A batch of about 450 defective Presto cards were delivered to transit riders this week that, when tapped, the cards prompt no response on transit readers.

The defective cards were all ordered online and delivered to customers after Nov. 18, said Anne Marie Aikins, a spokesperson for Metrolinx, the provincial transit agency that oversees Presto. She says the agency was alerted to the issue on Wednesday.

“They would have just gotten them in the last few days,” she told the Star. “We’ve been busy tracking down the 450, and who they went to. Today we sent them all emails to tell them that a new card is coming.”

Riders can expect those cards in the mail by Friday, she said. About 20 users didn’t provide their email upon purchasing their cards online, but they can still expect a card in the mail.

It wasn’t difficult to track down those who were mailed the broken cards since the entire batch delivered that week was defective, she said.

Aikins said she hasn’t heard of the situation causing anyone to receive fines for fare evasion, but if any have, they can receive a refund. “If they have gotten a ticket for not having a valid fare we’ll certainly make arrangements to have that refunded,” she said.

Security for fare evasion across the transit system were also alerted to the problem Thursday afternoon.

Read more about: