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)
Feb 3, 2019, 8:44 pm
#5566
Join Date: Jul 2012
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Feb 3, 2019, 11:44 pm
#5568
Join Date: Mar 2011
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I have no idea. The same cards that didn't work when tapped worked when inserted.
I use an Amex through Apply Pay myself when I make purchases, and it works fine, (but I haven't actually checked the receipt to see if it's running as EMV or MSD so I'd have to try it sometime and report back) so I have no idea what the issue is.
I use an Amex through Apply Pay myself when I make purchases, and it works fine, (but I haven't actually checked the receipt to see if it's running as EMV or MSD so I'd have to try it sometime and report back) so I have no idea what the issue is.
Feb 4, 2019, 1:00 am
#5569
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
Well, the EMV Contactless update changed things so that it will attempt to run all contactless as EMV, so I wouldn't be surprised if that's what broke it.
Feb 4, 2019, 2:58 am
#5570
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Another local Shell station very recently (within the last week) replaced all of their gas pumps and it looks like they opted for the contactless readers. I guess maybe it is possible that Shell is mandating them now.
Thing is...what about all the other EMV capable stations that replaced their pumps before contactless was mandated? Is there any plan to retrofit them or is it going to be left up to the individual owners?
Thing is...what about all the other EMV capable stations that replaced their pumps before contactless was mandated? Is there any plan to retrofit them or is it going to be left up to the individual owners?
Feb 4, 2019, 6:25 am
#5571
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,513
I use Contactless AmEx at Safeway all the time. It seems to be running in MSD mode. It works though. As long as the terminal has NFC on, that is. Does the EMV Contactless update break acceptance of Contactless AmEx? I can't use the Contactless AmEx since EMV Contactless was turned on at Walgreens (it just errors), Staples (also errors and says to insert card), Maverik (freezes the terminal), or some McDonalds (but it works at some)... But the AmEx in question does work fine for EMV Contactless at Sprouts and CVS.
Feb 4, 2019, 2:04 pm
#5572
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Granted, it's been a while since I tried tapping an AmEx card at Walgreens but I'm pretty sure they had fixed the EMV contactless issue at one point. Can't comment on the other failures though.
Feb 4, 2019, 2:13 pm
#5573
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,059
I tried my CSR at another known good Subway. I had to keep the card flush against the VX 820 and try different positions before it finally registered. I don't remember having similar problems with the CF or CFU (but I haven't tried either with the VX 820). My phone seems a lot more reliable.
Feb 4, 2019, 2:23 pm
#5574
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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Location: San Diego, CA
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I tried my CSR at another known good Subway. I had to keep the card flush against the VX 820 and try different positions before it finally registered. I don't remember having similar problems with the CF or CFU (but I haven't tried either with the VX 820). My phone seems a lot more reliable.
Feb 4, 2019, 4:11 pm
#5575
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,059
I just tried the vending machines at work and had no issue.
Feb 4, 2019, 5:15 pm
#5576
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,513
I tried my CSR at another known good Subway. I had to keep the card flush against the VX 820 and try different positions before it finally registered. I don't remember having similar problems with the CF or CFU (but I haven't tried either with the VX 820). My phone seems a lot more reliable.
Feb 4, 2019, 5:16 pm
#5577
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: SFO
Programs: *G^2, Bonvoyed, NEXUS
Posts: 3,513
Yes I’ve never had an issue at Walgreens since EMV was enabled. Also no issues using EMV Amex Apple Pay there either.
Feb 4, 2019, 5:23 pm
#5578
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
Definitely VX820s have terrible contactless readers. I had to rub my phone around on a Subway terminal to get it to pick it up, and more than once at different locations. Contactless cards had to be held there for a while.
Feb 4, 2019, 5:24 pm
#5579
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
Another local Shell station very recently (within the last week) replaced all of their gas pumps and it looks like they opted for the contactless readers. I guess maybe it is possible that Shell is mandating them now.
Thing is...what about all the other EMV capable stations that replaced their pumps before contactless was mandated? Is there any plan to retrofit them or is it going to be left up to the individual owners?
Thing is...what about all the other EMV capable stations that replaced their pumps before contactless was mandated? Is there any plan to retrofit them or is it going to be left up to the individual owners?
Feb 4, 2019, 7:20 pm
#5580
FlyerTalk Evangelist
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You'd think they'd allow individual franchisees to not install the contactless reader if they were hoping to do it via the app.