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)
Apr 10, 2018, 6:07 pm
#3766
Join Date: Jan 2010
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Also, Square apparently does do tip adjust after all, even with digital everything. The push notification from AmEx had the pre-tip amount after tapping while my email receipt had the full amount. (Speaking of receipts, those have been tweaked again. They now seem to say "no CVM" if signature/CDCVM aren't used. Before they wouldn't mention anything.)
They have listed the CVM message for MC and AMEX (but not VISA) since mid-2016, at least according to my receipts.
Apr 10, 2018, 6:38 pm
#3767
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As for the former, I don't think I've paid much attention until now (plus most Square merchants aren't usually ones that need tipping). And it seems weird to adjust afterward too when the customer's there selecting the amount.
Apr 10, 2018, 8:15 pm
#3768
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I don't understand why there would be a tip adjust afterwards, as with Square I add the tip myself, so it's all taken care of by the time I walk away?
Apr 10, 2018, 8:37 pm
#3770
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Perhaps I misspoke, as I'm not as up on point-of-sale terminals as most folks here. However, I could swear a local coffee shop is square and allows that.
Apr 10, 2018, 8:55 pm
#3771
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I mean, you do enter the tip at purchase time, but it might have been easier on the software side to treat digital tip capture the same as paper.
Apr 10, 2018, 9:02 pm
#3772
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
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It’s possible, as Square allows you to turn on sign and tip on paper receipts. But if you signed on screen then I’m weirded out by tip adjust
Apr 10, 2018, 9:24 pm
#3773
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Eh, if you're signing on the screen you're likely choosing the tip on the screen too. I don't see any potential for issues later but it does seem strange to people who pay attention to account alerts.
Apr 10, 2018, 10:08 pm
#3774
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Apr 11, 2018, 12:17 am
#3775
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Location: SFO
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In Canada for example, Square will prompt on screen for the tip amount (if enabled), then will authorise for the total including tip.
In theory they could change the US setup to be like that as the software code is already there.
Apr 11, 2018, 12:56 am
#3776
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
In the US, Square (with on-screen tipping) authorises the card first for the original amount. Then it prompts the customer for a tip amount. Then it performs a 'tip adjust' automatically in the background. It is not a manual adjustment, but from a transaction processing perspective it is the same as what happens at a regular restaurant.
In Canada for example, Square will prompt on screen for the tip amount (if enabled), then will authorise for the total including tip.
In theory they could change the US setup to be like that as the software code is already there.
In Canada for example, Square will prompt on screen for the tip amount (if enabled), then will authorise for the total including tip.
In theory they could change the US setup to be like that as the software code is already there.
Apr 11, 2018, 6:52 am
#3777
Join Date: May 2005
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Looks like Apple Pay stopped working at the Costco in Redmond, WA? I used it there successfully 3 or 4 times, but on my visit last week, no love despite the contactless logo showing on the Verifone device.
Apr 11, 2018, 9:04 am
#3778
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Example of Quick Contactless causing confusion: https://www.reddit.com/r/iphone/comm...ith_apple_pay/
Maybe Google did the right thing by not showing the pre-authorization amount anywhere?
Maybe Google did the right thing by not showing the pre-authorization amount anywhere?
Apr 11, 2018, 11:57 am
#3779
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
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Contactless payments, at least with Google Pay, are still broken at the SJC long term parking. The contactless reader will beep, but there will be a brief buzzer "rejection" sound after a few seconds.
Apr 11, 2018, 1:32 pm
#3780
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The flow in Canada (which is the same for most terminals now with tipping enabled - enter tip, then present card). would 'work' with Quick Chip in the US, but there would't be much point as the reader only activates after you enter the tip amount. I don't even know why Square bothers with QC as their readers are only activated at the end of the transaction and there is no real time savings.