Top up your Myki card on-the-go with new mobile app

Melbourne developer Long Zheng is improving the commute for every-day Victorians by releasing a new top-up app – MyPal. The app includes a simple top-up function many Victorian’s have spent years waiting for.

Zheng developed the app as an alternative to what he thought was Public Transport Victoria’s (PTV) inconvenient top-up services.

Despite years of receiving requests from its users, PTV does not yet offer a mobile-friendly site or app for commuters to top up their Myki cards. The only instant top-up alternative available for commuters on-the-go is physical machines at selected public transport stations.

The PTV website only provides Myki top-ups with a 90-minute transaction time, frustrating commuters who need instant fund transfers to their cards.

While the PTV top-up website can be accessed on mobile phones, it requires the user to awkwardly tap, zoom and input text in tiny fields. Similarly to using the website on desktop, the mobile version also requires a 90-minutes wait before it is operational.

“I utilize public transport every day, and so do my friends. They are always complaining about topping up, how tough it is to use the website”, Zheng said.

The MyPal app provides an easy, quick and user-friendly way to top-up on the go. In addition to the top-up function, the app shows the card’s current balance, making it easier for commuters to keep track of their funds.

“[I thought] it would just be a lot simpler if they [could] do it from the app”, Zheng explained.

Unfortunately, the transactions are not yet instantaneous. It still takes 90 minutes for PTV’s servers to process the transaction and update the card. The issue of processing time is rooted in the Myki system and cannot be resolved until PTV speeds up their the process on their end.

“What [I’ve created] is a mobile variation of [PTV’s] site,

“Exactly what you take a look at, is all from the Myki website”, Zheng stated.

A spokesperson for PTV said that they are working on both shortening the top-up processing time and developing a mobile-friendly version of the webpage.

Mypal is currently available for download on Google Play (applicable to Android devices).

Apple has chosen not to list the MyPal app in its IOS store. According to Zheng, an Apple representative told him that they would authorize the app only if PTV officially supported it.

New My Pal app The MyPal app is currently available on Google Play.

Other Ways to Top Up you Myki Card online

The easiest way to purchase a new, replacement or Myki card top-up is:

1. Find your nearest Myki retailer, or by visiting the PTV home page:

2. In the search box, enter a location

3. Select ‘View map’ or on your mobile, select ‘View place’

4. Select the down arrow in the box marked ‘Stops and stations nearby’

5. Select ‘Myki outlets nearby’ from the drop-down menu

6. You should now be able to see all the retailers close to where you are

You can then register your Myki card by calling 1800 800 007 or do it from the website under the ‘Register and manage my Myki’ tab. You can also secure any unused balance in case your card is either lost or stolen.

It takes up to 90 minutes for your Myki top-ups to register on your card so some patience may be needed while this is happening. This all depends on the mobile coverage you have at the time as to how long this process may take. Keep in mind that these transactions cannot be processed from credit or debit cards which are not issued in Australia or from an overseas IP address. This restriction is in place for security reasons.

When you have immediate travel plans, it is best to top up your Myki card at any Myki top-up machines which are located at selected stations. You can also visit any ticket office or any of the hundreds of Myki retailers, including 7-Elevens.

At all of these retailers, they sell full fare, concession, child and seniors Myki cards. It is always a good common-sense practice to buy your cards and Myki top-ups from authorised retail outlets. They are easy to identify. Always look for the official Myki signs and Myki branded equipment.

For regional customers, you can purchase a pre-loaded card from some of the staffed V/Line stations beyond Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat, Seymour and Traralgon or from a V/Line conductor if you are boarding from a non-staffed station. However, conductors can only accept cash and no credit cards.

The pre-loaded cards cost $30 and are loaded with $24 in Myki credits while the concession cards cost $15 and include $12 in Myki credits.

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