There are several reasons why a contactless payment might not work, but unfortunately, our drivers won't know the exact cause. If your payment fails, try using a different card, an Apple or Google Pay-enabled device, or purchasing a ticket through our First Bus App.
Some common reasons for a failed contactless payment include:
- The previous payment to First Bus was declined and so your card has been blocked until the payment is settled. This could be because your bank hasn't approved the transaction. This could be due to security checks, fraud prevention measures or insufficient funds.
- Multiple contactless payments in a short time – Banks sometimes block further transactions as a precaution.
- More than one card was detected. If multiple cards are in the same wallet or phone case, the reader may not take payment. Try tapping again with just one card.
- Card has expired - Please check that your card is still valid.
- Card type not supported. Not all cards are enabled for contactless travel payments.
- Temporary bank issues. Outages or delays in processing can sometimes cause payments to fail.
- Device settings (for Apple/Google Pay users). Ensure NFC is enabled, and the correct payment card is set up.
If your payment fails, you can try again using a a different card, pay via Apple/Google Pay, or purchase a ticket in advance using the First Bus App.