Jan 16, 2017, 6:55 am
Last edit by: storewanderer
Older (archived) threads: 2014-16
- - - - - -
- 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)
Sep 16, 2018, 9:27 am
#4666
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,139
Sheetz also has EMV contactless at the registers. Don't know about the pumps that accept NFC.
Sep 16, 2018, 9:35 am
#4667
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
Sep 16, 2018, 11:07 am
#4670
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
(Speaking of EMV contactless, Hudson News supports it. EMV is pretty lacking elsewhere at ABQ though but I did add a few locations that looked to be using Square.)
Sep 16, 2018, 3:50 pm
#4672
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 266
Same applies for C1. I've used Android/Google Pay and Samsung and no promos but they have all these new options for new users that added a card and they get a $25 statement credit.
Google and Samsung need to focus on people fear that their cards can be hacked via the phone. The biggest worry is the gas station.
Sep 16, 2018, 9:16 pm
#4673
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
Android/Google Pay always have deals for new users but people like myself who have used it for years. Nothing. They had the one promo a couple years ago for the $5 but that's it. No rewards or such for users like myself.
Same applies for C1. I've used Android/Google Pay and Samsung and no promos but they have all these new options for new users that added a card and they get a $25 statement credit.
Google and Samsung need to focus on people fear that their cards can be hacked via the phone. The biggest worry is the gas station.
Same applies for C1. I've used Android/Google Pay and Samsung and no promos but they have all these new options for new users that added a card and they get a $25 statement credit.
Google and Samsung need to focus on people fear that their cards can be hacked via the phone. The biggest worry is the gas station.
Sep 17, 2018, 10:07 am
#4675
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,171
Sep 17, 2018, 10:51 am
#4676
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
Wells Fargo Cash Wise gives 1.8% instead of 1.5% cash back for the first year for mobile device purchases (Apple, Google, Samsung Pay). Not spectacular, but it's something. https://www.wellsfargo.com/mobile-pa...mobile-wallet/
Sep 17, 2018, 1:56 pm
#4677
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
I ran into a couple of AmEx contactless failures this morning:
- Local mechanic: VX820/VX520 setup. "Use chip reader" appeared when I tapped my card. Apple Pay supposedly works according to the staff, but I didn't attempt using my phone or watch.
- Vending machine at work: all four lights lit up but nothing happened. Same with Samsung Pay. Couldn't swipe either since the NFC reader kept picking up the card's signal. Eventually the card reader itself stopped accepting all input and I had to use cash.
Sep 18, 2018, 9:03 am
#4678
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: RSW
Programs: Delta - Silver; UA - Silver; HHonors - Diamond; IHG - Spire Ambassador; Marriott Bonvoy - Titanium
Posts: 14,185
Speaking of Amex cards, a few days ago at a teriyaki joint I went to tap my card on the terminal at which point the owner made a motion that I should insert the card in the EMV slot instead. Luckily for me at that point the NFC kicked in successfully so that was that.
Sep 19, 2018, 8:00 pm
#4679
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 452
Alright, being a European living in America is a frustrating experience with NFC, but it's slowly dragging to be better, so there is hope! 
My first experience with pay at pump today was at Sunoco in Lancaster, PA.
Soo, I have a TD Bank Debit card with Google Pay, TB Bank Cash Credit card with Google Pay and a Santander contactless debit card. Also a Polish debit card, but that's a bonus
So, at least at Sunoco, once you tap the card, it behaves just as if you swiped it - asks if it's debit or credit and then asks for a pin or zip code. Has that been everyone else's experience at pumps or does that vary?
Interestingly enough, the TB Credit card kicks out after putting in the zip code, says "unauthorized pay inside". Tried twice, didn't work. TB Debit works just fine with pin code, I didn't check if it would go through as credit. That same credit card works when swiped, though.
Santander's went through as Credit. Polish card does not go through, but I've never had any success with any of the Polish cards at pumps here - swiping, EMV or else.
Separate note on Santander's card: it has issues at a few places where I had google pay work just fine. Mainly, I can never tap at Wawa, it just gets rejected. I can also not tap at Giant food stores, as it gets rejected, whereas TB works. One time I actually had a clerk at Wawa tell me that "our company doesn't seem to like Santander, I don't know, my card doesn't work for tapping either". So who knows?
Oh yeah - and my Polish mastercard didn't go through tapping either, had to put it in and put PIN in at the store.
My first experience with pay at pump today was at Sunoco in Lancaster, PA.Soo, I have a TD Bank Debit card with Google Pay, TB Bank Cash Credit card with Google Pay and a Santander contactless debit card. Also a Polish debit card, but that's a bonus
So, at least at Sunoco, once you tap the card, it behaves just as if you swiped it - asks if it's debit or credit and then asks for a pin or zip code. Has that been everyone else's experience at pumps or does that vary?
Interestingly enough, the TB Credit card kicks out after putting in the zip code, says "unauthorized pay inside". Tried twice, didn't work. TB Debit works just fine with pin code, I didn't check if it would go through as credit. That same credit card works when swiped, though.
Santander's went through as Credit. Polish card does not go through, but I've never had any success with any of the Polish cards at pumps here - swiping, EMV or else.
Separate note on Santander's card: it has issues at a few places where I had google pay work just fine. Mainly, I can never tap at Wawa, it just gets rejected. I can also not tap at Giant food stores, as it gets rejected, whereas TB works. One time I actually had a clerk at Wawa tell me that "our company doesn't seem to like Santander, I don't know, my card doesn't work for tapping either". So who knows?
Oh yeah - and my Polish mastercard didn't go through tapping either, had to put it in and put PIN in at the store.
Sep 20, 2018, 12:38 am
#4680
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,508
Separate note on Santander's card: it has issues at a few places where I had google pay work just fine. Mainly, I can never tap at Wawa, it just gets rejected. I can also not tap at Giant food stores, as it gets rejected, whereas TB works. One time I actually had a clerk at Wawa tell me that "our company doesn't seem to like Santander, I don't know, my card doesn't work for tapping either". So who knows?
Oh yeah - and my Polish mastercard didn't go through tapping either, had to put it in and put PIN in at the store.
Oh yeah - and my Polish mastercard didn't go through tapping either, had to put it in and put PIN in at the store.