PTV authorised officers explained they were familiar with the particular banking app. Credit:Eddie Jim "I just couldn't understand why her bank details were being asked for." Mr Corr said he and his wife stayed nearby, despite the ticket inspectors telling them to move away, to ensure the woman's bank accounts weren't accessed improperly. "He [the inspector] had her phone for some reason and was scrolling though it and he found her banking app and told her to log in and put in her password," he said.

"I really couldn't understand why they were doing that. The overseas student did not speak fluent English and feared she would lose her visa over the situation. "Then I asked, 'why are you logging in to her banking app', and told her that she didn't have to do that. He said he was just trying to confirm her name and address." They were one stop outside the city's free tram zone and the woman didn't have a valid myki ticket. Mr Corr said he understood that PTV Authorised Officers needed to confirm a person's identity when issuing a fine, but did not see the need to do so by accessing someone's private banking details.

"We just had the on-the-spot fines abolished because there was a concern about people being pressured into just accepting that they'd done something wrong. "But now that they're gone, to have a ticket inspector asking someone to log into their banking app … my concern is that that could lead to bribery, or something like that, where someone thinks they have to pay an on-the-spot fine." Mr Corr said his wife asked another ticket inspector why they were accessing the woman's banking information. That inspector also said it was to verify the woman's identity. "He was explaining that they knew this particular bank's app and where they would find the information, which to me made it sound like they did this on a regular basis – that this is almost their standard procedure. "If someone didn't have a driver's licence they would get them to log into their bank account to prove who they were, and I think that's crossing the line."

The woman, who did not speak fluent English, appeared to be scared that her visa would be revoked over the situation, Mr Corr said. "She clearly didn't speak much English and she had a friend who was trying to interpret for her. She obviously thought she was dealing with the police and that it was a really serious matter," he said. The inspectors handed the woman a ticket and an information booklet before allowing her to go on her way. A PTV spokesman said the matter would be investigated. "We're sorry to hear about this passenger's experience and the incident is being investigated," the spokesman said.

It is understood PTV Authorised Officers may ask to see a passenger's drivers licence, a utility bill, a financial statement, or some other form of ID available via the passenger's mobile phone, to verify their name and address, but only with the "express consent of the passenger". However, Victoria's privacy commissioner David Watts said he was surprised to learn PTV officers were accessing information about passengers in this way. "We're surprised that PTV is seeking to determine, or verify, the identity of their customers by requiring them to log into their bank accounts. Victoria's privacy law prevents public sector organisations from collecting personal information unfairly or in an unreasonably intrusive way," Mr Watts said. Loading "There is a strong likelihood that PTV is breaching these rules. We urge anyone affected to contact our complaints branch."

On-the-spot $75 penalty fares for public transport users caught without a valid myki were abolished from January 1 this year, in an overhaul of Victoria's fare enforcement regime.