If Compass Card, credit card tapped at the same time, they could clash

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – If you use your wallet to tap on and off transit, you might have some trouble, starting today.

Compass Cards and credit cards are now both accepted at readers, and they could clash if tapped at the same time. You’re advised to take the card of your choice out of your wallet to tap.

As of this morning, TransLink is allowing contact-less credit card or mobile payment systems to be used to pay for bus and SkyTrain fares. If you have multiple cards in your wallet, the wrong card could accidentally be billed.

If you are using a mobile device to pay, you’re advised to make sure there are no contactless cards in your phone case when you tap on card readers.

Tap on, and you automatically start a single adult cash fare. Tap off, and your credit card is billed for the distance travelled.

TransLink says you have to hold your credit card or device about two to five centimetres away from the scanner for it to read.

Transit Police and Transit Security will have devices to check that you’ve paid for your trip; the Hand-Held Units can detect if your credit card or mobile device was tapped into the system.

The launch of the new payment method has gone well so far, but there seems to be a certain level of mistrust among many transit users.

“No. I don’t trust it. I’m worried about overcharging or anything like that. The system is new, so it could glitch,” says one SkyTrain rider.

“I already have a Compass Card so I will be using that. I’m new to the city and the Compass card is what I started with and I’m fine with it,” says another transit user outside the Commercial-Broadway Station.

“I think it’s a bad idea because it’s going to overcharge you somehow,” adds the man next in line for the 99 B-Line. “I have a Starbucks card and I put money on that. Every time I got a refill, it charged me twice and took the money off my card. I’m thinking the same thing is going to happen with this.”

The system does not accept debit cards, at this point. And there is a difference when using credit cards and Compass Cards to tap onto transit: Compass Cards give you a discount for cash fares.