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)
Mar 6, 2018, 8:47 pm
#3571
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Went out for the afternoon without my wallet -- forgot it.
I went to a local restaurant where I'd previously used Apple Pay. But today they said it's not working so I went elsewhere.
Picked up something at Uniqlo on Valley Fair Westfield, in the middle of Silicon Valley. Apple Pay worked there though the stupid terminal prompted for a signature. They even have some kind of tablets next to the POS, in order to encourage customers to enter their emails, so that they could email receipts, among other things. Of course they will spam you with ads.
Afterwards, I went to the food court. There was a place I hadn't seen, Koja Kitchen. Went and asked them if they took Apple Pay and they said no. They had some kind of tablet-based POS, not customer facing though I think they could spin it around. I've seen it at other places and such systems did have an NFC reader.
Point is, in the US, you still have to carry physical cards and that doesn't look to change any time soon.
I went to a local restaurant where I'd previously used Apple Pay. But today they said it's not working so I went elsewhere.
Picked up something at Uniqlo on Valley Fair Westfield, in the middle of Silicon Valley. Apple Pay worked there though the stupid terminal prompted for a signature. They even have some kind of tablets next to the POS, in order to encourage customers to enter their emails, so that they could email receipts, among other things. Of course they will spam you with ads.
Afterwards, I went to the food court. There was a place I hadn't seen, Koja Kitchen. Went and asked them if they took Apple Pay and they said no. They had some kind of tablet-based POS, not customer facing though I think they could spin it around. I've seen it at other places and such systems did have an NFC reader.
Point is, in the US, you still have to carry physical cards and that doesn't look to change any time soon.
Anyway, I suspect for other purchases, one would have much better luck. In fact, for those who don't eat out often, I'd say it's possible to use it for most transactions now.
I used Apple Pay at the most unlikely place. An emissions testing station! Let’s add all ADEQ places to the map! LOL!
They take EMV& Apple Pay via a POS integrated on a really long cord Ingenico iCT250. Again with a whole terminal that does nothing but take commands from the POS, oh well.
Also they did it properly and handed me the card reader as I sat in my car waiting for the emissions testing to be done.
Also, for those who don’t know, some states call this a smog check if you’re wondering.
I feel government offices are the ones all implementing EMV a correctly, and private merchants aren’t. Instead the private merchants are the ones installing terminals wrong.
They take EMV& Apple Pay via a POS integrated on a really long cord Ingenico iCT250. Again with a whole terminal that does nothing but take commands from the POS, oh well.
Also they did it properly and handed me the card reader as I sat in my car waiting for the emissions testing to be done.
Also, for those who don’t know, some states call this a smog check if you’re wondering.
I feel government offices are the ones all implementing EMV a correctly, and private merchants aren’t. Instead the private merchants are the ones installing terminals wrong.
Mar 7, 2018, 7:48 am
#3572
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,133
Not to go too OT, but it depends on the state. Pennsylvania, New York, and Virginia do their testing at private garages, but Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, and Ohio have state-run centers.
Mar 7, 2018, 9:06 am
#3573
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Afterwards, I went to the food court. There was a place I hadn't seen, Koja Kitchen. Went and asked them if they took Apple Pay and they said no. They had some kind of tablet-based POS, not customer facing though I think they could spin it around. I've seen it at other places and such systems did have an NFC reader.
Mar 7, 2018, 9:37 am
#3574
Join Date: Oct 2014
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I want to say the San Jose North location on Brokaw does accept contactless payments, but I haven't been there in about two years. I could be remembering incorrectly. However, that's another issue with some franchises. There can be inconsistencies with payment methods. For instance, some locations of a store will be cash only whereas others will take cards. You'll have others where the equipment does exist but it requires staff to be aware of the capabilities. I've had many merchants with standalone terminals refuse a contactless payment even though the contactless logo was visible on the terminal.
Mar 7, 2018, 1:21 pm
#3575
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Contact EMV and MSD contactless now works at Smashburger. It sounds like AmEx might have issues though ("AmEx Pay doesn't work"). Generic NCR logo and the four dots at the payment screen.
Mar 7, 2018, 2:02 pm
#3577
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Mar 7, 2018, 6:42 pm
#3578
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Mar 7, 2018, 10:07 pm
#3579
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Mar 8, 2018, 12:21 am
#3580
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I think this was brought up here before. This sounds like Verifone forcing the use of contactless on its Verifone Payment-as-a-service offerings (i.e. Point). But for large merchants who simply have Verifone terminals integrated into their own POS (i.e. Target) this likely doesn't mean anything.
I can see how it is hard at this time; is anyone even issuing a Contactless MasterCard in the US right now? Cap One?
I keep waiting for more issuers in the US to pick up Contactless Cards. Supposedly Zions Bank (and its various affiliates) is issuing Contactless Visa Cards again but it seems to be an unknown/by request only thing.
Mar 8, 2018, 1:22 am
#3581
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Until one or two of the major banks like Chase, BofA, Citi etc. start issuing these on all cards automatically, I don't think it will be a major thing in the US unfortunately. If the networks want it to happen they will need to take actions to 'force' issuers to issue them and merchants to accept it.
Mar 8, 2018, 3:17 am
#3582
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I think this was brought up here before. This sounds like Verifone forcing the use of contactless on its Verifone Payment-as-a-service offerings (i.e. Point). But for large merchants who simply have Verifone terminals integrated into their own POS (i.e. Target) this likely doesn't mean anything.
Until one or two of the major banks like Chase, BofA, Citi etc. start issuing these on all cards automatically, I don't think it will be a major thing in the US unfortunately. If the networks want it to happen they will need to take actions to 'force' issuers to issue them and merchants to accept it.
Mar 8, 2018, 5:48 am
#3583
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HSBC used to, but I'm not sure if they changed their ways with the card design refresh. The contactless wave used to be on the front, but now it's not on the front of the card at all, so who knows.
Mar 8, 2018, 9:53 am
#3584
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I will repeat once again that Wells Fargo had contactless Visa cards, pointedly doing away with them recently.
I really don't think most folks would see it as a benefit if the credit card companies go through with a (limitless) signature waiver on North American contact transactions; if that proves the case, then foreign terminals where contactless waives signature, while insertion continues to demand one in all cases, would be a negative loophole.
I really don't think most folks would see it as a benefit if the credit card companies go through with a (limitless) signature waiver on North American contact transactions; if that proves the case, then foreign terminals where contactless waives signature, while insertion continues to demand one in all cases, would be a negative loophole.
Mar 8, 2018, 10:35 am
#3585
Join Date: Oct 2014
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Their own press releases make it sound like they're just going to have the software support for the merchants that want it, which is weird because I'm pretty sure I've seen EMV contactless at US merchants using Verifone hardware before.
BMO Harris seems to have them (and by extension, Diners Club--at least for now). Oddly the latter is signature-preferring for contactless over $50--despite the contact interface being PIN preferring--but maybe there's some sort of internal card limit that forces insertion occasionally. Considering how uncommon EMV contactless is, however, I'm not sure I'd be able to hit such a limit at the moment even if I tried.
I think the major banks were perfectly okay with never supporting contactless considering that they saw it as a failure before. They're likely still okay with not supporting contactless cards, but I suspect they think that people might be more receptive to mobile wallets. If nothing else, the latter is a fairly low risk gamble as it's probably much less expensive to issue virtual cards than to issue millions of contactless cards that might not get used any other way but inserting and swiping.
BMO Harris seems to have them (and by extension, Diners Club--at least for now). Oddly the latter is signature-preferring for contactless over $50--despite the contact interface being PIN preferring--but maybe there's some sort of internal card limit that forces insertion occasionally. Considering how uncommon EMV contactless is, however, I'm not sure I'd be able to hit such a limit at the moment even if I tried.
I think the major banks were perfectly okay with never supporting contactless considering that they saw it as a failure before. They're likely still okay with not supporting contactless cards, but I suspect they think that people might be more receptive to mobile wallets. If nothing else, the latter is a fairly low risk gamble as it's probably much less expensive to issue virtual cards than to issue millions of contactless cards that might not get used any other way but inserting and swiping.