OC Transpo investigating ‘$0 fare’ Presto card glitch

A fare reader at Rideau Station displays an incorrect message when a Presto card is tapped at a fare gate, indicating a fare payment of $0.00. (Ted Raymond/CTV News Ottawa)

OC Transpo says it is working with provincial partners to correct a glitch some Presto card users have been experiencing this month.

Users with monthly passes are seeing messages on fare readers that suggest a fare of $0.00 was paid, instead of the usual monthly pass message. These taps are being recorded as fare payments on users’ Presto cards, even though no money is being taken out of their accounts.

In a statement to CTV News Ottawa, Raouia Howarth, manager of Transit Technology and Innovation, said OC Transpo is aware of the glitch, which was first noticed last week.

“There is no impact on customers’ ability to travel on OC Transpo. Monthly passes are still being recognized and accepted, even if the message displayed on the card reader is incorrect,” Howarth said.

“The matter has been escalated to our partners at Metrolinx. OC Transpo staff and Metrolinx are actively working to implement a solution as quickly as possible.”

The cause of the error is unknown.

Some transit riders have reported errors while using Presto cards to transfer from OC Transpo to Gatineau’s Société de transport de l’Outaouais (STO). Howarth says STO was notified and is aware of the issue.

CTV News Ottawa has reached out to STO for additional information for customers.

July marks the start of free transit for youth age 11 to 18 using pre-teen and youth pass Presto cards.

Software glitches with fare readers were also reported earlier this year.

In March, a software update to fare readers pushed by Metrolinx, which manages Presto cards, temporarily affected riders’ ability to use Presto or the U-Pass issued by post-secondary institutions.

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