2023-06-16 05:02:17
For several years, the Brussels buses, trams and metro stations have been equipped to allow travelers to pay for their transport tickets by bank card, telephone or connected watch, via a contactless terminal.
Yes, but now, a rumor is circulating and, according to it, the Stib controllers would not be able to verify that the banking transaction took place.
In case of control, it would therefore suffice to present his bank card and to feign a bug in the system to avoid the fine.
Mathieu (assumed first name) frequently freeloads. He heard regarding the rumor and, faced with a test, he decided to put it to the test: “The controller saw on his machine that there was an error; but he mightn’t say whether or not I had paid or not. I imagine that if he had been able to prove it, I would have been fined”.
Does this mean that the rumor is true? That controllers really aren’t able to verify contactless transactions?
To hear the Stib, Mathieu was especially lucky to come across a conciliatory controller… Cindy Arents, spokesperson for the transport company, confirms that they are perfectly equipped to check if the payment has taken place: “The controllers have two types of machine: the machine which allows Mobib cards or classic tickets to be checked and a machine which allows bank cards to be checked. In the event of a dispute, it is as for a Mobib card, the controller will send you a report, but you will be able to contest the report and contact the internal services which will be able to check whether, in fact, there has been a transaction or not”.
But what if the fraudster declares that the contactless terminal did not work properly to avoid the fine?
“A bug can always happen. Afterwards, it must not happen too often… The controller can be understanding but if it happens often, he will ask questions. And, above all, a technical problem or a problem flow, five minutes before, five minutes following, we can check the card. It’s not at all a system that allows fraud, it’s not a buggy system either, followingwards they can always try, s ‘they have 107 euros to lose, it’s their choice’ further explains the spokesperson.
At this price, obviously, it is better to avoid relying on rumors…
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