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)
Jan 3, 2017, 10:02 am
#46
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Jan 3, 2017, 10:48 am
#47
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
I went to a different Auntie Anne's here and they also have semi-integrated iCT250. It oddly made a receipt printing noise despite there being no printout. There's no card info on the receipt.
Jan 3, 2017, 4:57 pm
#49
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 266
At Sprouts, they use it to scan your membership barcode card from your phone.
I went to Costco today. Used my phone at checkout and food court. The food court transaction did not show up on my phone though.
Only the 2nd time since use NFC or MST that a transaction went through but did not show up on my device history.
One thing that I miss about Google Wallet and the info that they posted online about your transactions.
I went to Costco today. Used my phone at checkout and food court. The food court transaction did not show up on my phone though.
Only the 2nd time since use NFC or MST that a transaction went through but did not show up on my device history.
One thing that I miss about Google Wallet and the info that they posted online about your transactions.
Last edited by PKCorey; Jan 3, 2017 at 5:03 pm
Jan 3, 2017, 5:00 pm
#50
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 266
Cool beans.
this would have been nice when I was in Europe in 2015.
Jan 3, 2017, 6:28 pm
#51
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
Not necessarily. Even if a country is supported, just like Apple Pay, banks have to be on board as well. What's unique to Android Pay in the US (until recently) is that cards grandfathered from Google Wallet due to the card issuer not officially supporting Android Pay were still bound by the restrictions of Google Wallet (i.e. domestic only).
Jan 3, 2017, 6:29 pm
#52
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
At Sprouts, they use it to scan your membership barcode card from your phone.
I went to Costco today. Used my phone at checkout and food court. The food court transaction did not show up on my phone though.
Only the 2nd time since use NFC or MST that a transaction went through but did not show up on my device history.
One thing that I miss about Google Wallet and the info that they posted online about your transactions.
I went to Costco today. Used my phone at checkout and food court. The food court transaction did not show up on my phone though.
Only the 2nd time since use NFC or MST that a transaction went through but did not show up on my device history.
One thing that I miss about Google Wallet and the info that they posted online about your transactions.
Jan 4, 2017, 3:20 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,061
Not necessarily. Even if a country is supported, just like Apple Pay, banks have to be on board as well. What's unique to Android Pay in the US (until recently) is that cards grandfathered from Google Wallet due to the card issuer not officially supporting Android Pay were still bound by the restrictions of Google Wallet (i.e. domestic only).
Jan 4, 2017, 3:51 am
#54
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: USA
Posts: 238
And even if it will work, you still have to convince cashiers overseas to allow you to do contactless payments. I had about an 80% success rate myself in Italy last week. Ironically, at LHR T5, I was 0 for 2 in a location that has both Apple Pay and Android Pay. One place didn't support it, and the other said it was over the contactless limit. I was more testing it to see if the DCC offer would still appear with Android Pay, but I didn't have the opportunity.
Maybe it would have worked, or maybe Australia has pin/signature requirements for transactions over A$100.
Jan 4, 2017, 3:56 am
#55
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,061
Will contactless not work on amounts above that or require a PIN/signature? Harrods didn't have contactless, and F&M was over £30. Most of the restaurant bills were between €30 to €70, and I didn't have any issues with contactless at the places that allowed it.
Jan 4, 2017, 10:58 am
#56
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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In other countries that are predominantly offline PIN (UK, Canada, etc.) there's no way to verify with the PIN on the card when using contactless, so it's blocked for larger amounts. The exception being if the store's running new enough software to support CDCVM and you're using Android/Apple Pay.
Jan 4, 2017, 12:04 pm
#57
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
Interesting experience at Staples. I used my Square Cash card. A PIN prompt came up but disappeared before I typed it in, and was followed by a signature screen. They also don't seem to be providing the card balance upon request, unlike other prepaid cards; it says "Unavailable" beneath the tender info.
Jan 4, 2017, 3:39 pm
#58
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: Canada
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Since Australia is an online PIN country contactless isn't blocked for larger amounts, but the card's PIN will need to be entered after tapping. It's also not blocked in the US, but that seems to be due to device-based contactless being more predominant and/or there not being a PIN anyway.
In other countries that are predominantly offline PIN (UK, Canada, etc.) there's no way to verify with the PIN on the card when using contactless, so it's blocked for larger amounts. The exception being if the store's running new enough software to support CDCVM and you're using Android/Apple Pay.
In other countries that are predominantly offline PIN (UK, Canada, etc.) there's no way to verify with the PIN on the card when using contactless, so it's blocked for larger amounts. The exception being if the store's running new enough software to support CDCVM and you're using Android/Apple Pay.
Jan 4, 2017, 6:44 pm
#59
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 266
Not necessarily. Even if a country is supported, just like Apple Pay, banks have to be on board as well. What's unique to Android Pay in the US (until recently) is that cards grandfathered from Google Wallet due to the card issuer not officially supporting Android Pay were still bound by the restrictions of Google Wallet (i.e. domestic only).
Jan 4, 2017, 7:26 pm
#60
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,722
I went to a recently opened Phillips 66 station called Jump Start and they have Verifone Ruby 2's with Commander and MX915's with the new logos and then they have a VX520 hooked into a customer facing VX805 with EMV and NFC enabled! The cashier said the VX520 + VX805 was for chip cards and the Commander system is for swipe cards. I also told him that that Commander system support phone payments and he said that we would have to try that next time.