The site you requested may not be relevant in your area.

country flag
Skip to main content



Also called tap-and-pay, contactless uses radio-frequency identification* (RFID) or near field communication* (NFC) to securely transmit payment data, in the form of a one-time code, from a payment card to the point-of-sale terminal. Multiple layers of embedded security and encryption protect against fraud and contactless only works when within an inch or two of the payment terminal.

Once a transaction is entered and totaled, the customer taps their payment device or card on the reader. The reader lights up and/or beeps as the code is read. On the display window of the payment terminal itself, it will say that the transaction is being processed. Rest assured, a customer can’t be billed twice, even if they accidentally tap twice.

There is no signature or PIN required for transactions below the CVM limit set by the card brand networks (like Visa and Mastercard). If contactless transactions are above the CVM limit, the customer will be prompted to enter a PIN, sign a receipt, or use CDCVM (PIN or biometric such as fingerprint entered on the mobile phone) if using a mobile phone. For your reference, Cardholder Verification Method (CVM) is security feature used to ensure that a credit card being used in a purchase is in the possession of its owner. The CVM security code is a 3 or 4-digit code imprinted on the physical credit card, but not embedded or encrypted in the magnetic stripe. The CVM is sometimes referred to as CVV2 or CID.

If your system is set up to supply a receipt, one will print if the transaction was processed successfully. Below the CVM limit, no receipt is required unless the customer requests it. Above the limit, a receipt is required.

How does contactless affect my payment acceptance?

The use of contactless technology has no bearing on transaction costs, but keep in mind that contactless payments are not to be confused with manual key entry. If you key your customer’s card information into your payment device, you’ll receive a higher interchange rate for the transaction.

A merchant’s card authentication or authorized contactless transactions (offline or online), as well as chargeback transaction liability remains the same as when a payment is made with a regular card.

There is also no difference in how Credit Card Cost Control services are applied to contactless transactions. Just make sure you have the surcharge disclosure clearly visible at your point-of-sale checkout and/or on your website.

Request a call back

We want to hear from you. If you are interested in setting up a new merchant account with us, please contact us through the form below and we'll call between the hours of 9:00 AM and 7:00 PM EST, Monday-Friday. If you require assistance with an existing account, please call our customer service line 24/7/365. 

This contact form is for US customers only. If you are looking for one of our other locations, please visit elavon.com/country-selector.html to find your country or region. 

Form submitted successfully

You will receive a call from an Elavon representative shortly. 

If you would like to speak to someone now, please call 1-866-671-1583 to be connected with a payments professional. 

Please fill the required fields and submit again

Sales

Available Mon. – Fri.
9:00 AM - 7:00 PM EST
1-866-671-1583

Customer Support

Available 24/7
1-800-725-1243

By providing us with an email address you are expressly consenting to receiving email communications — including but not limited to marketing material/advertising, promotions, sales campaigns, and questioner/research surveys. By providing us with a telephone number for a cellular phone or other wireless device, including a number that you later convert to a cellular number, you are expressly consenting to receiving communications — including but not limited to prerecorded or artificial voice message calls, text messages, and calls made by an automatic telephone dialing system—from us and our affiliates and agents at that number. This express consent applies to each such telephone number that you provide to us now or in the future and permits such calls for non-marketing purposes. Calls and messages may incur access fees from your cellular provider. We accept relay calls. Your privacy is important to us. By clicking “submit” you agree to our terms and conditions.