Transit users who resent waiting 24 hours to access money deposited to their Presto fare accounts had better get used to it.

Metrolinx, which operates the Presto fare payment program, says there is no way around the 24-hour lag time, due to the complexities of a system used by 10 separate transit authorities, each with different technologies.

We’ve been reporting on Presto problems, particularly money put into accounts that appears to disappear, or is far less than the amount actually deposited, which generated dozens of complaints from readers.

They also told us about other problems, including a 24-hour delay before money credited to the account online through a bank or credit card can be accessed to pay a fare.

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We asked Vanessa Thomas, who deals with media for Metrolinx, which also operates GO Transit, why that Presto credit can’t be accessed immediately, when riders tap their card on a reader.

“Presto has built a world-class system that has complex back-end functionality, security controls and other features that make it a seamless and convenient system for our customers,” said Thomas.

Presto cards have a microchip with “onboard memory,” including all the information needed for fares to be deducted from riders’ accounts, including “balance, fare class and recent travel history,” she said.

The 24-hour waiting period is the delivery time required to synchronize information between the online accounts of customers, their cards and the 8,000 card readers used across the Presto system, Thomas said.

Presto “creates transaction/load lists every four hours. Transit vehicles need to connect to the system to download these lists. Some buses only connect every 24 hours.

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“The 24-hour delay for buses is the way buses connect to the network, which is determined by the respective transit agencies. For GO trains, the devices are hardwired into the system and lists are available every four hours.

“Those card readers across the GO system need to have their data updated when they arrive in our bus garages and a card needs to be tapped on a card reader that has the most up-to-date information loaded onto it.”

She added that riders on other major transit authorities using card payment systems with online accounts sometimes wait a lot longer than 24 hours to access newly deposited money.

We’d like to hear from readers who don’t buy Metrolinx’s explanation. Email us at thefixer@thestar.ca or jlakey@thestar.ca

What's broken in your neighbourhood? Wherever you are in Greater Toronto, we want to know. To contact us, go to thestar.com/thefixer or call us at 416-869-4823. To read our blog, go to thestar.blogs.com/thefixer . Report problems and follow us on Twitter @TOStarFixer.

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