Drivers on Novosibirsk’s bus route No. 139 are facing accusations of refusing card payments and instead requesting passengers to transfer fares to a specified phone number. Residents have reported that drivers operating on the “Tsvetnoy Proezd – NPO Vector” route are allegedly circumventing standard payment methods.

Passengers claim that drivers are equipped with cards displaying a phone number for fare transfers. This practice allegedly involves refusing standard bank card payments while still accepting pension and social cards through the terminal. According to one passenger, the excuse given is that the terminal is not functioning properly for regular bank cards.

BP-Transit LLC, the carrier for bus No. 139, denies the allegations. A company representative stated that they are unaware of any such issues and that terminals are functioning correctly.

The carrier acknowledged past instances of payment problems during a system transition that temporarily disabled cashless payments, but asserts that the issue has been resolved.