No More Worrying About Low Balance on Buses! 'EasyCard Now Auto-Reloads' — Adds $500 Directly via Card, No Need to Visit Convenience Stores or MRT Stations

Commuters in the Taipei-New Taipei area no longer need to worry about insufficient card balance when riding buses. Starting July 1, the Taipei Joint Bus System and New Taipei City市区 buses have fully launched the EasyCard auto-reload service. Just one month after implementation, the new system has attracted over 10,000 users, accumulating more than 200,000 transactions, with an average of over 8,000 transactions per day, significantly improving payment convenience across the Taipei-New Taipei public transport network.

Previously, riders often faced the awkward situation of insufficient card balance and had to specifically visit convenience stores or MRT stations to reload with cash. EasyCard Company states that now, EasyCard co-branded cards, debit cards (signing financial cards), and account-linked EasyCards all support the auto-reload function on Taipei and New Taipei buses.

When the card balance drops below NT$100, passengers simply tap their card on the bus validator when boarding Taipei Joint System or New Taipei City市区 buses. The validator automatically triggers a $500 reload and simultaneously deducts the fare. This service enables 'reload and ride in one step,' offering bus riders the same seamless payment experience currently enjoyed by MRT users.

Regarding operational details, EasyCard Company emphasizes that because the bus validator requires 3 to 5 seconds to complete the online connection and auto-reload process, passengers must 'pause briefly' when tapping. They should wait until the validator screen confirms successful reload and fare deduction before removing the card, to avoid transaction interruption due to premature removal.

In the event that auto-reload fails due to removing the card too quickly or other external factors, passengers do not need to worry about duplicate charges. EasyCard Company explains that even if the bank has completed real-time authorization, if the backend system confirms the transaction was not completed, no billing request will be sent to the issuing bank. Therefore, the $500 reload amount will not appear on the current credit card statement, allowing commuters to use the service with peace of mind.

Editor: Tsai Hui-Hsin