Jan 16, 2017, 6:55 am
Last edit by: storewanderer
Older (archived) threads: 2014-16
- - - - - -
- 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 24, 2019, 12:35 am
#5881
Join Date: Mar 2011
Location: Window Seat
Programs: National Executive, HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Hyatt Visitor
Posts: 2,495
Ventured to a different Safeway today. Tried it. "Not Authorized."
Oh well.
I assume they will get it right some day. At least they are ahead of Kroger?
Mar 24, 2019, 2:31 am
#5882
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: New England
Programs: American Gold, Marriott Gold, Hilton Silver
Posts: 5,640
I don't remember if I mentioned this, but Safeway will roll out a fix on April 2. I have no idea whether the rollout will be staggered, but I have a "pet" store that I'll keep an eye on to see what happens.
Mar 24, 2019, 4:30 pm
#5883
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Before Quick Chip, outside of some transit use cases, these amounts should never have been different. The final amount settled could be more or less, but matching the signed amount with the authorised amount provided additional assurances over the transactions’s integrity. Especially true for contactless. Quick Chip introduces vulnerabilities because issuers now have to de-emphasise this risk parameter with the end result being of more fraudulent transactions being approved.
Also, I'd expect US transactions to rank high risk-wise even without QC considering that fraud rates are still very high here.
Mar 24, 2019, 11:59 pm
#5884
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 1,722
Did MC finally fix the ctls locator it seems they may finally have done so as it seems pretty full now. It also seems Phillips 66 now forces all passport locations to support ctls. Bucky's P66 stations do and so does this place called Petro Mart two different owners yet both support it now so that is why I think they may be forcing it on all locations.
Mar 25, 2019, 11:39 am
#5885
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
Apple announced just now that Apple Pay support will be available on Portland, Chicago and NYC's transit systems later this year. I get that they were talking about having the actual transit cards in the phone, but it's still a bit amusing considering that you can already use your regular credit or debit card with the first two. 
Mar 25, 2019, 12:20 pm
#5886
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: SFO
Programs: AS 75K (OW), SK Silver (*A), UR, MR
Posts: 3,347
I have happily been using the Ventra app’s Apple Pay during my most recent couple of trips to Chicago and look forward to having the one week NYC subway pass on my phone. The San Diego one day pass by the way worked quite well for me earlier this month. Will probably use the three day tourist pass in Singapore though.
Mar 25, 2019, 9:24 pm
#5887
Join Date: Oct 2014
Programs: Skymiles
Posts: 3,251
Ok going to sign up for that Apple credit card as soon as it’s available and make it my main card. Secondary card would be my Skymiles. I’m ready for this!
Mar 25, 2019, 11:07 pm
#5888
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: San Diego, CA
Programs: GE, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 15,507
As for Mobil, no EMV outside there either.
Mar 25, 2019, 11:30 pm
#5889
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Bay Area
Programs: DL SM, UA MP.
Posts: 12,729
Mar 26, 2019, 12:05 am
#5890
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 489
So this is a little strange, Citi is now advertising Contactless cards on their website. This is a screen grab from their site taken today. Link here
https://citicards.citi.com/usc/LPACA...33C7DB2A9EAE52
https://citicards.citi.com/usc/LPACA...33C7DB2A9EAE52
Mar 26, 2019, 5:42 am
#5891
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: HHonors, TrueBlue, Delta SkyMiles, Hyatt Discoverist, Starwood Preferred Guest, American Airlines.
Posts: 2,035
Mar 26, 2019, 6:55 am
#5892
Moderator
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Miami, Mpls & London
Programs: AA & Marriott Perpetual Platinum; DL & HH Gold
Posts: 48,957
Mar 26, 2019, 9:55 am
#5894
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 2,295
Citi-issued Costco Visas have contactless. Maybe they're spreading it to other cards starting with their newly issued ones first...
Mar 26, 2019, 11:04 am
#5895
Join Date: Oct 2007
Programs: AA, WN, UA, Bonvoy, Hertz
Posts: 2,491
https://www.digitaltransactions.net/...ard-bandwagon/
https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-t...-call-tra.aspx
Does Capital One issue any replacement or new cards without contactless anymore? I know some of the cards did not have the newer design (no card numbers on front), but I didn't know if that was a requirement to get the contactless chip as well.
Along these lines WF and BofA should have more contactless Visa cards out there later in 2019.
https://www.fool.com/earnings/call-t...ranscript.aspx