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)
Mar 28, 2018, 2:05 pm
#3691
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
I just had my first Apple Pay failure in a while at Jersey Mike's of all places. I'm thinking it's AmEx related unfortunately. 
Mar 28, 2018, 6:26 pm
#3693
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 266
I was at the Atlanta Zoo today. They have some NCR register with card input facing the customer. The machine says Tap, insert or slide but it failed on a tap today. It took forever to activate tap and it didn't work and I gave up because the line was long at that point.
Mar 28, 2018, 6:37 pm
#3694
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
Was this a Verifone terminal like an MX915 or MX925? NCR doesn’t make card terminals that I’m aware of.
Mar 29, 2018, 3:07 pm
#3695
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
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Another failure today, this time at JCPenney. AmEx's website claims there haven't been any recent declines either. 
Additionally, using AP at another Clover merchant immediately afterward resulted in "no cardholder verification" appearing on the receipt this time. Maybe Clover's already implemented the upcoming rule changes re: signature?
Additionally, using AP at another Clover merchant immediately afterward resulted in "no cardholder verification" appearing on the receipt this time. Maybe Clover's already implemented the upcoming rule changes re: signature?
Mar 29, 2018, 4:35 pm
#3696
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 266
No, it was built in.
Not the best picture because I was taking a picture of the menu board not the register LOL.
Mar 29, 2018, 6:28 pm
#3697
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
Another failure today, this time at JCPenney. AmEx's website claims there haven't been any recent declines either.
Additionally, using AP at another Clover merchant immediately afterward resulted in "no cardholder verification" appearing on the receipt this time. Maybe Clover's already implemented the upcoming rule changes re: signature?
Additionally, using AP at another Clover merchant immediately afterward resulted in "no cardholder verification" appearing on the receipt this time. Maybe Clover's already implemented the upcoming rule changes re: signature?
Fior what it’s worth, this happened at the same shop with Discover PINless debit that I mentioned above.
Mar 29, 2018, 7:13 pm
#3698
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,723
Well my local Noodles And Company locations finally have MX915's with EMV enabled and the NCR system is a bit different. First of all they ask credit or debit before you tap/insert/swipe your card and NFC worked great today but it did flash something like "please insert card" then went through anyways and the receipt is missing any EMV info so not possible to tell if its MSD or EMV contactless. They also have Apple Pay logo on the screen along with the ctls logo and Paywave logos too.
Mar 29, 2018, 9:51 pm
#3699
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
Maybe. But I do remember having to sign on a Clover till a few weeks ago. I used Debit Mastercard via Apple Pay, and it actually used the global AID (which is rare on Clover for debit cards).
Fior what it’s worth, this happened at the same shop with Discover PINless debit that I mentioned above.
Fior what it’s worth, this happened at the same shop with Discover PINless debit that I mentioned above.
I'm not sure merchants are actually going to do this without official guidance somewhere. Then again, maybe there is actual guidance that isn't available to the public.
Mar 30, 2018, 9:07 am
#3700
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
For NCR tablet setups I prefer their iPad versions. But that’s because I’m partial to Apple.
Mar 30, 2018, 2:06 pm
#3701
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,723
Woah MC just updated the ctls locator for the first time in nearly 4 months.
Mar 30, 2018, 2:22 pm
#3702
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
Mar 30, 2018, 2:27 pm
#3703
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
I just found an Exxon that still uses i6550. Forget chip card acceptance, let alone contactless.
Mar 30, 2018, 3:01 pm
#3704
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Just noticed some interesting behavior with AmEx notifications and the vending machines at work. After I tap and the reader authorizes the card, I get a notification without an amount (presumably pre-auth). Once I select an item and it dispenses, I get another notification, this time with an amount--which doesn't match the final price of the item. I would have thought I'd only get the latter like with my other cards. 
Mar 30, 2018, 3:10 pm
#3705
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
I feel it seems it definitely depends the area we are in. Here in Phoenix emv acceptance seems sky high. And no cash only places I know of. And Apple Pay is making it so I can pretty much depend on it 80% of my day (95% phone acceptance as a whole thanks to Walmart/Target/CVS/LevelUp Pay)