US Payments Forum Publishes Best Practices for EMV Chip Fallback Transactions at the Fuel Pump

The U.S. Payments Forum is continuing to provide the United States with essential guidance on the migration to EMV chip with a new white paper on options for supporting fallback transactions in the petroleum environment. The resource released today defines fallback and covers processing magnetic stripe transactions for card programs that are not supported on the contact EMV interface of automatic fuel dispenser (AFD) terminals.

Merchants, independent software vendors, value-added resellers, acquirers and processors can access “U.S. Automated Fuel Dispenser Chip Fallback Transaction Processing Best Practices” at https://www.uspaymentsforum.org/u-s-automated-fuel-dispenser-chip-fallback-transaction-processing-best-practices/.

“Fallback transactions are considered a natural part of EMV migration as things get up and running,” said Randy Vanderhoof, director of the U.S. Payments Forum. “It’s critical that petroleum terminals can support these types of transactions, and that fuel pump owners understand what does and doesn’t qualify as a fallback. The petroleum environment has a lot of unique considerations, and the Forum has been instrumental in supporting this market – among others – with resources to support implementations of EMV which help provide clarity and guidance during this transition.”

This white paper covers:

* Definitions of fallback transactions including technical fallback, empty candidate list fallback, fallback-not-allowed scenarios and identification of fallback transactions

* Unique considerations for AFD fallback

* Payment network policies for AFD technical fallback

* Options for processing empty candidate list scenarios when the terminal is only enabled for certain EMV payment products but not yet for all magnetic-stripe-supported payment products, such as fleet payment products

This resource was developed by the U.S. Payments Forum Petroleum Working Committee. This group works collaboratively to identify, review and resolve challenges associated with implementation of EMV within the U.S. petroleum and convenience market. The Petroleum Working Committee includes payment networks, petroleum and convenience merchants, petroleum-specific acquirers, petroleum and convenience point of sale vendors and fuel dispenser manufacturers, and other organizations servicing the petroleum and convenience category.

Featured

  • The Future of Access Control: Cloud-Based Solutions for Safer Workplaces

    Access controls have revolutionized the way we protect our people, assets and operations. Gone are the days of cumbersome keychains and the security liabilities they introduced, but it’s a mistake to think that their evolution has reached its peak. Read Now

  • A Look at AI

    Large language models (LLMs) have taken the world by storm. Within months of OpenAI launching its AI chatbot, ChatGPT, it amassed more than 100 million users, making it the fastest-growing consumer application in history. Read Now

  • First, Do No Harm: Responsibly Applying Artificial Intelligence

    It was 2022 when early LLMs (Large Language Models) brought the term “AI” into mainstream public consciousness and since then, we’ve seen security corporations and integrators attempt to develop their solutions and sales pitches around the biggest tech boom of the 21st century. However, not all “artificial intelligence” is equally suitable for security applications, and it’s essential for end users to remain vigilant in understanding how their solutions are utilizing AI. Read Now

  • Improve Incident Response With Intelligent Cloud Video Surveillance

    Video surveillance is a vital part of business security, helping institutions protect against everyday threats for increased employee, customer, and student safety. However, many outdated surveillance solutions lack the ability to offer immediate insights into critical incidents. This slows down investigations and limits how effectively teams can respond to situations, creating greater risks for the organization. Read Now

  • Security Today Announces 2025 CyberSecured Award Winners

    Security Today is pleased to announce the 2025 CyberSecured Awards winners. Sixteen companies are being recognized this year for their network products and other cybersecurity initiatives that secure our world today. Read Now

New Products

  • FEP GameChanger

    FEP GameChanger

    Paige Datacom Solutions Introduces Important and Innovative Cabling Products GameChanger Cable, a proven and patented solution that significantly exceeds the reach of traditional category cable will now have a FEP/FEP construction.

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file.

  • A8V MIND

    A8V MIND

    Hexagon’s Geosystems presents a portable version of its Accur8vision detection system. A rugged all-in-one solution, the A8V MIND (Mobile Intrusion Detection) is designed to provide flexible protection of critical outdoor infrastructure and objects. Hexagon’s Accur8vision is a volumetric detection system that employs LiDAR technology to safeguard entire areas. Whenever it detects movement in a specified zone, it automatically differentiates a threat from a nonthreat, and immediately notifies security staff if necessary. Person detection is carried out within a radius of 80 meters from this device. Connected remotely via a portable computer device, it enables remote surveillance and does not depend on security staff patrolling the area.