StarTap – EMV system
On Start Romagna’s buses now you can use another method of payment: StarTap!
Now you can travel on Start Romagna’s buses and pay with contactless credit or debit cards in an easy, fast and safe way thanks to the new electonic method of payment available: StarTap!
The system can be used also with virtualized cards on smartwatch or smartphone, ensuring an easy payment, security and privacy.
The EMV system is integrated with the others payment methods available at the moment, such as the paper ticket, the purchase from the automatic vending machine on board (in the Rimini area) or the purchase on app.
The project is cofinancieted at the 50% by the Region Emilia-Romagna with community funds PorFesr: it was planned a first phase in the Ravenna area, then the project continued on the Metromare lane in Rimini, in all the Rimini area and finally in the Forlì-Cesena area.
Also the other pubic transportation companies of the Region Emilia-Romagna are implementing the EMV system wich will be activated until the end of the year in all the provincial county seats and until 2022 in the rest of the Region.
StarTap is active in Ravenna, Rimini and Forlì-Cesena on the urban routes and the beach routes
on the buses marked with the specific window decal
To travel with StarTap you just have to use your contactless card (or virtualized card on app / smartwatch) and “tap” that is to put your card near the reader in order to make the payment, that will be confirmed by the validator with a green light message and an acoustic signal such as “bip”.
For the tickets bought with StarTap the fare is the same of the purchase on land in the authorized selling point, so without any overprice.
The system is active in all the Ravenna, Rimini and Forlì-Cesena urban areas.
The system is enabled to sell the 1 area (€ 1.30/€ 1.50) and 2 areas (€ 2.10) tickets, the user can select in an easy and intuitively way the ticket by clicking on the validator’s touch screen.
Every time you change the bus you have to “tap” again and select the choosen ticket (1 or 2 areas), the system will charge a new ticket only if the duration time of the previous ticket is over.
Here it is a table of the tickets that can be bought with StarTap.
In the Start Romagna’s website there is a specific reserved area by clicking on this link, where the users can access to check the fares charged. The informations available are about the number of tickets bought (such as “Tap”) and the date when they were bought, while the charges can be aggregated.
It is good to remeber that the charges do not occur at the same time of the service’s supply, but they usually need some days to be elaborated and processed.
By checking your own check there will be a difference between the balancing item and the available item, that will realign once the payment is processed.
Do you want to use the new payment method StarTap? Follow these simple instructions
1. Before boarding the bus check to have a contactless card that operates on one of the following payment networks: Mastercard, Maestro, Visa or VPay.
It is also possible to use smartphone or smartwatch as long as they are abilitated to NFC payment.
Watch out: 1 card = 1 passenger.
2. Put your card close to the green validator, next to the symbol 
.
3. Select the ticket (1 or 2 areas) in regard at your travel.
4. Check that the system shows the confirmation message and makes the acoustic signal “bip”.
In event of verification
5. Just tell to the ticket inspector the last four digits of your card: thanks to the instruments at disposal it will be possible to check the validity of the ticket.
If you don’t remember when you started to travel
6. Click on the info button then put your card close to the green validator: the screen will show all the relevant informations.
Have you got other questions? Chek the FAQ section here below.
FAQ - FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. Can I use only this payment method?
No, this system does not exclude the usual validator for magnetic tickets, that can always be used. StarTapp adds the possibility to pay on board with contactless cards.
2. Which card can I use?
The system accepts the payment with contactkess credit, debit or prepaid cards, supported with contactless technology. If your card has the symbol it can be used without any problem. This system accepts the phisical cards and the ones that are virtualized on smartphone, smartwatch or other similar instruments.
3. Can I use my credit card?
Yes, you can use your credit card if has the symbol and operates on one of the payment network accepted.
4. Can I use my prepaid card?
Yes, you can use your prepaid card if has the symbol and operates on one of the payment network accepted.
5. Can I use my bancomat card or debit card?
Yes, you can use your debit card if has the symbol and operates on one of the payment network accepted.
6. Which cards are accepted by the system?
The system accepts the following cards:
• Every credit contactless card of the MasterCard and VISA network;
• Every debit contactless card of VPay and Maestro (the same ones used to withdraw at the ATMs);
• Every rechargeable or prepaid contatcless card of MasterCard and VISA network.
WATCH OUT: the old generation Postepay cards emitted by VISA are not accepted, while the system supports the new generation Postepay cards.
7. Which are the advantages of this payment system?
The main advantages are about confort and speed of usage: in fact, the clients do not have to think about buying the ticket before boarding the bus and have the opportunity to use their payment card as travel document. Moreover, this system does not establish any overprice fot buying the travel document on board, like it happened before.
8. Can I use digitalized cards? For exemple on smartphone or smartwatch?
Yes, the system was developed to make easier the payment process. It is important to use the same card in event of transshipment in order to use the possible remaining validity time.
9. What do I need to do in event of transshipment on another Start Romagna bus?
In event of transshipment during the validity time of the ticket, it is needed to “tap” again on the validator with the same card used before. The system willl not charge the ticket price if the “tap” is made during the validity time, otherwise if the tap is made after the validity time then it will be considered as a new ride.
10. What do I need to do in event of transshipment on another line licensed by Start Romagna and operated by another carrier?
The EMV ticket bought earlier on an enablied bus it is still valid also on the lines not operated directed by Start Romagna, obviously for the remaining validity time. The driver must let the user on board even if this one could not demonstrate the purchase of an EMV ticket. If the driver is equipped with a palmtop similar to the ones used by the ticket inspectors, he can ask to the user the last numbers of the card in order to check the validity of the ticket.
11. What do I need to do in event of transshipment on a not Start Romagna bus?
In this case the user has to purchase the ticket offered by the carrier. The EMV ticket has no validity in this case.
12. Are applied any commission?
No, the system does not charge any commission for the purchase.
13. Can I take part to the Italian Cash-back program with StarTap?
Yes, if the payment card used is abilitated, the purchases made take part to the Italian Cash-back program.
14. How can I check the fares charged?
In the Start Romagna’s web site there is a reserved area called Start&You where the user can access to check the fares charged i https://www.startromagna.it/start-you/
It is a good thing to remember that the charges are not made at the same time of the service supply, but usually it takes some days to process and elaborate the payments. By checking the personal account, there will be a difference between the balancing item and the available item: once the payment is processed, this difference will be solved. For techincal reasons at the moment it is not possible to view the payments made with virtualized cards.
15. How does it work in event of control?
In this case it is only needed to tell the ticket inspector the last four digits of the payment card used. By using the instruments at disposal, it will be possible to check the regularity of the ticket using just the last four digits of the card. This is the one and only information needed by the ticket inspector.
16. When do I get a fine?
There can be several cases in wich the user can be fined:
• When the user did not validate therefore has not a ticket;
• When the ticket inspector notices that the validity time of the ticket has expired;
• When the user is traveling on a multi-area route and has a one-route ticket.
17. I payed using my bancomat card, wich numbers do I have to tell to the ticket inspector?
Usually the bancomat cards, known as debit cards, does not present the usual 16 digits shown on a credit card. If your bancomat card presents the 16 digits, this means that it is a card enabled also as credit card: it will be needed to tell the ticket inspector just the last four digits in event of control.
If your card does not present the 16 digits, then in order to know wich number comunicate in event of control, you will need to click the info button on the validator and put the card close to it. The system will show all the information related to the card and the travel. You will have to tell the ticket inspector the last four digits of the number shown.
18. I payed by using a virtualized card on smartphone, smartwatch or other similar instruments. Wich number do I have to comunicate in event of control?
In event of control, when it is used a virtualized card in order to identify the number to comunicate to the ticket inspector it is needed to click the info button on the validator and put the card close to it. The system will show on video all the informations related to the card and the travel. It will be needed to comunciate to the ticket inspector the last four digits of the number shown.
19. What happens if I click the info button and then put the card close to it?
The system has a specific function to have informations about the card and the ticket. To access these information you have to click the info button and then put the card close to it: on the screen there will be shown informations such as the number of the credit card, with some digits hidden for security reasons, the start time of the travel and informations related to the ticket purchased.
20. I don’t remember when I started my travel, what can I do?
In order to know when did the validity of the ticket start and other informations you just have to click the info button on the validator and then put the card used close to it.
21. I recived a pre-authorization message for the payment. What does it mean?
The payment system has a method similar to the one used at the gas stations or for car rentals, therefore it can pre-authorize a temporary charge.
The amount of the pre-authorization it is not the total effectiveley charged, that will be calculated at the end of the day in relation to the use of the service, by applying the best fare.
The amount of the pre-authorization is:
• for MASTERCARD = the minimum value of the ticket that is 1,30 € for credit, rechargable or prepaid cards;
• for MAESTRO = a value of 12,00 €;
• for VISA = no pre-authorization;
• for VPAY = no pre-authorization;
The pre-authorization values reported before are the same also for virtualized cards and are related to the type of card used.
22. Wich data are recorded by the system?
The system respects scrupulously all the requirements and the security stardards requested for contactless payments therefore no data related to the card is recorded. .
The system is not able to determine the number of the card used, the name of the card’s owner or other sensitive informations.
23. Do I have to give the card to the ticket inspector in event of control?
No, the user has just to comunicate the last four numbers of the paymment card used and show it to the ticket inspector if asked. In any case the user does not have to give the card to the ticket inspector.
24. Can I use the same card to pay the ticket for other people that are travelling with me?
No, the system does not allow the purchase of more than one ticket at the same time by using the same card. It is possible to make more payments by using the same card on different devices: for example, the same card can be used on smartphone, smartwatch and phisically, so three tickets are purchased.
25. Do I have to sign in in order to make a contactless payment?
No, no registration or sign in is required. It is a good idea to sign in the specific area on the website to check charges and travels made.
26. How does the contactless payment works?
In order to make a contactless payment you just need to put your card close to validator. The system will show a confirmation message and will make an acoustic signal.
We remeber you that the calculation and the final charge happen a few days after the bus ride.
27. Is it normal to recive a payment alert when I did not take the bus?
Yes, it is normal. The fares for the rides made are usually charged a few days later.
28. Why my card does not function?
There can be several reason for a card to not function.
1. The card operates on a payment network that is not accepted by the system;
2. The card is insolvent: there are not money, it was blocked or other;
3. The card has expired its validity;
4. The card is bloccked;
5. The card operates on an accepted payment network but it is not contactless;
6. The card has never been used contactless.
In these cases we suggest you to ask your bank for help.
29. My card is between those that are accepted, is contactless and has money in it. Why the system does not accept it?
This can happen if you use a credit or prepaid card that still has not been used contactless: the card is not accepted because it is still not able to make contactless payments. In fact to be able to make contactles payments, the card has to make a non-contactless payment with the PIN number in a POS.
30. Are there any chances that my card will be cloned?
No, there are not any cloning chance. Moreover, the secuirty on board is granted by the video surveillance.
31. I had some wrong charges. How can I get a refund?
For wrong charges you can contact the Start Romagna’s customer care service:
• E-mail servizioclienti@startromagna.it;
• InfoStart 199 115577;
• WhatsApp 331 6566555.
32. What happens if I don’t have any credit on the card?
If you have not got any credit on the card, this will not be accepted. S
33. How can I choose between 1-Area and 2-Areas tickets?
In order to choose the ticket you just have to select the option on the validator’s touch screen after you put your card close to the validator.
34. If I put my vallet or my bag to the validator, does it automatically charge me the ticket?
No, the contactless payment functions only if you put the paymment card closer than 4 cm from the validator, therefore an accidental payment is not possible.
35. Is the transaction automatic when I put the card close to the system EMV?
No, once the card is put close to the system, the user has to select the ticket (1 or 2 areas). Only after this selection the system will charge the fare. When the purchase is correctly made on the validator it will appear a confirmation message with green light and will make an acoustic signal.
36. What happens if after I put the card close to the system I do not select the ticket?
If the user does not select the ticket (1 or 2 areas), the system will cancel the operation automatically after Se l’utente non seleziona il titolo di viaggio da una zona oppure da due zone, il sistema annulla automaticamente la transazione dopo qualche secondo. Sarà quindi necessario ripetere la procedura per acquistare il titolo di viaggio, avvicinando nuovamente la carta al sistema e selezionando il titolo necessario.
37. Come faccio a capire se ho bisogno di un titolo di viaggio da una zona oppure da due zone?
I titoli di viaggio venduti dal sistema StarTap seguono le stesse logiche dei biglietti cartacei.
Se hai dubbi sul titolo di viaggio necessario puoi consultare la pagina Trova Zona del nostro sito.
38. Cosa succede se acquisto un titolo di viaggio da 1 zona e mentre è ancora in corso di validità acquisto un titolo da 2 zone?
In questo caso il sistema rileverà l’acquisto di due titoli differenti. L’utente sarà quindi in possesso di un titolo di viaggio da una zona e di un titolo di viaggio da due zone, proprio come se acquistasse e validasse due biglietti cartacei.
Si consiglia quindi di acquistare direttamente il titolo di viaggio da due zone.
39. Cosa succede se acquisto un titolo di viaggio da 2 zone e mentre è ancora in corso di validità acquisto un titolo da 1 zona?
In questo caso il sistema rileverà l’acquisto di due titoli differenti. L’utente sarà quindi in possesso di un titolo di viaggio da una zona e di un titolo di viaggio da due zone, proprio come se acquistasse e validasse due biglietti cartacei.
Si consiglia quindi all’utenza di acquistare direttamente il titolo di viaggio da due zone.
40. Quale biglietto da una zona devo scegliere se viaggio all’interno del bacino di Rimini?
Non è necessario scegliere, dal momento che il sistema selezionerà automaticamente il titolo di viaggio corretto a seconda della posizione dell’autobus.
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