The use of an Android phone to purchase virtual fares that can be validated by validation equipment is subject to the user’s full, unabridged and unqualified knowledge and acceptance of these General Terms of Use for the Virtual Fare Purchase Service (“Virtual Fare GTUs” or “Terms”), as well as those relating to fares loaded on the Phone.
The Virtual Fare GTUs set out all of the rights and obligations of users of the Virtual Fare Purchase Service. No oral or written statement by an employee or officer of the Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM), a Public Transit Authority or any other person, may modify or substitute for them.
IF YOU DO NOT ACCEPT THESE TERMS, YOU MAY NOT ACCESS OR USE THE VIRTUAL FARE PURCHASE SERVICE.
1. Definitions
1.1 Chrono App (or the “App”): the mobile app that offers the Virtual Fare Purchase Service.
1.2 Account: the user’s customer account allowing them to access and use the ARTM’s services.
1.3 Virtual Key: the mechanism that manages and secures cashless payments.
1.4 Secure Element: a component of the user’s Phone allowing for the secure storage of Virtual Fares.
1.4.1 Virtual Fare Feature (or “Feature”): a feature in the Chrono App that provides access to the Virtual Fare Purchase Service.
1.5 Public Transit Authority (or“PTA”) refers to the following transit agencies:
- Société de transport de Montréal (STM)
- Réseau de transport métropolitain (exo)
- Réseau de transport de Longueuil (RTL)
- Société de transport de Laval (STL)
- Réseau express métropolitain (REM)
1.6 Rooted: unlocked with system access privileges.
1.7 Virtual Fare Purchase Service (or the“Service”): the service created and managed by the ARTM, which is offered in the Chrono App and allows public transit users to purchase Virtual Fares providing access to public transit services offered by the PTAs.
1.8 Phone: an Android phone equipped with near-field communication (NFC) technology on which the Chrono App offering the Service is installed.
2. Presentation and conditions
2.1 Presentation of the Virtual Fare Purchase Service
2.1.1 This Service allows the user to purchase and load Virtual ARTM Fares on a virtual card onto an Android Phone equipped with compatible NFC Technology.
2.1.2 The Service also allows the user to consult the balance of their Virtual Fares available on their Phone.
2.1.3 The Service is the property of the ARTM.
2.2 Payments
2.2.1 To pay for a Virtual Fare, the user must have a bank card and enter an email address to which the purchase/refund receipt will be sent.
2.2.2 When users purchase Virtual Fares in the Chrono App, they will be redirected to the Moneris payment platform. Users can consult the Moneris terms of use here:
https://www.moneris.com/en/legal/terms-of-use
2.2.3 Depending on their mobile device, users can also pay for their Virtual Fares with Google Pay.
2.3 ARTM regulation governing the possession and use of fares
2.3.1 The purchase and validation of Virtual Tickets are subject to the ARTM regulation respecting the terms and conditions for holding and using fares for public transit services in the metropolitan area (A-33.3, R.3 (2022)) (in French only): https://www.artm.quebec/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/RG_Reglement_titres_ARTM-A-33.3-R.3-2022-01_Version-administrative.pdf
2.4 Phone compatibility requirements for the Service
2.4.1 To use the Service, the user must have a compatible Phone, install the beta version of the Chrono App on their mobile device and create an Account.
2.4.2 To purchase Virtual Fares and validate them with their Phone, the user must have a compatible Phone.
2.5 Chrono App installation
2.5.1 To purchase Virtual Fares on a Phone, the user must first download the beta version of the Chrono App, activate the NFC Technology and ensure that they have network access.
2.6 Conditions of use
2.6.1 A Phone without a Virtual Fare is not a fare. In order to travel, the user must have previously purchased a Virtual Fare on their Phone and comply with these Terms while adhering to the conditions specific to Virtual Fares, in particular with regard to the scope of use and validity period.
In order to travel, users must validate their Virtual Fare by placing their Phone on the validation equipment (e.g. a fare reader or turnstile) as soon as they enter a fare-paid zone or board a public transit vehicle, failing which they will be in breach of the law. Virtual Fares can only be validated if NFC is activated. Virtual Fares can only be validated aboard buses, the metro and the REM.
2.6.3 A regular connection to an Internet service is required. This connection is used to update the Virtual Key.
If the connection has not occurred within 72 hours, the validation of the Virtual Fare may fail and the user will have to re-establish the connection before travelling. In the event of an inspection, the user may be in breach of the regulation referred to hereinabove.
2.6.4 During an inspection, the Phone must be presented with the display on and the NFC Technology activated, facing the inspection equipment (or portable reader) presented by the inspector.
2.6.5 Disclaimer – Handling of a cellular device by an inspector.
As part of Virtual Fare inspection and validation operations, it may be necessary for an inspector to temporarily handle a user’s Phone, with their explicit consent.
By agreeing to allow the inspector to handle their cell Phone, the user acknowledges and agrees to the following:
2.6.5.1 Voluntary consent:
The user voluntarily authorizes the inspector to take temporary possession of their Phone in order to consult or check the validity of a Virtual Fare.
2.6.5.2 Intervention limits:
The inspector undertakes to access only elements that are strictly necessary for validating a Virtual Fare, and not to browse other content or apps on the Phone.
2.6.5.3 Liability disclaimer:
The ARTM, its representatives and inspectors, disclaims all liability for loss of data, physical damage or technical malfunctions of the device that are not the result of clear negligence or intentional misconduct on the part of the inspector.
2.6.5.4 Duration of handling:
The inspector’s actions should be brief and restricted to the time required for the verification.
2.6.5.5 Refusal to allow handling:
Users have the right to refuse to allow their Phone to be handled. In the event of a refusal, customers may be asked to prove the validity of their Virtual Fare themselves, or be subject to the established procedures for a lack of proof of validity.
2.6.6 Failure to have a validated Virtual Fare with an updated Virtual Key (Internet connection of less than 72 hours old) may result in the user being liable for an offence in accordance with current regulations.
2.6.7 Any fraudulent use of the Chrono App (falsification, forgery, use of the Phone by a third party), detected during an inspection, may give rise to legal proceedings. This sanction applies to the fraudster(s) and their accomplices.
2.6.8 For the security and integrity of the Service, the App must be used exclusively on a physical device that complies with commonly used standards. It cannot run on a Rooted device or one operating in an emulated environment. In addition, the developer mode, including the debugging functions, must be disabled, and no debugger may be connected when the App is running. Any attempt to use the Service without adhering to these conditions may result in the Service being automatically blocked or interrupted.
3. Change of Phone
3.0.1 In the event of a change of Phone, Virtual Fares will be lost and cannot be recovered or refunded.
3.1 Deleting the Chrono App
Uninstalling the Chrono App offering the Service or deleting its data will result in the loss of any loaded Virtual Fares.
Lost Virtual Fares will not be replaced or refunded.
4. Customer service
4.1 For after-sales service relating to Virtual Fares, please refer to the PTA’s customer service team.
4.2 A request can also be submitted to the Chrono App support team via the contact form available in the “Support” section of the Chrono App’s main menu.
4.3 Proof of purchase
4.3.1 For each purchase of a Virtual Fare made with the Chrono App on a Phone, a receipt is sent to the email address entered at the time of the payment transaction or to the email address associated with the Google Pay account.
4.4 Access to customer service
4.4.1 For a Virtual Fare purchased on a Phone, the user can automatically carry out certain operations, in particular send a request to the customer service team.
4.4.2 In the event of a malfunction when validating a Virtual Fare loaded on the Phone, the user can first contact a customer service agent for the PTA, who will be able to verify the presence of a valid Virtual Fare on the Phone, before contacting the Chrono App support team.
4.5 Exchanges or refunds for virtual fares
4.5.1 The purchase of a Virtual Fare on a Phone is subject to the ARTM’s fare and pass refund and exchange policy (in French only): https://www.artm.quebec/politiques-reglements-directives/.
5. Changes to the Virtual Fare Purchase Service
The ARTM may make changes to or withdraw the Service.
6. Privacy
When using the Service, the ARTM, in its capacity as data controller, collects and processes personal information about the user. This is carried out in accordance with the Act respecting Access to documents held by public bodies and the Protection of personal information and the Chrono App Privacy Statement.
6.1 Authorization to access personal information on the Phone
In order to use the Service available in the App, the ARTM must have access to the following personal information:
- When creating an Account: the user’s first and last name and email address, which will be used to identify them when communicating with the Chrono App support team.
- When using the Service: your secure technical ID.
- When processing requests submitted to the Chrono App support team: certain technical features of the Phone, the user’s secure technical identifier, the last three validations of the user’s Virtual Fare.
6.2 Personal information collected by PTAs
The PTAs concerned must collect travel-related personal information when validating Virtual Fares purchased on a Phone and is processed. This is for the purpose of managing such information, in particular to detect fraud.
In addition, anonymized travel-related information is shared with the ARTM for statistical analysis to improve transit services.
6.3 Why is information collected?
6.3.1 Personal information collected when using an ARTM account may be used for the following purposes, among others:
Processing user requests and questions when communicating with the Chrono App support team or a PTA’s customer service team.
Creating and managing the user’s Account
6.3.2 Personal information collected when using the Service may be used to:
- Test the compatibility of the user’s mobile device or Phone with the Service
- Install the Feature on the Phone
- Process and activate Virtual Fare purchases
- Process customer service requests
- Detect and handle fraud
- Conduct satisfaction surveys related to the Service
6.3.3 Personal information collected when the Chrono App contact form is used, which is intended for processing after-sales service requests.
6.5 How long does ARTM keep this information?
Personal information collected for the use of an Account is retained until the account is closed.
Some of this information may be archived in order to establish proof of a right or contract, or when required under legal or regulatory obligations. This information may only be archived for as long as is necessary to fulfill these legal or regulatory obligations.
6.6 Who can access this information?
Information collected directly or indirectly by the ARTM is necessary for these purposes and is intended for the Services concerned and the PTAs in performing their duties.
Information collected by the Chrono App support team to respond to a user’s request may be transmitted to PTAs to resolve validation malfunctions.
6.7 What rights do users have to their personal information and how can they exercise those rights?
In accordance with current regulations, you have the right to access, rectify, delete, and object to and restrict the processing of your personal information, as well as the right to data portability.
7. Use of the Virtual Fare Purchase Service
Unless expressly authorized to do so, the user may not modify, copy, reproduce, republish, download, transmit or distribute the content available in the Feature, including source codes and software, nor may they reverse engineer or attempt to reverse engineer them.
All information and elements of the Feature, including the design, text, graphics, logos, images, icons, interfaces, as well as the selection, assembly and arrangement thereof (hereinafter the “content”) are protected under intellectual property rights, including copyright. This content may only be used in the manner expressly provided herein. Modification or use of the content for any other purpose infringes intellectual property rights.
The user may not use this Feature in any way that is contrary to applicable laws. Nor may they use the Feature in any manner that could damage, disable, overburden or impair the Feature or interfere with the use of or access to the Feature in any way.
In the event of a problem, the user can contact the Chrono App support team via Support > Contact in the App’s menu. If the user refuses to provide their personal information or the consent required to process said information, it may be impossible for the team to respond to their request or to provide them with the requested services.
8. Exclusion of liability
The content of this Feature is provided in good faith, as is and without warranty, condition or statement of any kind either express or implied, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law. No representations are made or warranties given that the functions and content contained in the Feature will operate uninterrupted or error-free, that defects will be corrected, that the Feature and its content will be accessible and perform in accordance with your expectations, or that the Feature or the servers that make it available are free of viruses or other harmful components. Furthermore, no representation is made or warranty given as to the accuracy, precision or reliability of the Feature, nor as to the use that may be made of the Feature’s content or as to the possible results of such use.
In no event shall the ARTM or a PTA be liable for any damages whatsoever, caused directly or indirectly through the use of the Feature, or by the information presented or contained therein. The ARTM and the PTAs also disclaim all liability for any damage of any kind resulting from the temporary or permanent inability to access the Feature.
This exclusion of liability applies to any damage resulting from the use of the Feature and its associated content by the user. The user agrees to indemnify the ARTM and the PTAs, their employees, managers and affiliated entities for all damages, costs and expenses, including reasonable attorneys’ fees, with respect to any breach by the user of these Terms or of the confidentiality provisions.
When the Feature is used to purchase a Virtual Fare with a credit card, the user is redirected to an external supplier’s website. The ARTM and the PTAs are not responsible for the content of external websites, in particular those of their partners or suppliers with whom they do business in the context of the Feature.
When the user’s credit card is saved, the following information is stored in order to process payments:
- the payment token (a unique code allowing the user to do business with Moneris but does not store any personal information)
- the credit card holder’s mailing address
- the user’s email address
The user can delete the saved credit card within the Feature or by contacting the Chrono App support team or the PTA’s customer service team.
We recommend that the user secure their payment method by using a security lock on their mobile device.
Unless otherwise indicated, all sums of money in the Feature are in Canadian dollars (CAD).
9. Changes to the General Terms of Use
The ARTM reserves the right to modify these Terms.