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TransLink to launch ‘tap to pay’ system this spring

Click to play video: 'New pay system coming to Vancouver area transit'
New pay system coming to Vancouver area transit
There could soon be a new way to pay to ride Metro Vancouver transit. TransLink is looking at allowing you to tap your credit card or cellphone. As Jordan Armstrong tells us, the new system comes with a warning – Mar 9, 2018

Later this spring, Metro Vancouverites will be able to tap more than their compass card to use transit. According to TransLink, the new “tap to pay” system will allow riders to tap their Visa, Mastercard or mobile wallet on card readers directly to pay their fare.

“Once launched, this will mean no more ticket lineups, digging for exact change or worrying about pre-calculating zones for customers who don’t have a Compass Card,” read a release from TransLink.

But beware, people who usually tap their Compass Card from inside their wallet or cellphone case could be charged for the ride on the wrong card. If the reader identifies a credit card instead of a Compass Card, you could be in for a surprise when the bill comes.

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TransLink says the reader will never charge multiple cards during a single tap, but does recommend taking out the card you want to use to avoid charging an unintended card.

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WATCH: One year in, how are TransLink’s fare gates working out?

Click to play video: 'One year in, how are TransLink’s fare gates working out?'
One year in, how are TransLink’s fare gates working out?

The exact date of launch is still unknown but CEO Kevin Desmond said their goal is to be ready for “tourism season.”

“Improving the customer experience is one of our top priorities,” said Desmond in a release. “And Tap to Pay is going to make taking transit even easier.”

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