Using a Contactless Card

At the POS, a customer may tap or wave a contactless card over the internal contactless reader imbedded in the terminal ( or external PINpad if attached).  

Note: The term "contactless card" includes other contactless payment formats such as key fobs and mobile devices (i.e.smartphone payment apps).  Like a traditional contactless debit/credit card, these other payment formats may be tapped or waved over the terminal's or external PINpad's internal contactless reader.

General Contactless Transaction Guidelines

Contactless transactions can be performed subject to the following conditions:

 - Only Purchases and Refunds may be contactless.  Balance Inquiries are also permitted for pre-paid credit cards.

 - A valid contactless card must be used.

 - The amount of the transaction must be equal to or less than the Contactless Transaction Limit set for the card.

Identifying Valid Contactless Cards

The card must display the contactless icon  contactless-logo.png and/or one of the contactless programs listed below.

Tapping a Contactless Card

The card does not have to touch the terminal or PINpad (but it is all right  if it does).

The card must be within 0.5 in. (1.3 cm) of the display screen to allow the contactless reader (imbedded behind the screen) to read the card.

The card must be tapped or waved by itself (e.g., the customer cannot leave the card in  their wallet and wave it over the contactless reader).

 

Contactless Transaction Limit (CTL)

For each card, there is a limit on the dollar value that can be processed as a contactless transaction.

Credit Cards

To determine the CTL for a credit card, print a terminal Configuration report. Look near the end of the report in the CVM LIMITS section, then look under each card brand for the DOMESTIC TXN LIMIT.  This limit indicates the maximum dollar amount that can be processed as a contactless transaction.

For all cards except Visa: if a contactless credit card is tapped for an amount that exceeds the DOMESTIC TXN LIMIT, the terminal (or external PINpad if attached) will display the CONTACTLESS TRANSACTION LIMIT EXCEEDED message.  

For Visa: if a contactless Visa credit card is tapped for an amount that is equal to or exceeds the DOMESTIC TXN LIMIT, the terminal (or external PINpad if attached) will display the CONTACTLESS TRANSACTION LIMIT EXCEEDED message.  

Note: For all cards, if the DOMESTIC TXN LIMIT shows a value of 9999, then there is no dollar limit for contactless transactions. However, cardholder verification may be required.

Mobile Devices

To determine the CTL for a credit card when used on a mobile device, print a terminal Configuration report. Look near the end of the report in the CVM LIMITS section, then look under each card brand.

For MasterCard: Look for the MC-M TXN LIMIT.  If a mobile device, using a MasterCard, is tapped for an amount that exceeds the MC-M TXN LIMIT, the terminal (or external PINpad if attached) will display the CONTACTLESS TRANSACTION LIMIT EXCEEDED message. If  the MC-M TXN LIMIT shows a value of 9999, then there is no contactless limit for MasterCard on mobile devices.  However, cardholder verification may be required.

For all other cards types: Use the DOMESTIC TXN LIMIT as specified above for Credit Cards.

Debit Cards

For Interac Flash cards:  The CTL is determined by the individual cardholder account and does not appear on any terminal report.  If an Interac Flash card is tapped for an amount that exceeds its maximum CTL, the terminal (or external PINpad if attached) will display the TAP FAILED PLEASE INSERT OR SWIPE CARD prompt.

For Visa Debit and Debit MasterCard:   Use the DOMESTIC TXN LIMIT as specified above for Credit Cards.