Commuters can tap bank cards for trips

As from the end of this month, commuters can use their contactless bank cards to tag in and out at Gautrain stations and parking areas, as well as Gaubuses.

What is a contactless bank card?

Contactless payment systems found in credit cards, debit cards, key fobs, smart cards or other devices, including smartphones and other mobile devices, and is technology that enables one to make secure payments using radio-frequency identification or near field communication.

The embedded chip and antenna enable consumers to wave their card or hand-held device over a reader at the point of sale terminal in order to complete a transaction – often without requiring a pin.

Most mobile devices, through apps such as Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, Google Pay and Fitbit Pay, support this technology, as do contactless-enabled mobile bank applications. In recent months, more and more major South African banks are making cards compatible with the technology.

The amount limit for contactless payments is often quite low to safeguard against misuse of the technology, should the card fall into the wrong hands.

As an additional safety mechanism, contactless devices and cards also occasionally require the user to enter a pin to complete the transaction.

“Whether you choose to use a contactless bank card or not, please take care to avoid card clash as of October 31 by tagging in and out with the card that you choose to travel with (either your Gautrain card or your contactless bank card) and not with your wallet or purse,” advised Gautrain in a statement.

“Tagging in by touching your wallet or purse to a fare gate may result in card clash as the fare gate reader is unable to determine which card you intend to travel with.

“As a result, your fare may be charged to the card you did not intend to travel with, or, more than one of the cards contained in your wallet or purse may be charged. To avoid card clash, remove the card you intend to pay with from your wallet or purse and tag in and out with that same card.”

Tagging in and out with two different contactless bank cards will result in a penalty fee of R200 being charged to each contactless bank card.

To ensure the security and privacy of your bank card, Gautrain stresses that they do not store bank card numbers. Instead, bank card numbers are converted to a token which they then save.

Gautrain will be placing dedicated assistants at each Gautrain station between October 17 and December 13 to assist in this regard and to answer queries.