Do bus apps block NFC?

[johncrossley]

Some bus companies have tickets on mobile apps as well as tap in tap out contactless. If you scan the mobile app barcode, does it automatically block the NFC on your phone so you don't also tap in using contactless?

 

[[.n]]

From what I've seen the NFC reader won't be active if the barcode scanner is active - so that prevents both registering

 

[MCR247]

On my local operator Nottingham City Transport, the card reader and the QR reader for mobile apps are in a different place on the machine. Contactless and NFC you tap on the front side, whereas for mobile app scanning there is a scanner underneath the machine

 

[johncrossley]

From what I've seen the NFC reader won't be active if the barcode scanner is active - so that prevents both registering

Does that mean the driver has to check whether a card or barcode is being presented before either of them can be used? What if the driver accidentally chooses card when a barcode is presented?

 

[borage]

Yes, e.g. see this release note from the MyTrip app:

To reduce the risk of accidental payment from mobile payment apps, such as Google Wallet or Apple Pay, we are increasing the parts of the myTrip app where NFC is being suppressed.

NFC is the technology used by mobile devices to make contactless payments. This needs to be suppressed when a customer is placing their device near a ticket machine to scan their mobile ticket to ensure that a mobile payment is not made unintentionally.

Currently, NFC is suppressed on the active ticket screen where a QR code is displayed and also on the ticket activation screen. This will now also include the customer’s ticket list and the expired ticket screen to accommodate situations where a customer may be presenting their phone to a ticket machine before the correct screen is displayed.

This update will be released in the myTrip app from version 45, available in app stores from 3rd July 2023.

I guess it's mostly a problem with the position of the card reader and barcode scanner of Ticketer machines – so it doesn't affect Nottingham City Transport, Stagecoach etc.

I understand that PlusBus ("adds bus travel to your train ticket") are trialling e-tickets and the problem has come up that train ticket apps don't suppress NFC because they've historically not needed to. Although apparently Dutch ticket gates have the same design flaw.

 

[Class 466]

Annoyingly the Bee Network app does not so it’ll open my Apple wallet whenever I try and scan a ticket

 

[liamf656]

Every now and then while using trentbarton I've tapped on using their app, then when exiting gone to tap off but instead it's tapped on my card! They use ticketer and the code scanner is over the card reader so it's easily doable

 

[richw]

Ticketer has done both for me when I had express travel mode on, I’ve now turned off express travel mode for this reason

 

[Class 466]

Ticketer has done both for me when I had express travel mode on, I’ve now turned off express travel mode for this reason

this makes no difference for me unfortunately - Bus driver advice has been to 'uninstall apple pay' - I turned on 'Guided Access' and its reduced the amount that it does it to just those vehicles with an awkwardly angled machine that means it tap the phone by accident

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Annoyingly the Bee Network app does not so it’ll open my Apple wallet whenever I try and scan a ticket

this makes no difference for me unfortunately - Bus driver advice has been to 'uninstall apple pay' - I turned on 'Guided Access' and its reduced the amount that it does it to just those vehicles with an awkwardly angled machine that means it tap the phone by accident

Can you not turn off NFC (like do not disturb or battery saver)? I can on my phone, and have never needed to use it yet so always have it off.

 

[richw]

this makes no difference for me unfortunately - Bus driver advice has been to 'uninstall apple pay' - I turned on 'Guided Access' and its reduced the amount that it does it to just those vehicles with an awkwardly angled machine that means it tap the phone by accident

If you turn off express travel mode it should require face recognition or PIN code to make an Apple payment.

 

[johncrossley]

Problems mentioned here so far refer to Apple phones. Can Android phones be used without the chance of Google Pay being used instead of the barcode ticket?

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Can Android phones be used without the chance of Google Pay being used instead of the barcode ticket?

You can just turn NFC off.

 

[Mikw]

Problems mentioned here so far refer to Apple phones. Can Android phones be used without the chance of Google Pay being used instead of the barcode ticket?

Yep, there's an option to turn off NFC.

 

[johncrossley]

You can just turn NFC off.

Yes, I suppose that is a foolproof method. But you have to keep remembering to turn it off just before boarding and turn it back on after boarding.

 

[James H]

I had a problem using an East Sussex barcode day ticket bought on the Stagecoach app on a Brighton & Hove bus.

Express travel mode triggered tap on tap off

 

[pokemonsuper9]

Yes, I suppose that is a foolproof method. But you have to keep remembering to turn it off just before boarding and turn it back on after boarding.

Or only turn it on when you need it (I never have)