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)
Oct 6, 2018, 8:08 am
#4786
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Oct 6, 2018, 12:04 pm
#4787
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Oct 6, 2018, 12:19 pm
#4788
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San Diego is also going to roll out a system that will eventually permit open loop payments. The problem is that NFC is still less than 1% of all payments in the US so it's fairly hard for cash strapped transit agencies to justify (hence why SD won't enable open loop to start).
Oct 6, 2018, 4:36 pm
#4790
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I surprised the guy who was helping me at LensCrafters today when I paid with Samsung Pay. ^
Honestly, I kinda wonder if maybe Apple not buying LoopPay was a mistake. I mean, NFC is ultimately the future, but how much more use would Apple Pay be getting right now if it worked "everywhere" from the start? (In quotes because restaurants, anywhere with insert-style card slots have issues, not to mention the issues I've run into with smaller terminals.)
BTW I think we can conclude that Samsung actually fixed the card removal issue on the Gear S3. My cards have stuck around for quite some time now. Also, it turns out both Square and Clover print out the AID for AmEx despite being MSD--unless the latter is no longer true?
Honestly, I kinda wonder if maybe Apple not buying LoopPay was a mistake. I mean, NFC is ultimately the future, but how much more use would Apple Pay be getting right now if it worked "everywhere" from the start? (In quotes because restaurants, anywhere with insert-style card slots have issues, not to mention the issues I've run into with smaller terminals.)
BTW I think we can conclude that Samsung actually fixed the card removal issue on the Gear S3. My cards have stuck around for quite some time now. Also, it turns out both Square and Clover print out the AID for AmEx despite being MSD--unless the latter is no longer true?
Oct 6, 2018, 9:23 pm
#4791
Join Date: Oct 2011
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Success with 7-11 down here in FL (I know, I know but they aren't in my state) with Google Pay. Pretty quick too.
Oct 7, 2018, 1:26 pm
#4792
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Oct 7, 2018, 6:23 pm
#4794
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Not sure when AMEX plans to update US cards to support EMV-mode.
Oct 7, 2018, 8:31 pm
#4795
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SLC no longer supports it as of earlier this year.
It's weird in any event since they're starting to issue contactless cards by default. If it were some merchant acceptance issue preventing it you'd think that AmEx would continue to have contactless cards only on an opt-in basis or even possibly not issue them at all.
It's weird in any event since they're starting to issue contactless cards by default. If it were some merchant acceptance issue preventing it you'd think that AmEx would continue to have contactless cards only on an opt-in basis or even possibly not issue them at all.
Oct 7, 2018, 10:34 pm
#4796
Join Date: Apr 2017
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I thought AMEX's current contactless credit cards do support EMV contactless mode, while its mobile wallets are the only ones that are MSD emulation only for the USA. Or has AMEX gone back to MSD only for its physical cards as well?
Oct 8, 2018, 12:16 am
#4797
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We are talking about mobile wallets. The physical cards support full EMV mode.
Oct 8, 2018, 9:29 pm
#4798
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SLC no longer supports it as of earlier this year.
It's weird in any event since they're starting to issue contactless cards by default. If it were some merchant acceptance issue preventing it you'd think that AmEx would continue to have contactless cards only on an opt-in basis or even possibly not issue them at all.
It's weird in any event since they're starting to issue contactless cards by default. If it were some merchant acceptance issue preventing it you'd think that AmEx would continue to have contactless cards only on an opt-in basis or even possibly not issue them at all.
Oct 9, 2018, 8:21 am
#4799
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Oct 9, 2018, 9:11 am
#4800
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