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)
Apr 3, 2019, 1:31 pm
#5941
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Apr 3, 2019, 6:45 pm
#5942
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Apr 4, 2019, 3:00 am
#5943
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Apr 4, 2019, 1:57 pm
#5944
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Looks like contactless does work at the mechanic that I go to, just not with AmEx. The downside is that I still had to sign despite EMV contactless being used; I guess CDCVM isn't supported with their payment processor and the VX820/VX520 standalone setup they're using. 
Apr 5, 2019, 10:24 am
#5945
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Blew up my first POS this past week (I suppose "froze" might be more accurate) at Winn's Market in Naples, FL. Made the mistake of tapping the physical AMEX card when I saw the green lights come up. The clerk chided me for "Apple Pay-ing", to which I could only stammer something lamely about seeing the lights. She had us wait quite a while for the system to attempt a reset, but eventually had to send me over to another register, which included sorting out what had happened with the other clerk. All quite a mess, and a bit embarrassing in front of my mom.
Apr 5, 2019, 1:08 pm
#5946
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Found a Sicom using Burger King without PIN pads today. I would have thought all of those would have gotten them by now. Maybe we can't expect mass EMV there until that happens.
Apr 5, 2019, 1:11 pm
#5947
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Blew up my first POS this past week (I suppose "froze" might be more accurate) at Winn's Market in Naples, FL. Made the mistake of tapping the physical AMEX card when I saw the green lights come up. The clerk chided me for "Apple Pay-ing", to which I could only stammer something lamely about seeing the lights. She had us wait quite a while for the system to attempt a reset, but eventually had to send me over to another register, which included sorting out what had happened with the other clerk. All quite a mess, and a bit embarrassing in front of my mom.
Apr 5, 2019, 5:21 pm
#5948
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Blew up my first POS this past week (I suppose "froze" might be more accurate) at Winn's Market in Naples, FL. Made the mistake of tapping the physical AMEX card when I saw the green lights come up. The clerk chided me for "Apple Pay-ing", to which I could only stammer something lamely about seeing the lights. She had us wait quite a while for the system to attempt a reset, but eventually had to send me over to another register, which included sorting out what had happened with the other clerk. All quite a mess, and a bit embarrassing in front of my mom.
Apr 6, 2019, 7:03 am
#5949
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Request replacement for damaged chase sapphire preferred and arrived contactless this week. Slightly flimsier and contactless symbol next to the visa symbol on the back.
Apr 6, 2019, 9:45 am
#5950
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Tapped my CSR at Souvla in San Francisco - this Square POS. Tip was entered on the machine after tapping. My pending transactions show the pre-tip amount, which is surprising. I don't know why they didn't directly charge me the post-tip amount.
Apr 6, 2019, 11:16 am
#5951
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Tapped my CSR at Souvla in San Francisco - this Square POS. Tip was entered on the machine after tapping. My pending transactions show the pre-tip amount, which is surprising. I don't know why they didn't directly charge me the post-tip amount.
Apr 6, 2019, 1:33 pm
#5952
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I finally found an Arby's with everything enabled. Unfortunately I got a "card not accepted, use chip reader" error when I tried Google Pay with a Mastercard. Nothing on the receipt other than the last 4, either, even with EMV. The software looks to be Verifone Point without any customizations (other than the idle screen).
See below for their setup:
Nothing on the receipt other than the last 4, either, even with EMV. The software looks to be Verifone Point without any customizations (other than the idle screen).See below for their setup:
Apr 6, 2019, 1:59 pm
#5953
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Mrs. Majuki and I are up in Vancouver for the weekend. I've been using my CSR with contactless for almost everything, including SkyTrain rides. I made one purchase that did require a signature, however, of about C$150. The same merchant at a different location for a purchase of C$65 did not require a signature. Most copies of the receipts I have say no signature required.
Apr 6, 2019, 2:05 pm
#5954
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Mrs. Majuki and I are up in Vancouver for the weekend. I've been using my CSR with contactless for almost everything, including SkyTrain rides. I made one purchase that did require a signature, however, of about C$150. The same merchant at a different location for a purchase of C$65 did not require a signature. Most copies of the receipts I have say no signature required.
Apr 6, 2019, 2:11 pm
#5955
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I went into T-Mobile to pay my bill just now and it looks like contactless does work again. The handheld card reader also said "insert" so EMV probably works too.
Question though: what does "MSCD" stand for on the printed receipt? I don't see any EMV data so I'm guessing "magnetic stripe contactless" something. (Also had to sign too.)
Question though: what does "MSCD" stand for on the printed receipt? I don't see any EMV data so I'm guessing "magnetic stripe contactless" something. (Also had to sign too.)