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USA contactless credit/debit/transit (2017 - 2021)

Old Jan 16, 2017, 6:55 am
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Last edit by: storewanderer
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FAQ
  1. 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.

  2. 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

  3. Does EMV contactless need to be supported to support CDCVM?

    Typically, yes. (However, there are some exceptions below.)

  4. 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.)

  5. 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.

  6. 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 Annes 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
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USA contactless credit/debit/transit (2017 - 2021)

Old Feb 15, 2019, 3:25 pm
  #5671  
 
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Originally Posted by tmiw
That might be where you live. While user adoption was pretty slow here to start, I do see it somewhat often now (even at my work's cafeteria, which could have just stayed being swipe only since it's only open to employees).

On the other hand, that might cause people to kinda shrug at contactless cards since people got used to phones already. But that's okay, IMO.
Yep, lots of people at work use mobile payments, and I see mobile payments in the wild here too. However, I live down the street from Apple, so the use is likely far higher than elsewhere.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 4:25 pm
  #5672  
 
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To be honest, I have never come across anybody who is using contactless here in the States and I still come across cashiers who are not sure how it works or how to turn it on and tell me to "put the card in here" when I try to tap it. I guess it depends on the situation and area though.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 4:28 pm
  #5673  
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Originally Posted by Majuki
Yep, lots of people at work use mobile payments, and I see mobile payments in the wild here too. However, I live down the street from Apple, so the use is likely far higher than elsewhere.
I see very little usage here in Microsoft-central. As a matter of fact, I saw someone tapping a phone recently at Trader Joe's for the first time in a very, very long time. However, when I asked clerks ask clerks whether people do pay via tapping they say that they see it on at least a somewhat regular basis.
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Old Feb 15, 2019, 5:26 pm
  #5674  
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A physical AmEx gave me "not authorized" when I tapped at an Albertsons here in Yuma. Based on what we've observed I'm thinking Safeway screwed something up with the EMV provisioning on everything other than Visa somehow (since MSD-only AmEx contactless devices still work). I hope that's something that can be fixed quickly.

Originally Posted by Barciur
To be honest, I have never come across anybody who is using contactless here in the States and I still come across cashiers who are not sure how it works or how to turn it on and tell me to "put the card in here" when I try to tap it. I guess it depends on the situation and area though.
I mean, the vast majority of people still insert. But instead of maybe once a month or every other month like before, I see it a few times a week now.

Amusingly enough, the guy in front of me at Albertsons tried to tap his non-contactless enabled card (of course, inserting after the terminal didn't respond). I didn't catch the bank but it was a Visa debit card. I'm guessing the Visa ads on TV are having an effect?
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Old Feb 17, 2019, 4:57 pm
  #5675  
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I'm back from traveling. On the way home, I stopped at the Shell station with new contactless readers. The readers were fully disabled, so perhaps Shell realized people were trying to use them and kept getting errors?

Additionally, the pump took a couple of seconds after inserting my card to tell me to remove it. I'm guessing EMV outside might be close?

BTW the Google Pay app is now saying that Target has contactless:

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Old Feb 17, 2019, 5:57 pm
  #5676  
 
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Originally Posted by tmiw
I'm not sure how that would work (or if it even saves time) if you have to authenticate with the phone's mobile wallet in addition to scanning the QR code. Not that Kroger would ever do it, of course.
I have loaded up my Frys card (our local Kroger brand) inside of Apple Wallet, just do I can try to pass the barcode over the scanner and it worked just fine. I used the flatbed scanner too! So I think these will work fine with Kroger Pay
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Old Feb 17, 2019, 6:13 pm
  #5677  
 
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My local Safeway now shows something like "Swipe, insert, or tap now", along with the green dots. Tap is new.

I tapped my AMEX Gold and it failed with "Not Authorized". I inserted the card and the transaction succeeded.

I didn't try Apple Pay, although I've used it many times with at this location with AMEX. Maybe Safeway broke something with contactless AMEX when they upgraded?
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Old Feb 17, 2019, 8:47 pm
  #5678  
 
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My local BK Finally upgraded to the VX820s. And has everything enabled. Theyre an NCR shop. They have the most boringest screens ever.
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Old Feb 17, 2019, 9:12 pm
  #5679  
 
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Originally Posted by RedLight2015
My local BK Finally upgraded to the VX820s. And has everything enabled. Theyre an NCR shop. They have the most boringest screens ever.
BK supports EMV contactless correct and I need to check my local BKs as they are NCR as well. I also wonder about Sicom BK locations?
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Old Feb 17, 2019, 9:15 pm
  #5680  
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Originally Posted by scibot
BK supports EMV contactless correct and I need to check my local BKs as they are NCR as well. I also wonder about Sicom BK locations?
The ones in San Diego seem to be Sicom for the most part and as of two weeks ago, they were still swipe/contactless only.
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Old Feb 17, 2019, 10:33 pm
  #5681  
 
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Originally Posted by scibot
BK supports EMV contactless correct and I need to check my local BKs as they are NCR as well. I also wonder about Sicom BK locations?
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Forgot here is the picture of literally the super boring screens.
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Old Feb 18, 2019, 5:19 pm
  #5682  
 
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Originally Posted by RedLight2015
Attachment 47235
Forgot here is the picture of literally the super boring screens.
No EMV at my local BK yet but contactless actually works well even though they use VX820 and the receipt is typical MSD ctls RXXX and I'm sure it will look like a standard NCR chip way once EMV is enabled.
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Old Feb 18, 2019, 6:38 pm
  #5683  
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I slightly confused, then amazed the cashier at L&L today when I tapped my CSR on the Clover's receipt printer instead of handing her the card.

Meanwhile, Big 5 has the slowest card processing with MX915s that I've seen. It's almost like that location was using dialup (despite that being unlikely). Contactless is still MSD only, too.

Also, Square seems to waive signature for contactless cards as well as mobile devices so far. I haven't tried to buy anything over $25 with my contactless cards at those yet though.
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Old Feb 18, 2019, 6:52 pm
  #5684  
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Contactless American Express card failed 3 times at Safeway, before the clerk had me insert it, saying with mild disgust, "The tapping has been acting funny for a while, but we are supposed to be having an upgrade overnight tonight to address that."
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Old Feb 18, 2019, 6:56 pm
  #5685  
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Originally Posted by Points Scrounger
Contactless American Express card failed 3 times at Safeway, before the clerk had me insert it, saying with mild disgust, "The tapping has been acting funny for a while, but we are supposed to be having an upgrade overnight tonight to address that."
Any bets on whether they'll revert everything back to MSD or if they'll actually keep EMV mode?
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