Download the app

How to download the app

You can use the app with most smartphones and some tablets.

Download the Transport Scot Pass Collect App on the App Store or Google Play Store to add free bus travel your existing card.

To download and use the app you will need:

• to be connected to Wi-Fi, or have 3G, 4G or 5G network connection with good mobile signal
• an Android (version 6 or later) or iOS (version 6 or later) phone
• Near Field Communication (NFC) compatibility – this is the same function you use for mobile contactless payments and is usually available on newer smartphones

Where to hold your card

When you place your card at the back of your phone to download your free bus travel – in the same way you would use contactless payment – remember to hold it at the top for iOS and in the middle for Android, as shown below.

Checking what is on your card

The app can also be used by anyone to ‘read’ an NEC or Young Scot NEC to see what smart travel concession products/entitlements are stored on the card.

There are a few different products which might come up when you read your card. For under 22s free bus travel, you should look for one or both of the following:

• Bus Pass (Y)
• Bus Pass (Y 16+)

If you do not see one or both of the above when you read your card, you don’t have free bus travel on your card. You may have other products stored on your card,  such as Bus ID (Y) which indicates this is a young person’s card – but it is not free bus travel.

If you’re eligible, you can use the app to collect free bus travel on to your card. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a new NEC with free bus travel.

Do you live in Orkney or Shetland?

If you live in Orkney or Shetland and are aged 16 – 18 or are part of the concessionary volunteer scheme, you may also see ferry vouchers as well as your bus pass.

Top tips and more information about the app

• The app is not personalised. This means you can use it to download someone else’s bus travel to their card – for example you could also help your friends download free bus travel onto their cards too – or use their app to download your own if your phone isn’t compatible.
• Please remember, only people aged 16 and over can use the app to download free bus travel on to an existing NEC or Young Scot NEC.
• The app doesn’t store any personal information. You can read the full app terms and conditions for more information.

Need help?

If you’ve downloaded the app onto your phone but you’ve received an error message when using it, the message will provide details about what has gone wrong and tell you what to do next or who to contact. Check the error messages below to help.

If the information below and our Frequently Asked Questions don’t answer any queries you have about the app, or if you have issues using it, please contact us.

It looks like you’re offline

Check you are connected to the internet. If you’re connected via mobile network, check you have a strong signal.

The NFC (Near Field Communication) is disabled

If you have NFC, you may need to switch this on in your settings. NFC is the same service used for mobile contactless payment – you can check online or with your phone provider to see if your phone has this.

Card read but nothing to collect

Please remember you need to be aged 16-21 and already have an active card. You can check your card is active (this means it was received after 2016) by looking for a long number next to the ITSO logo and if your date of birth is on it, it will be highlighted with a pink strip.

If you have already applied for a new card, this means your application has nearly finished being processed and your new card will be with you soon.

If your card is active, and you have not already applied for a new card, please contact us as there may be an issue with your card.

Uh oh! Something went wrong, or we are busy

This message appears when there are too many people trying to collect travel entitlements at the same time. Please try again in a few minutes.

Remember to hold your card very still at the back of your phone. It’s important to place the card in the correct position, which is different depending on whether you have an Android or iOS phone. This correct position is usually at the top for iOS and in the middle for Android.

Oops that didn’t work – looks like your card is full

This message appears if you have lots of other travel tickets on your card. Please try again and if it still doesn’t work, please contact us.

Oops that didn’t work – we’re having trouble reading your card

This message usually appears if you have accidentally moved your card when holding it to the phone. Try again, holding your phone steady. If you have a cover on your phone, please try removing this as well.

If it doesn’t work again after doing this, get in touch with us in case there is something wrong with your card (please remember to check you are using an active NEC or Young Scot NEC first).

Oops that didn’t work – looks like your card is not supported by this app

This usually appears if you try and read a smartcard that is not an NEC or Young Scot NEC – for example, a ScotRail or Subway card.

There is no supported app for this NFC tag

This usually appears if you try and read a smartcard that is an old version of the NEC or Young Scot NEC. If you eligible to use the app and receive this message, you will need to apply for a new card. Find out how to apply for a new card.

Oops that didn’t work – looks like your card is expired

This usually appears when your card is no longer valid and means you will need to apply for a new card. Find out how to apply for a new card.

Check your card is active – this means it was received after 2016, it should have a long number next to the ITSO logo and if your date of birth is on it, it will be highlighted with a pink strip.

Oops that didn’t work – looks like your card is blocked

This usually appears when your card has already been replaced by a newer version. Please find your most recent card and use this instead. If you cannot find the newer version, you will need to apply for a new card. Find out how to apply for a new card.