TravelMaster, which handles multi-operator and multi-modal ticket sales in South Yorkshire, says work on a resolution is ongoing after it decided to no longer accept contactless payments for some seven-day tickets due to fraud.
The organisation cited an issue when tickets were bought but payment collection subsequently failed. It applies when transit rather than retail mode is used, the former being suited for capped or tap-on, tap-off fares and because it speeds boarding. Contactless and card payments for the seven-day tickets, which range from £19.80 to £30, remain available via other methods, such as through the TravelMaster app and website and at vending machines.
General Manager John Henshall says: “While it is always disappointing to need to remove a convenient payment option, it is imperative that we act now to prevent serious fraud concerns from our operators.
“We will continue to monitor the situation and have been working on ensuring our customers continue to have alternative methods for buying and loading tickets to their smartcards, including the new TravelMaster app.”
TravelMaster is not the first to close off contactless payments due to fraud. Ensignbus took action in 2022 after it noticed, in some cases, around a dozen declined payments associated with specific passenger accounts. Its workaround involved splitting payments for weekly tickets over two transactions so that the amount fell within the £10 level covered by most banks.
Mr Henshall says the issue was initially a small problem but adds: “As the cost-of-living increased, we’ve found it’s grown to a level that the operators couldn’t continue to support any more.”
Customers have generally been supportive, but Mr Henshall admits it could have a business impact. “Significant amounts of revenue come from these tickets and there is a risk,” he says. “We’ve seen big impacts from the £2 fare cap – we’re going to see some impact from this as well, as some people will move to the £2 fare or to operator-own tickets.”
A spokesperson for Ticketer, the platform used by some operators in South Yorkshire, says it is already working on a range of fraud-prevention methods.
They add: “We have been made aware of another type of passenger fraud by operators in relation to EMV transactions. Whilst this isn’t something directly within our power to stop, we have implemented measures beyond the basic deny-listing such as a ‘passback’ window for retail transactions.
“We have also taken the initiative to work with Littlepay to develop a feature called ‘PAR deny-listing’ which blocks cards at the account level. This is currently in testing and should help to minimise one type of fraud.
“In addition, our new Data Insights Hub package has specific views targeted at identifying passenger fraud, such as identifying potentially fraudulent transactions where a card is used multiple locations within a short time span. We will also be considering other views to further help.”
