetz
- Sherm's Thunderbird Discount Markets Inc.*
- Sprouts
- Staples*
- Starbucks*
- Subway
- Walgreens*
- Weis Markets
- All businesses that use Square and support contactless*
- All businesses that use Clover and support EMV†**
- All businesses that use First Data standalone terminals (e.g. FD100+FD35, FD130) with EMV enabled**
* CDCVM support confirmed
** CDCVM support depends on store/restaurant
† CDCVM supported in MSD mode
USA contactless credit/debit/transit (2017 - 2021)
Feb 26, 2018, 6:49 am
#3526
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Unfortunately, I feel that there are many paranoid people who specifically do not want a contactless card.
Feb 26, 2018, 10:10 am
#3527
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I received a message from Chase saying that they're moving away from access codes for card free ATM access. Instead, one will use the mobile payments app with NFC to enable card free ATM access. Do you think Chase might start issuing physical cards with contactless due to this change?
Maybe. Then again, most people don't know they exist, so I'm not sure they could be paranoid towards them in the first place.
Feb 26, 2018, 11:21 am
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Feb 26, 2018, 11:48 am
#3530
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Something that might be more of a factor, however, is the impression that contactless cards are a "failed" technology. If that's the case, it's hard to justify "throwing good money after bad", so to speak.
Feb 26, 2018, 1:31 pm
#3531
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People in the U.S: "Hey, what's that wave symbol on my card," "Hm, must be nothing."
Rest of the world: "yep, my card is contactless so I can tap and pay."
Feb 26, 2018, 1:33 pm
#3532
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We don't really know why they didn't do it for the Starbucks card. For all we know, there's some sort of contractual obligation with their card supplier that prevents it.
Feb 26, 2018, 1:42 pm
#3533
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It would be interesting to be able to obtain a data from American Express whather American customers actually use the contactless feature on most of their cards.
Feb 26, 2018, 2:01 pm
#3534
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Also remember the card is to get you Starbucks points, not necessarily using it at Starbucks. Starbucks prefers you use their cards reloaded with this card I’m sure.
Feb 26, 2018, 3:00 pm
#3535
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AFAIK the only ones that come with contactless are the Hilton ones. The others you have to specifically request contactless, so I'm sure the answer is "quite frequently."
Feb 26, 2018, 3:59 pm
#3536
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Also, being able to secure much cheaper pricing might be worth such language. Especially if at the time, one predicts that contactless cards will never really be a thing in the US (and thus would have low risk).
Other than encouraging use of the loyalty program, I'm not sure how using the card for individual transactions would cost Starbucks much more than the less frequent reload transactions through the app.
Feb 26, 2018, 4:16 pm
#3537
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Here is the sign I promised a picture of about contactless at Shell, this one is from our local Shell gas station on our Indian reservation. It is the regular Shell UI once it asks for the card or FRN card etc. But for some reason when idle it shows a default Verifone commander screensaver. Noticed this behavior at many Shell stations on and off the Rez. I’m surprised Chase Pay is not more popular here as most people get their Per Cap direct deposited to a Chase debit card. But alas why bother when Apple Pay works fine.
Feb 26, 2018, 4:18 pm
#3538
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Here is the sign I promised a picture of about contactless at Shell, this one is from our local Shell gas station on our Indian reservation. It is the regular Shell UI once it asks for the card or FRN card etc. But for some reason when idle it shows a default Verifone commander screensaver. Noticed this behavior at many Shell stations on and off the Rez.
Anyway, is it me or are Coffee Bean's terminals pretty flaky when it comes to contactless? I don't remember ever having all that many issues with mobile phones not being read on other Verifone terminals, while at Coffee Bean I have to basically hold the phone near the magstripe reader (like what you do with Samsung Pay and MST mode) for it to actually read. On the other hand, they managed to put the various mobile wallet logos on the Verifone Point swipe/tap screen, so there's that.
Feb 26, 2018, 4:51 pm
#3539
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Feb 26, 2018, 6:14 pm
#3540
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Here is the sign I promised a picture of about contactless at Shell, this one is from our local Shell gas station on our Indian reservation. It is the regular Shell UI once it asks for the card or FRN card etc. But for some reason when idle it shows a default Verifone commander screensaver. Noticed this behavior at many Shell stations on and off the Rez. I’m surprised Chase Pay is not more popular here as most people get their Per Cap direct deposited to a Chase debit card. But alas why bother when Apple Pay works fine.
Also McD's accepts the Amex physical contactless card again so they must have fixed it via software update.