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)
Apr 16, 2017, 6:19 pm
#706
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
On that note, I have had issues with using the physical contactless card at a few stores in the US (while Apple Pay worked fine). I'm thinking that's the likely reason why the mobile wallets are still MSD only.
Apr 16, 2017, 7:23 pm
#707
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
I just made my first-ever contactless at the pump purchase! I noticed a Sunoco with the new Verifone card readers and tried it out. The first pump didn't accept tap (the first light was only blinking), but the second one I tried accepted my card (the first light was solid). I suspect they weren't all enabled for contactless. Anyway, I filled up with very little since the price per gallon was ludicrous. (Probably looked weird as hell.) No ZIP verification. No contactless indicator on the receipt.
I also heard that the one closest to my house will get the pump upgrades soon. I'm looking forward to more places to tap at the pump.
I also heard that the one closest to my house will get the pump upgrades soon. I'm looking forward to more places to tap at the pump.
Last edited by emmanuel_t; Apr 16, 2017 at 7:29 pm
Apr 16, 2017, 7:59 pm
#708
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Indianapolis area
Programs: Marriott Lifetime Titanium
Posts: 436
That's one of the cool things about the AMEX clear cards -- you can see the antenna wires coming out of the chip and running around the perimeter of the card.
Apr 16, 2017, 8:04 pm
#709
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,171
Quicksliver - MasterCard World Elite: https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/quicksilver/
Quicksilver One - Platinum MasterCard: https://www.capitalone.com/credit-cards/quicksilverone/
Apr 16, 2017, 10:31 pm
#710
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: NYC
Posts: 557
Huh, maybe they're planning a network switch. My QS is a Visa.
I have a custom image and scoured the site for a way to "go back to the standard one", figuring that might get me a contactless card, but could not find a way to do so.
I have a custom image and scoured the site for a way to "go back to the standard one", figuring that might get me a contactless card, but could not find a way to do so.
Apr 17, 2017, 6:31 am
#711
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
Apr 17, 2017, 6:44 am
#712
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
The EMV chip is the contactless chip - that's why they are called dual interface cards. No way that they are moving the chip to a different place as it needs to be where it already is to support inserted chip transactions.
That's one of the cool things about the AMEX clear cards -- you can see the antenna wires coming out of the chip and running around the perimeter of the card.
That's one of the cool things about the AMEX clear cards -- you can see the antenna wires coming out of the chip and running around the perimeter of the card.
Apr 17, 2017, 10:07 am
#713
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,668
Apr 17, 2017, 10:10 am
#714
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 3,537
All Amex cards have it on the back, but in the UK they print a smaller version of it (non-standard) beside the four digit number on the front as well since that is where many people look for it. It's smaller as it's printed with the same printing as the security number.
Apr 17, 2017, 10:29 am
#715
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
All Amex cards have it on the back, but in the UK they print a smaller version of it (non-standard) beside the four digit number on the front as well since that is where many people look for it. It's smaller as it's printed with the same printing as the security number.
I think it's better suited for the front though, what's the point of it being on the back where nobody can see it? I think it just looks cooler on the front.
Apr 17, 2017, 12:58 pm
#716
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
There are other design elements that make most Amex cards (like BCE) distinguishable from the rest.
Apr 17, 2017, 3:34 pm
#717
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,722
Some contactless at the gas pump news. I have no idea if Casey's General store will add nfc to the pumps, but QuikTrip said they would add it in the future. KwikTrip/KwikStar already supports nfc at the pump with Flex Pay IV. Well now Buc-ee's who has massive c-stores in Texas has begun adding Flex Pay IV to their old Gilbarco Encore 300 dispensers:
so most likely has them on their newer Gilbarco Encore 500/700's as well. I know Quiktrip uses similar Gilbarco Encore 500/700's so that would probably add Flex Pay IV to them.
So this c-store called Break Time has finally removed the old MX860's and replaced them with MX915's with contactless enabled, so yeah as others have mentioned places are indeed replacing MX800 series with MX900 series terminals and I wonder if Kum & Go(anti-contactless) has done something similar.
So this c-store called Break Time has finally removed the old MX860's and replaced them with MX915's with contactless enabled, so yeah as others have mentioned places are indeed replacing MX800 series with MX900 series terminals and I wonder if Kum & Go(anti-contactless) has done something similar.
Apr 17, 2017, 3:58 pm
#718
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
Some contactless at the gas pump news. I have no idea if Casey's General store will add nfc to the pumps, but QuikTrip said they would add it in the future. KwikTrip/KwikStar already supports nfc at the pump with Flex Pay IV. Well now Buc-ee's who has massive c-stores in Texas has begun adding Flex Pay IV to their old Gilbarco Encore 300 dispensers:https://twitter.com/ortiz3m/status/853259941234315264 so most likely has them on their newer Gilbarco Encore 500/700's as well. I know Quiktrip uses similar Gilbarco Encore 500/700's so that would probably add Flex Pay IV to them.
So this c-store called Break Time has finally removed the old MX860's and replaced them with MX915's with contactless enabled, so yeah as others have mentioned places are indeed replacing MX800 series with MX900 series terminals and I wonder if Kum & Go(anti-contactless) has done something similar.
So this c-store called Break Time has finally removed the old MX860's and replaced them with MX915's with contactless enabled, so yeah as others have mentioned places are indeed replacing MX800 series with MX900 series terminals and I wonder if Kum & Go(anti-contactless) has done something similar.
Apr 17, 2017, 10:33 pm
#719
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
I stopped by an Albertsons on the way home today and found they were actually serious about getting rid of the self-checkouts. They also didn't support Vons/Safeway Rewards (how long has it been since they merged?)
At least they still support contactless. For now, anyway.
At least they still support contactless. For now, anyway.
Apr 18, 2017, 4:33 am
#720
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 1,592
If/When Albertsons move to the Safeway POS system, contactless will probably go away unless Safeway themselves enable contactless in that time.
Re: loyalty, it's the same thing with Kroger and Harris Teeter. They're apparently moving to the Kroger system, though (fliesdelta mentioned an EMV trial in CLT), so we might see some changes in that respect.
Last edited by emmanuel_t; Apr 18, 2017 at 5:46 pm