SEPTA Contactless Payment Provides Customers More Convenient Ways to Travel

Complete details on traveling on SEPTA using contactless payment options is available online at:

• https://www5.septa.org/bulletins/contactless-payment-for-bus-and-metro/
• https://iseptaphilly.com/blog/contactlessrollout

Riders on SEPTA’s city and suburban buses, trolleys, Market-Frankford Line, Broad Street Line, and Norristown High Speed Line will be able to simply tap any credit or debit card, in physical form or through apps like Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, at a turnstile and as they board a bus or trolley. These contactless options also come with the same benefits that had previously only been available with the SEPTA Key – in particular, a discounted $2 one-way fare and up to two transfers.

Any validator with credit card icons displayed on the screen is ready to accept contactless payments. Customers are encouraged to separate their credit/debit cards, Key card, and phone to ensure the correct account is charged.

The rollout of contactless payment for customers comes after nearly 300 people tested the system during a pilot test over the summer.

New to Contactless Payment? Avoid “Card Clash”

When paying with your contactless credit or debit card, SEPTA recommends customers take their card out of their wallet or phone back.  Why? card clash.

“Card clash” happens when two or more contactless payment cards are simultaneously detected by a card reader. When this happens – the reader may:

• Not read any card and the turnstile won’t unlock or the Operator will not let you board – which can hold you up and the riders behind you
• Read one card when you first tap and another card when you transfer – charging two full fares for your trip(s)
• Take payment from the wrong card

The third bullet is important for SEPTA Key cardholders that use Travel Wallet but it is especially important for SEPTA Key Senior Fare cardholders, SEPTA Key Reduced Fare cardholders, and SEPTA Key Student Fare cardholders who travel for free or at a reduced rate.

To prevent card clash, SEPTA recommends that you separate your SEPTA Key card, SEPTA Key Senior Fare Card, SEPTA Key Reduced Fare Card, or SEPTA Key Student Fare Card from your other cards – or simply take your card out of your wallet or phone back before presenting your fare – so that the fare readers do not inadvertently charge a credit or debit card.  More information on “card clash” and traveling using contactless payment is available at https://iseptaphilly.com/blog/cardclash and https://iseptaphilly.com/blog/contactlessrollout.