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Cork Leap Card Fares Cause Confusion and Overcharges
22 Jul
Summary
- New Leap Card system in Cork leads to user confusion and overcharges.
- Commuters face issues with monthly passes not being recognized by readers.
- The NTA is working with Bus Éireann to resolve issues and offer refunds.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) is addressing customer complaints regarding overcharges on Cork's new Leap Card system. Introduced this week, the system aims to allow 90 minutes of travel for €1.70. However, initial rollout issues have led to confusion among commuters, with some Green Party councillors highlighting a lack of advertising and unclear instructions for passengers.
Specific problems include the new card readers failing to recognize monthly passes, resulting in either incorrect deductions or system failure. The NTA has confirmed it is working with Bus Éireann to streamline the Leap Card experience. Customers using travel credit, Free Travel Passes, or Child Leap Cards should tap on the validator. Those with 24-hour, weekly, monthly, or annual tickets are instructed to present their card to the driver.
The NTA stated that approximately 25,000 transactions were completed on the first day. Any customer inadvertently overcharged due to using the incorrect validator is eligible for a refund by contacting Leap customer care. While journeys may be faster, some users feel the increased €1.70 fare, replacing cheaper options, is not a benefit without improved confidence in the bus network.
