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 24, 2019, 9:33 pm
#5731
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Window Seat
Programs: National Executive, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Visitor
Posts: 2,495
It looks like Shell Stations in the Sacramento area are going ahead on Contactless fairly widespread. Seems to not actually process with Apple or Anrdroid Pay, so it won't work unless you have the physical card (thanks zip code prompt). And it shows up on the receipt as "swiped." This weekend I found two more locations with Contactless. One was in Meadow Vista and has new pumps with the built in Contactless.
The other was in Folsom on Natoma Street and has these odd readers I've never seen before. Wayne readers attached to old Gilbarco pumps and using Verifone POS. The pinpad faces upward and the screen is touchscreen. I have never seen a touchscreen gas pump before.
The other was in Folsom on Natoma Street and has these odd readers I've never seen before. Wayne readers attached to old Gilbarco pumps and using Verifone POS. The pinpad faces upward and the screen is touchscreen. I have never seen a touchscreen gas pump before.
Feb 24, 2019, 10:52 pm
#5732
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
It looks like Shell Stations in the Sacramento area are going ahead on Contactless fairly widespread. Seems to not actually process with Apple or Anrdroid Pay, so it won't work unless you have the physical card (thanks zip code prompt). And it shows up on the receipt as "swiped." This weekend I found two more locations with Contactless. One was in Meadow Vista and has new pumps with the built in Contactless.
The other was in Folsom on Natoma Street and has these odd readers I've never seen before. Wayne readers attached to old Gilbarco pumps and using Verifone POS. The pinpad faces upward and the screen is touchscreen. I have never seen a touchscreen gas pump before.
The other was in Folsom on Natoma Street and has these odd readers I've never seen before. Wayne readers attached to old Gilbarco pumps and using Verifone POS. The pinpad faces upward and the screen is touchscreen. I have never seen a touchscreen gas pump before.
Feb 25, 2019, 8:07 am
#5733
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,131
It looks like Shell Stations in the Sacramento area are going ahead on Contactless fairly widespread. Seems to not actually process with Apple or Anrdroid Pay, so it won't work unless you have the physical card (thanks zip code prompt). And it shows up on the receipt as "swiped." This weekend I found two more locations with Contactless. One was in Meadow Vista and has new pumps with the built in Contactless.
The other was in Folsom on Natoma Street and has these odd readers I've never seen before. Wayne readers attached to old Gilbarco pumps and using Verifone POS. The pinpad faces upward and the screen is touchscreen. I have never seen a touchscreen gas pump before.
The other was in Folsom on Natoma Street and has these odd readers I've never seen before. Wayne readers attached to old Gilbarco pumps and using Verifone POS. The pinpad faces upward and the screen is touchscreen. I have never seen a touchscreen gas pump before.
Feb 25, 2019, 10:14 am
#5734
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
My local Costco removed the stickers over the NFC and barcode scanners on the gas pumps. Maybe this is a sign of things to come. One thing I’ve been hoping for is mobile membership cards!
Feb 25, 2019, 11:41 am
#5735
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,503
It looks like Shell Stations in the Sacramento area are going ahead on Contactless fairly widespread. Seems to not actually process with Apple or Anrdroid Pay, so it won't work unless you have the physical card (thanks zip code prompt). And it shows up on the receipt as "swiped." This weekend I found two more locations with Contactless. One was in Meadow Vista and has new pumps with the built in Contactless.
The other was in Folsom on Natoma Street and has these odd readers I've never seen before. Wayne readers attached to old Gilbarco pumps and using Verifone POS. The pinpad faces upward and the screen is touchscreen. I have never seen a touchscreen gas pump before.
The other was in Folsom on Natoma Street and has these odd readers I've never seen before. Wayne readers attached to old Gilbarco pumps and using Verifone POS. The pinpad faces upward and the screen is touchscreen. I have never seen a touchscreen gas pump before.
Same with Chevron (when contactless actually works).
Feb 26, 2019, 8:26 pm
#5736
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 451
It seems that my local Giant supermarket broke contactless a bit. I went to the self check out as usual and noticed that their Verifone terminal has four green dots next to the contactless symbol drawn on the screen - so seems like there was an update. Tried using my Discover card on Google Pay, as usual, and it was rejected - said CARD READ ERROR, INSERT CHIP. Tried again but it failed and the terminal froze. When it got back to working, I went with my VISA credit card on Google Pay and that worked fine. As recently as February 15th I used the Discover card on Google Pay and it was fine. So again, seems like updates tend to break stuff...
Feb 26, 2019, 9:40 pm
#5737
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: SJC
Programs: AA, AS, Marriott
Posts: 6,056
It seems that my local Giant supermarket broke contactless a bit. I went to the self check out as usual and noticed that their Verifone terminal has four green dots next to the contactless symbol drawn on the screen - so seems like there was an update. Tried using my Discover card on Google Pay, as usual, and it was rejected - said CARD READ ERROR, INSERT CHIP. Tried again but it failed and the terminal froze. When it got back to working, I went with my VISA credit card on Google Pay and that worked fine. As recently as February 15th I used the Discover card on Google Pay and it was fine. So again, seems like updates tend to break stuff...
Feb 26, 2019, 9:46 pm
#5738
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 451
I will check MC next time.
Meanwhile, good news on another bank front - I asked on TD Bank's facebook about contactless and here's what I got!
Since they mention TD Debit card, nothing about credit, and since TD Credit is **almost** a different bank, I am not sure if this will apply to their credit card holders, but one would think so? We'll see, but this is good news - another Visa issuer with contactless in 2019. Yay!
Meanwhile, good news on another bank front - I asked on TD Bank's facebook about contactless and here's what I got!
! Yes, TD is introducing contactless cards! They will be available for mail delivery requests beginning March 4. Additionally, beginning with cards expiring April 2019, all TD Bank Visa Debit card Customers will receive contactless cards when their current card expires. 
Feb 26, 2019, 11:33 pm
#5739
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Anyone know when Safeway might fix their ....?
geez, maybe we should go back to those carbon copy strips so retailers can’t screw up their POS with updates.
geez, maybe we should go back to those carbon copy strips so retailers can’t screw up their POS with updates.
Feb 27, 2019, 7:35 am
#5740
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,503
Looks like the Target locations here finally got the official terminal display (which makes sense since they have advertising elsewhere in the stores about it).
Additionally, I think Chevron is also mandating contactless support on new outdoor EMV upgrades. Another station here seems to have recently upgraded and it looked like there were contactless readers. I'll need to actually pull into the station to confirm though.
Additionally, I think Chevron is also mandating contactless support on new outdoor EMV upgrades. Another station here seems to have recently upgraded and it looked like there were contactless readers. I'll need to actually pull into the station to confirm though.
Feb 27, 2019, 9:12 am
#5741
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: SAN
Posts: 1,171
I noticed this morning and mine did as well. Though looking around I could see at least a couple pumps that still had the stickers. All four lights were dark on the contactless reader on the pump I used.
Mar 1, 2019, 9:35 am
#5742
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
The rumor mill suggests that Kroger is going to stop accepting Visa cards other than through Chase Pay/Kroger Pay and that is why they are so aggressive about forcing their own ...... solution instead of using contactless. They're feeling the squeeze and saving 1 basis point on interchange fees, they feel, could make or break them.
They seem to think stopping acceptance of Visa would help them negotiate a better swipe fee once they show how much volume they send there. Remember, they opted out of the swipe fee settlement because they were bitter about having to pay interchange.
They seem to think stopping acceptance of Visa would help them negotiate a better swipe fee once they show how much volume they send there. Remember, they opted out of the swipe fee settlement because they were bitter about having to pay interchange.
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/30835509-post443.html
I am going to be paying attention to see if I can use Chase Pay QR at my local Kroger. I mentioned elsewhere that one of my Kroger chains has a customer-facing scanner at the normal checkout now (I don't see self-checkout much around here). I've used it to scan my loyalty card anytime during the transaction. I encourage others to see if they get the QR to work on that self-scanner when it comes time to pay now that we have seen a receipt indicating system support for scanning. The Kroger Pay app is still very limited in availability and not an option for me yet.
There was also mention elsewhere about Chase not promoting Chase Pay, well I got a targeted Chase Pay UR bonus points offer for using it this month. Although, they are promoting it via the Samsung Pay wrap which is really not unique to Chase, but more widely accepted than its traditional Chase Pay QR app.
Mar 1, 2019, 9:40 am
#5743
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,503
It looks like Citi is discontinuing the Citi Pay app in April. On one hand, it's kinda redundant given Google Pay, but on the other, AAdvantage cards aren't supported in the latter (so Samsung Pay will be the only Android option for those after the app's terminated).
Of course, if this is something they're doing in advance of, say, releasing contactless cards, that'd make up for lack of Android support.
Of course, if this is something they're doing in advance of, say, releasing contactless cards, that'd make up for lack of Android support.
Mar 1, 2019, 4:10 pm
#5744
Join Date: Jan 2019
Location: Livonia, MI
Posts: 197
More contactless failure
Today I was in a local grocery store called Busch's. Their terminals show that contactless is accepted. I tried both Google Pay and tapping my card. Both failed saying the card must be inserted. In both cases, the terminal recognizes the card or phone, but it declines. My card has a transaction log, but neither the card or Google Pay show any transaction attempt in their history.
People are NOT going to start using contactless when things like this are still so common. I think card networks should mandate contactless functionality on any NFC capable terminal.
People are NOT going to start using contactless when things like this are still so common. I think card networks should mandate contactless functionality on any NFC capable terminal.
Mar 1, 2019, 4:56 pm
#5745
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,503
What this will help with, however, is with merchants like Kroger and Walmart, who are likely resisting in large part due to interchange concerns. Not that mandates won't anger them even further, of course, but they'd likely comply anyway.