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)
Dec 11, 2018, 8:16 pm
#5251
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SAN
Programs: UA
Posts: 204
I just asked if Citi was planning to introduce contactless cards anytime soon with Chase's recent announcement. The lady in live chat told me that they are sending contactless cards upon request and processed a contactless Citi Thank You Preferred replacement. I'm skeptical if this is actually the case but... I'll see haha. Fwiw I confirmed with her that the card she's sending out is the "tap and pay with a sideways Wifi symbol" type and she confirmed...
Dec 12, 2018, 11:24 am
#5252
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Stopped by Saks today to get a (free) $50 gift cert via Amex Platinum. The Verifone terminal had an Apple Pay sticker, though I inserted my card afraid to mess up the rebate credit, signature waived.
Dec 12, 2018, 8:48 pm
#5253
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Location: San Diego, CA
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Meanwhile, I'm thinking that Chase's version might not be nearly as good about mobile wallet transactions. Still waiting for a PetSmart credit for a Google Pay transaction.
Dec 12, 2018, 8:55 pm
#5254
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,060
AmEx has been pretty good about AmEx Offers working when using contactless, IIRC, so I suspect tapping would have worked for the Saks rebate too.
Meanwhile, I'm thinking that Chase's version might not be nearly as good about mobile wallet transactions. Still waiting for a PetSmart credit for a Google Pay transaction.
Meanwhile, I'm thinking that Chase's version might not be nearly as good about mobile wallet transactions. Still waiting for a PetSmart credit for a Google Pay transaction.
Dec 13, 2018, 12:45 am
#5255
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
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My first Chase statements since receiving my contactless cards just cut and unfortunately they didn't bring back some sort of indication for tap transactions from swipe/insert. This seems like a common theme among most US issuers (except AmEx to my knowledge).
Do they think people don't care all that much about having that information, or assume that one could just look it up in their respective wallet app (even if said app only shows the last X transactions)?
Do they think people don't care all that much about having that information, or assume that one could just look it up in their respective wallet app (even if said app only shows the last X transactions)?
Dec 13, 2018, 1:59 am
#5256
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,060
I don't know about Apple Pay, but Google Pay doesn't show my contactless transactions when using the physical card. Card not present transactions do sometimes appear, however. The designation was useful when Chase was running the Freedom contactless bonus to track spending. It's also unfortunate that they got rid of Blueprint since it sometimes gave insight when a merchant bonus category didn't post properly.
Dec 13, 2018, 6:47 am
#5257
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,133
My first Chase statements since receiving my contactless cards just cut and unfortunately they didn't bring back some sort of indication for tap transactions from swipe/insert. This seems like a common theme among most US issuers (except AmEx to my knowledge).
Do they think people don't care all that much about having that information, or assume that one could just look it up in their respective wallet app (even if said app only shows the last X transactions)?
Do they think people don't care all that much about having that information, or assume that one could just look it up in their respective wallet app (even if said app only shows the last X transactions)?
Dec 13, 2018, 9:20 am
#5258
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
I don't know about Apple Pay, but Google Pay doesn't show my contactless transactions when using the physical card. Card not present transactions do sometimes appear, however. The designation was useful when Chase was running the Freedom contactless bonus to track spending. It's also unfortunate that they got rid of Blueprint since it sometimes gave insight when a merchant bonus category didn't post properly.
Who knows, though, maybe they also expect that contactless will be common enough that inserting will be the action that's unusual and should be mentioned on online banking.
Dec 13, 2018, 9:33 am
#5259
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,171
Among the cards I have, Amex cards in Apple Wallet show all transactions for that card, but for other issuers it only shows Apple Pay transactions.
Dec 13, 2018, 11:17 am
#5260
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,060
Yeah, I get the notification from Google Pay as well when there is a card not present transaction on AmEx. The common case for this is preauthorizations from hotels. I've used that on more than one occasion as a proxy to know that my room is ready even before I get the notification from the app.
Dec 13, 2018, 2:00 pm
#5261
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Noodles & Company now asks credit/debit when tapping. No idea whether they actually support debit routing now.
Dec 13, 2018, 5:32 pm
#5262
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 49
Received my replacement United Awards card. They did redesign it again, but contactless logo is also on the back unlike the marketing pics.
Dec 13, 2018, 6:17 pm
#5263
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 489
Any news on contactless at Target expanding?
Dec 13, 2018, 7:48 pm
#5264
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Dec 13, 2018, 8:32 pm
#5265
Join Date: Jul 2012
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