VANCOUVER — Metro Vancouver transit users are being reminded to tap their Compass or credit card not their wallet beginning Tuesday when card readers on buses and at SkyTrain stations start accepting card payments.
Tapping a contactless Visa, Mastercard or mobile-payment method will begin a single adult cash fare. The fare will be valid for 90 minutes across the system and the cost will be calculated based on how far you travel. When riders tap-out of the transit system, the charge will be automatically calculated and billed to your credit card.
If several cards are tapped at the same time, such as when a wallet is tapped on the reader, card clash could occur. TransLink is reminding people to remove their Compass or credit card from their wallet before tapping.
So what’s the difference between using a credit card to tap into transit versus using a Compass card?
Tap payments via credit cards and mobile payments are for riders who do not have a Compass card and charges a single adult cash fare. A Compass card offers a discount on cash fares. If you have a Compass card but you forgot it at home, you can still pay with a credit card but it will be a regular non-discounted adult cash fare.
What about debit cards?
Debit card payments are not yet available. Only Visa, Mastercard and mobile payments such as Apple Pay (linked to a valid credit card) are accepted on TransLink’s tap card readers.
Just like when you pay at a gas station, TransLink’s card readers pre-authorize a full three-zone adult cash fare when you tap into the system with a credit card and then reconciles the exact amount later. When you tap out, it will calculate how far you traveled and send the charge to your credit card but it won’t be displayed immediately on the fare gate screen.
If you tapped in on a bus and you’ve changed your mind, you can ask the driver to reverse the tap for you. On SkyTrain or SeaBus, you can undo the initial tap by tapping out at the same station you entered within 21 minutes. Same for the West Coast Express, but within 60 minutes.
