Conditions governing the purchase and validation of single-journey metro tickets by bank card

The terms and conditions set out the procedure for purchasing and validating tickets as well as user rights regarding single-journey metro ticket purchases and validations made with payment cards using the Europay MasterCard Visa system (henceforth, “purchase with EMV system”).

These general terms and conditions of procurement (hereinafter, “the general conditions”) govern the relationship between the company Ferrocarril Metropolità de Barcelona, SA (hereinafter, “FMB”) and third parties (hereinafter, “users”) who purchase and validate a single-journey metro ticket using the EMV system.

The EMV system for the sale and validation of single-journey metro tickets is owned by FMB, which provides the public transport service under the trade name “Transports Metropolitans de Barcelona” (TMB).

Data relating to the company responsible for sales made through digital channels:

• Ferrocarril Metropolità de Barcelona, SA
• NIF: A08005795
• Carrer 60, nº. 21-23, Polígon Industrial de la Zona Franca (08040 Barcelona).

Purchases and validations using the EMV system require the acceptance of these general terms and conditions. Users may freely access the general terms and conditions of purchase with the EMV system at all times free of charge, and may store, print them out or copy them simply, permanently and directly from their computer or mobile device.

Through the EMV system, FMB sells single-journey metro tickets for immediate use to access the metro network. The contractual relationship between the user and FMB covers both the sale of tickets and the provision of the transport service on the metro network.

The EMV system is aimed at end consumers, in the sense established in Royal Legislative Decree 1/2007, of 16 November, approving the consolidated text of the General Consumer and User Protection Act, and other complementary laws.

TMB reserves the right to change, unilaterally, and at any time without prior notice, the way in which the EMV system is presented or configured, and to suspend access to it either temporarily or permanently.

4.1. Procedures for making the purchase

In order to purchase and validate a single-journey ticket using the EMV system, all you need to do is touch your payment card on the reader located in the station or at the ticket barrier.

The bank card reader will emit a brief single-tone sound to indicate that your purchase and validation are successful. It will also display a message on the screen. If there is a problem with the reading, the reader will emit a two-tone sound.

Users travelling with companions who also need single-journey tickets will have to touch their card on the reader again, separately, for each of their companions.

Children under the age of four are exempt from the requirement to have a transport ticket.

The price of a single-journey metro ticket displayed on the ticket vending and validation machine is expressed in euros and includes all the corresponding taxes, as well as the mandatory travel insurance coverage.

4.2. Purchasing and validating single-journey metro tickets

Virtual single-journey tickets are understood to be those for which the price is paid on the validation line. In this case, the bank card acts as a ticket support, whether it is a contactless bank card or any smart device capable of carrying out this action, such as mobile devices and smart watches.

Single-journey tickets bought using the EMV system are automatically validated. This ticket is valid exclusively for a journey by metro (except for the airport T1 and airport T2 stations on the L9 Sud line) for the two hours following validation.

4.3. Documentary confirmation of payment

The purchase and validation system with the EMV is completely digital, which means machines do not issue physical tickets. The ticket purchase receipt is the bank card with which the purchase has been made itself.

Users can see all the transactions they have made when they are registered with the Single ticket – Bank card website (see section 9) and register the payment card they use for purchasing with the EMV system.

The contract is entered into as soon as the user receives confirmation of the payment they have made.

Single-journey metro tickets purchased with the EMV system are validated as soon as they are purchased, so any purchases made cannot be withdrawn or cancelled.

The only exception is where a purchase has been made by mistake: by accidentally placing the card up against the reading machine. In that case, a request for withdrawal from the purchase will need to be made through the claims and complaints form.

Users must provide the data required to identify the payment: the last four digits of the card with which the payment was made, the date and time of the purchase, the number of tickets included in that purchase, the metro station and the bank receipt.

As each purchase is for a single ticket, users can keep the purchase and validation of the single-journey ticket they used for making that journey and request the withdrawal of any additional purchase made by mistake.

If the claim is accepted, the amount paid will be refunded through a payment to the credit or debit card they paid with, within a maximum of 30 working days as from the date of resolution of the claim.

In any case, FMB shall not be held responsible for the terms or conditions that each bank applies to each customer, once the refund has been authorised.

In accordance with Royal Decree 1619/2012, of 30 November 2012, approving the Regulation governing invoicing obligations, simplified invoices can be substituted for full invoices within a period of 4 years as from the date of effective transaction (date of transaction appearing on the simplified invoice).

Users who need a complete invoice for a single-journey metro ticket purchased using the EMV system can request one by sending an email to clientstmb@tmb.cat, including their tax details (company name or personal name, tax identification number (NIF) / national identity number (DNI) / foreign-national identity number (NIE) / passport number and tax residence) and, if they are registered with Single ticket – Bank card, by attaching the simplified invoice to it, which can be obtained from the “My payments” section of the website.

Full invoices need to be requested, through the digital channel indicated, before the deadline established by Royal Decree. The tax regime stated at the time of purchase cannot subsequently be amended.

Payments have to be made through Visa, Mastercard or American Express bank cards provided they are contactless, and using any support: card, mobile or smart watch.

In the case of payment cards that are not integrated into the Transit payment system, banks may require a pre-authorisation up to a maximum of €20. This amount is never taken from the customer's account; it is simply blocked until the payment confirmation arrives.

In order to guarantee the total security of transactions, the EMV system will apply the most advanced technological standards in terms of security protocols and services.

Note too that bank details are not kept in any FMB computer system and are solely used for banks to process charges.

The information on the purchase is kept for a period of six years, in accordance with the provisions of the Code of Commerce, the minimum legal requirement. Users have the right to access information on their purchases so long as the request is made within the stated deadline.

Given that no physical ticket is issued when using this payment method, in the event of an inspection, the user must show the card used to make the payment (together with the corresponding identification document) to FMB employees or staff hired for this purpose. If the card is not displayed, or when it does not reflect the purchase made with the EMV system, users will be deemed to be travelling without a ticket, and the corresponding regulations will be applicable.

Users who purchase their transport ticket through the EMV system will be obliged to comply with and respect the rules established in the “General conditions of use of the metro service,” and other applicable regulations.

FMB's Single ticket – Bank card website is available for service users.

Users who register with the website, access it by using an email address and password, and register the bank card they use for making purchases with the EMV system, can:

• Display and download simplified invoices.
• Display the details of previous journeys they have made.
• Display the details of payments they have made.
• Add or remove registered bank cards.

Once they start a session, users can enter their “My profile” section and change their email address and/or password, close the session or delete the account at any time.

Users guarantee the accuracy and authenticity of the information communicated when registering with the Single ticket – Bank card website, which is not mandatory for purchases or validations with the EMV system.

FMB reserves the right to change, unilaterally and at any time without prior notice, the way in which the Single ticket – Bank card website is presented or configured, and to suspend access to it either temporarily or permanently.

These general terms and conditions of purchase using the EMV system shall be interpreted and governed in accordance with Spanish legislation.

For any legal dispute arising from these general terms and conditions of purchase, the parties shall submit to the jurisdiction of the courts and tribunals of Barcelona (Spain), provided that no other specific jurisdiction is established by law.

Should there be any dispute or contradictory interpretation between versions of these general terms and conditions in several languages, the version written in Catalan shall prevail over the others.