Interesting I thought it was a problem with card machine, I had to dash to ATM to get money. As everyone else was concession pass holders, one of the few that pays a fare.
If that's the Huddersfield based outfit that operate on the NX network micky mouse isn't even close to a fair description from my experience (although admittedly that's on the NX side rather than local services).
Yes, I used their 802 route from Kingham to Bourton a couple of weeks ago and it was the same on that. I also travelled on a Blackpool Transport bus a few weeks ago and was told they didn’t accept contactless but whether that was due to a specific problem on that bus or a general policy I don’t know.
Is it that hard to believe that the once a fortnight community run service to the nearest town don’t accept contactless?
I haven't travelled in London for about a year, but when I do go I use my Senior card on London Buses. I have never had to 'tap in' (the cards are contactless so you don't have to touch the machines) and just show them to the driver. The drivers don't seem to notice or respond at all. Even if they do press a button to acknowledge my boarding, there is no audit trail of me being on the bus. So how do TFL get reimbursed for my fare, if indeed they do get a payment?
I wouldn't like to say for certain, but I wonder if the situation is less to do with the ticket machines themselves, and more to do with charges made by the banks? The costs associated with handheld card machines can be eyewateringly expensive and often require a good deal of regular business to make it worthwhile (thus probably explaining why so many "enthusiast market stalls" only take cash in the same fashion). As such, for a small operator with a handful of tendered routes, it might not actually make financial sense for the few cash payers they do get.
