BC Transit is preparing to launch the long-awaited expansion of their Umo digital payment system on buses in Victoria and throughout the province.
The soon-to-come upgrade will allow for credit and debit payments onboard BC Transit buses.
Umo was implemented in 2023, with transit-users able to pay for their fare with a QR code on the Umo app, or with a reloadable Umo card.
In 2024, BC Transit announced the phasing out of paper tickets and monthly passes, relying more heavily on Umo to handle all payments going forward, aside from cash payments.
Now, BC Transit has announced they will be launching the final phase of Umo’s rollout with the introduction of credit and debit payments, but this rollout will not happen immediately.
BC Transit says to implement the new payment options, they must upgrade and test Umo’s system in preparation to enable transit-riders to pay their fares by tapping a debit card, credit card or mobile wallet.
Testing and preparations will be taking place over the next few months, with the full implementation planned for the “near future,” but for now BC Transit has not shared a firm roll out date.
In the meantime, the company is warning transit-riders of some potential inconveniences.
BC Transit warns that this coming upgrade will result in the deletion of any existing credit card information saved in Umo accounts.
This means that riders who saved a credit card on their Umo account will need to re-enter their card information following the update to their transit systemFurthermore, BC Transit urges riders to come to the bus prepared and present only their Umo card or their open Umo QR code to prevent being inadvertently charged through their physical or mobile wallet.
If this happens, the company assures transit-riders they will be refunded automatically.
“BC Transit apologizes for any inconvenience caused by the update as we prepare to launch additional easy-to-use payment options for our customers,” said the transit company in a media release.
Further updates on credit and debit payments will be coming soon.
