1. Can I use my card outside the FREE NOW app?
Yes. When you add the card to your phone’s digital wallet, you’re free to use it to pay for more means of transport, such as buses or trains for your daily commute. Once added, you’ll be able to use your mobility benefits card as a contactless option, whether you’re paying for the underground, or paying for a cab you hailed from the street.
2. How do I add my card to my digital wallet?
Right now, you’ll need to add your mobility budget card to your digital wallet, directly from your phone’s wallet provider (Google Pay or Apple Pay/Apple Wallet). We’ve linked to instructions on how to do this from each provider’s site. We really recommend you add your card to your digital wallet, as doing this will unlock the ability to pay for things outside the FREE NOW app (which you can read more on in the questions below).
Apple Pay setup
Google Pay setup
3. What can I use the card for?
There are 3 ways you can use your card:
- In our app –you can pay for all the available transport options shown in the FREENOW app. Depending on the city where you are located, these will differ. Don’t forget that we are also present in 100+ cities across Europe, so you can also use your budget if you’re travelling.
- Outside our app – you can also pay for transport outside our app, such as public transport, a taxi you hail from the street, or any other transport option that allows contactless payment.
- Online – you can use the mobility benefit card to pay for any transport related cost you purchase online, for example public transport tickets.
4. What does the ‘outside the FREENOW app’ mean?
When we say ‘outside the FREENOW app’, we mean any mode of transport you choose to pay for/access without using our app as an intermediary. So whether or not we offer taxis, public transport or any other option in your city, if you choose not to use our app to access that option (for example you turn up at a public transport station without a ticket), you can use the mobility budget card, and the budget your employer provides as your contactless payment option.
5. Can I use my card to pay for things online?
Yes! As long as you’re paying for something related to transport, you can use your mobility budget card as your payment method at any online vendor. To do this, you’ll need to open our app, view the card details and enter your 16 digit card number, expiry date and security code at the vendor’s checkout as you would with any other online card payment.
6. Can I go over budget and what happens if I do?
Going over budget is not yet possible. This means that if the cost of your chosen service (whether that’s an online payment, an in-app trip, or using the card as a contactless payment method for transport) exceeds the amount you have available on your card, you will not be able to use it. Remember that you can always use the cheapest available transport option, such as public transport or eBikes, to use up your entire budget before it expires [and/or] You can always use any other private payment method stored in the app to pay for services beyond your budget.
7. How does the budget work?
Your employer has given you a monthly allowance for your private transport needs (known as the mobility budget). This budget comes in the form of a monthly stipend (amount) that is loaded on a virtual credit card, provided by us in collaboration with VISA. Depending on the arrangement you have with your employer, this amount refreshes every month and allows you to pay for your transport, whether in the FREENOW app, or outside.
8. What happens to my remaining budget if I don’t use it by the end of the month?
Any unused budget does not carry over to the next month, so make sure you use it before you lose it. Fortunately, there are lots of low-cost options you can take advantage of, if you’ve still got a little left over, for example public buses or eBikes.
9. How is a month calculated?
Your monthly budget runs across each calendar month, and resets/refreshes on the first day of any new month.
10. The card is issued by VISA, what does this mean?
We’ve partnered with international payment card provider, VISA, to provide the infrastructure needed to operate this card. We chose VISA as the payment card provider because they are so widely accepted. This doesn’t mean you have a credit agreement of any kind with VISA, as this relationship is between us, VISA, and your employer, so you can continue to spend your monthly budget, using your mobility budget card.
11. Which transport options can be paid for using the card?
Almost everything! You can use all the means of transport you want, directly from our FREENOW app, and also any option you find when you’re out and about. Think trains, taxis, carsharing, eScooters… the sky’s the limit (though we don’t offer plane travel just yet).
12. Can the card be used abroad?
Yes, you can use the card abroad, so don't worry, even if you travel, you can still make the most of your budget.