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 10, 2019, 3:55 am
#5791
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Window Seat
Programs: National Executive, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Visitor
Posts: 2,495
Has been working again since last week.
I wonder what the deal is.
Contactless is still broken at some Save Mart cash registers. I don't understand what is happening there. Literally at one location I go to, it works on one self checkout but not the other three or at the attendant station. NCR POS and MSD Contactless, heavily promoted as accepting Contactless at this particular merchant, so I am really surprised they are having problems.
Mar 10, 2019, 8:53 am
#5792
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,505
I currently have a metal non-contactless Sapphire Preferred. Thinking of getting a contactless replacement but not sure if I want it metal one or I should try to get a plastic one. If I want plastic do I just need to call in and ask for plastic? If it’s a nice flat card I may do it to save weight etc. Thanks!
Mar 10, 2019, 6:56 pm
#5793
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: RDU
Programs: DL(PM), UA(Silver), AA(EXP) Marriott(Ti), HH(Gold), Hertz(PC)
Posts: 2,651
I went to Supercuts today (Cary NC) and was able to use Apple Pay (Citi AA MC). I come here once a month, I don't believe contactless was enabled last month. The pin pad was on the counter, customer-facing.
Mar 10, 2019, 7:14 pm
#5794
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
American Express EMV Contactless worked great at Safeway in Sparks, NV today...
Has been working again since last week.
I wonder what the deal is.
Contactless is still broken at some Save Mart cash registers. I don't understand what is happening there. Literally at one location I go to, it works on one self checkout but not the other three or at the attendant station. NCR POS and MSD Contactless, heavily promoted as accepting Contactless at this particular merchant, so I am really surprised they are having problems.
Has been working again since last week.
I wonder what the deal is.
Contactless is still broken at some Save Mart cash registers. I don't understand what is happening there. Literally at one location I go to, it works on one self checkout but not the other three or at the attendant station. NCR POS and MSD Contactless, heavily promoted as accepting Contactless at this particular merchant, so I am really surprised they are having problems.
Mar 11, 2019, 6:39 am
#5795
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: DEL
Posts: 1,056
I currently have a metal non-contactless Sapphire Preferred. Thinking of getting a contactless replacement but not sure if I want it metal one or I should try to get a plastic one. If I want plastic do I just need to call in and ask for plastic? If it’s a nice flat card I may do it to save weight etc. Thanks!
If you go this route, don't bother mentioning anything about contactless to the phone rep--both plastic and metal cards are contactless by default.
Mar 12, 2019, 10:40 am
#5796
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 1,131
Eatery in my office building lobby has FD terminals with everything enabled. I've used Apple Pay there with no issue for quite some time, and the one receipt I received from the terminal last April confirmed EMV contactless. Used my contactless CSR right after I received it in February, and not only did it work, but the cashiers were wowed by it. Fast forward a few weeks, and I tried to use the card again today, only to receive a "chip read error" requesting insertion after the terminal read my tap. We tried Apple Pay and it worked fine. Quite frustrating to have these bugs with contactless - it definitely impedes wider usage of the technology.
Mar 12, 2019, 12:52 pm
#5797
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
Mar 12, 2019, 1:08 pm
#5798
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,505
Mar 12, 2019, 1:36 pm
#5799
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,952
That's been my experience with American Express metallic cards, but I think I have seen a report from someone asserting that both sides work. Curious if any type of interaction effect with different types of contactless readers.
Mar 12, 2019, 1:41 pm
#5800
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,505
I originally thought it did but I tested again at various merchants and I saw the same behavior that you see with the Platinum.
Mar 12, 2019, 2:45 pm
#5801
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,505
Turns out that even though Verifone Point might claim that you can tap at any time, that's not actually true if the merchant enabled tipping. 
Ended up having to tap again after making the needed tip selection. (POS hardware was from POSBank, if that helps.)
Ended up having to tap again after making the needed tip selection. (POS hardware was from POSBank, if that helps.)
Mar 12, 2019, 8:44 pm
#5802
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: SAN
Programs: UA
Posts: 204
Here's an interesting item I found, after learning about the "Gemini PDA" a few days ago.
Paymo Smart Wallet
Looks like a dedicated Google wallet device. Not sure how popular something like that would be although reading about it a few days ago, it looks like some were interested in a feature where you could lend it to others to make payments on your behalf within specified limits.
(Please note it is one of those deposit schemes that are popular these days and not an actual thing, yet.)
Paymo Smart Wallet
Looks like a dedicated Google wallet device. Not sure how popular something like that would be although reading about it a few days ago, it looks like some were interested in a feature where you could lend it to others to make payments on your behalf within specified limits.
(Please note it is one of those deposit schemes that are popular these days and not an actual thing, yet.)
Mar 12, 2019, 11:15 pm
#5803
Join Date: May 2015
Location: LAX
Programs: AA, AS, UA, WN, Hyatt Globalist, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 88
You should still be able to call in or send a message and request your card be replaced with a plastic one because the metal one doesn't fit in your wallet/got stuck in a gas pump/whatever. Note that this is set as an account-level flag--any replacements or AU cards you order subsequently will be plastic.
If you go this route, don't bother mentioning anything about contactless to the phone rep--both plastic and metal cards are contactless by default.
If you go this route, don't bother mentioning anything about contactless to the phone rep--both plastic and metal cards are contactless by default.
I will be happy to review your inquiry about the plastic card for your account ending in xxxx.
Xxxx, the option to switch your metal card to a plastic card is not available. Since, your card is damaged we have completed you replacement card request. It should arrive at the mailing address for your account in three to five business days.
Mar 12, 2019, 11:32 pm
#5804
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Window Seat
Programs: National Executive, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Visitor
Posts: 2,495
Eatery in my office building lobby has FD terminals with everything enabled. I've used Apple Pay there with no issue for quite some time, and the one receipt I received from the terminal last April confirmed EMV contactless. Used my contactless CSR right after I received it in February, and not only did it work, but the cashiers were wowed by it. Fast forward a few weeks, and I tried to use the card again today, only to receive a "chip read error" requesting insertion after the terminal read my tap. We tried Apple Pay and it worked fine. Quite frustrating to have these bugs with contactless - it definitely impedes wider usage of the technology.
It has been a few years and I would have expected First Data to fix these terminals by now. Also I don't think they work with the Contactless American Express.
Mar 12, 2019, 11:35 pm
#5805
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
OCTA & San Diego MTS* have Apple Pay now inside of their mobile pass apps. it seems like this seems to be the way moving forward to get Apple Pay on transit without having to revamp their entire fare card system.
*SDMTS had it for a while, but OCTA is the second system I know of that recently upgraded to the new app design that supports Apple Pay.
*SDMTS had it for a while, but OCTA is the second system I know of that recently upgraded to the new app design that supports Apple Pay.