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)
Aug 6, 2017, 5:36 pm
#1606
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
It's concerning that America has had so many merchants roll back chip after deploying it (including Walmart early on). While some, like Walmart, did redeploy it - others are simply deciding they're going to outright refuse to play.
I'm thinking next time I'm in America, I'm going to destroy the magstripe on my cards first (keeping a backup card of course for restaurants since I'll have already ate), and simply telling shops 'sorry, keep your stuff' if they don't read the chip.
I'm thinking next time I'm in America, I'm going to destroy the magstripe on my cards first (keeping a backup card of course for restaurants since I'll have already ate), and simply telling shops 'sorry, keep your stuff' if they don't read the chip.
Aug 6, 2017, 5:40 pm
#1607
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
It's concerning that America has had so many merchants roll back chip after deploying it (including Walmart early on). While some, like Walmart, did redeploy it - others are simply deciding they're going to outright refuse to play.
I'm thinking next time I'm in America, I'm going to destroy the magstripe on my cards first (keeping a backup card of course for restaurants since I'll have already ate), and simply telling shops 'sorry, keep your stuff' if they don't read the chip.
I'm thinking next time I'm in America, I'm going to destroy the magstripe on my cards first (keeping a backup card of course for restaurants since I'll have already ate), and simply telling shops 'sorry, keep your stuff' if they don't read the chip.
Aug 6, 2017, 11:57 pm
#1608
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,722
Many Hardee's/Carl Jr's do have EMV so the ones with VX520's do and not sure how much actually use the Elavon system and I've even seen one with Verifone Point without chip or nfc even though it says tap. 
Regarding Love's I asked them on twitter and they said they did in fact have nfc so I went there and they actually did.
Regarding Love's I asked them on twitter and they said they did in fact have nfc so I went there and they actually did.
Aug 7, 2017, 9:33 am
#1611
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
In any event, since it's difficult to tell which locations have which setups, it's probably unlikely I'll be able to re-add them any time soon.
Aug 7, 2017, 11:02 am
#1612
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
The vending machines at my workplace got swapped out recently and they're now compliant with California law by explicitly mentioning the cash discount. Also, they now explicitly promote mobile wallet use (see attached). I doubt EMV contactless is enabled though, not that it'd matter since the dollar amount will never be high enough to require any CVM to be used.
Aug 7, 2017, 1:21 pm
#1613
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
The vending machines at my workplace got swapped out recently and they're now compliant with California law by explicitly mentioning the cash discount. Also, they now explicitly promote mobile wallet use (see attached). I doubt EMV contactless is enabled though, not that it'd matter since the dollar amount will never be high enough to require any CVM to be used.
Aug 7, 2017, 1:29 pm
#1614
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Also, contactless cards are still rare in the US (not to mention that is unlikely anyone would use this machine with a foreign cards). For all intents and purposes, EMV contactless only matters for CDCVM support, which isn't going to be used for the smaller amounts that vending machines charge.
Of course, it's a different story for regular stores.
Aug 7, 2017, 9:40 pm
#1615
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
I looked through the Quick Contactless documentation but didn’t see anything about CDCVM. Does that mean it’s not supported?
Also, a contactless Amex BCE finally came. I’m going to try it out tomorrow.
Also, a contactless Amex BCE finally came. I’m going to try it out tomorrow.
Aug 7, 2017, 10:51 pm
#1616
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
All CVMs are supported with Quick Chip so I don't see why CDCVM wouldn't be supported with contactless. Interestingly, they only mention VEPS being possible for signature-preferring cards; I can see how offline PIN couldn't be waived if the final amount isn't known since the card might have been removed by then, but I would think that the terminal could just not bother asking for online PIN once the final amount is known and it's below $25-50.
Aug 8, 2017, 6:13 am
#1618
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,668
Early this morning I went to a BofA branch, to use one of their in-lobby ATMs. To access the lobby before hours, you need to insert and remove an ATM or credit card. Except the reader had a contactless symbol on it, so I used my iPhone 7 to get in (I've a BofA Visa in my wallet). It worked just fine.
Neat!
Neat!
Aug 8, 2017, 11:10 am
#1619
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Huh? Contactless in the US is always one-tap, regardless of whether Quick Contactless is used or not.
I've seen that before. Weirdly, it doesn't look like it's actually reading anything from the phone, just detecting that something powers up when exposed to the NFC field. I wonder if having a NFC loyalty card active in Wallet would cause the door to open as well.
Early this morning I went to a BofA branch, to use one of their in-lobby ATMs. To access the lobby before hours, you need to insert and remove an ATM or credit card. Except the reader had a contactless symbol on it, so I used my iPhone 7 to get in (I've a BofA Visa in my wallet). It worked just fine.
Neat!
Neat!
Aug 8, 2017, 11:46 am
#1620
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,668
Or maybe I'll try my work badge!
Last edited by fliesdelta; Aug 8, 2017 at 12:20 pm