# Swift Collector — Collect a top-up with Swift

> West Midlands transport smart card balance checker and top-up collector. (iPhone/iPad app by West Midlands Combined Authority.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swift-collector/id1500287021 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [West Midlands Combined Authority](https://appshunter.io/developer/494592085)
- Category: Travel
- Price: Free
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 12.4 · 46 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2020-03-05
- Data updated: 2026-09-01
- Monetization: free
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swift-collector/id1500287021/reviews.md

## What is Swift Collector?

Swift is a transport smart card for buses, trams and trains in the West Midlands. It can store cash, season tickets and brand new types of travel products.

Download this app to view your current balance or products, and to collect top-ups and products that you’ve bought through your online Swift Account. 

It’s really easy to use – just ensure your NFC and internet are switched on, then hold your Swift card to the back of your device - for the app is only compatible if you are using iOS version 13 on an iPhone 7 model or later. 

The app will tell you what products you already have loaded on your card. Just press the ‘Check for Update’ button to collect any top-ups or products you’ve bought online.

## Key features

- View card balance
- Check loaded products
- Collect online top-ups
- Collect new travel products
- NFC card tap functionality

## What do users think of Swift Collector?

Overall sentiment: negative

**Pros**

- 👍 Can check balance
- 👍 Works sometimes
- 👍 Life saver when it works

**Cons**

- 🐛 App never works
- 🐛 Card not reading
- 🐛 Payment not loading
- 🐛 Blocking card
- 🐛 Wasting time and money
- 🐛 Shops unable to top up
- 🐛 App is poor and not user-friendly
- 🐛 Gamble if it works
- 🐛 Loading takes forever
- 🐛 Driver not letting in
- 🐛 Nightmare app
- 🐛 Card payments not showing
- 🐛 Lost money
- 🐛 No help/live chat
- 🐛 Technology not backed up
- 🐛 Complete trash
- 🐛 App is a s—t show
- 🐛 Appalling experience
- 🐛 Long wait for support
- 🐛 App doesn't scan
- 🐛 App times out
- 🐛 NFC times out
- 🐛 Cannot scan card
- 🐛 Useless and foolish waste
- 🐛 Pointless and inconvenient
- 🐛 Awful app
- 🐛 Rubbish app
- 🐛 Horrible
- 🐛 Difficult to understand
- 🐛 Not fit for purpose
- 🐛 Needs more improvements
- 🐛 Worst app ever
- 🐛 Does not work
- 🐛 Does not scan
- 🐛 Useless

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Will not read card
- Help option opens website
- Credit not loaded automatically
- Never works to top up
- Cannot top up child's card
- Shops unable to top up
- Won't let me collect ticket
- Blocked my card
- Card not updated
- Payment doesn't load to card
- Bus pass not showing on card
- Card payments not showing
- Cards not appearing
- Cannot use child's bus pass
- App shut down and not scan purchases
- Lost over £30
- App refused to update
- Instructions unclear on scanning
- App does not scan card
- Unable to collect via app
- Support line long wait
- Never tops it up
- Cannot 'collect' to card after top up
- Screen resets after scanning
- No options to top up
- Shows balance only
- Wouldn't let me collect online payment
- Won't scan card
- Money can't be added
- Swift collector never works
- Swift collector still not working
- Swift collector app is a joke
- Card doesn't work
- Refunds
- Takes about 10 attempts to work
- Cannot update card
- Incompatible with phone
- App doesn't work
- Cannot add money to card
- Just look at balance
- App times out
- NFC times out
- iOS 14 problem
- App won't pick up card
- iPhone reader picks it up but app times out
- Doesn't let you scan card
- Takes hours to scan card
- Cannot renew DD online
- App is only a collector

**Most requested features**

- Clear top-up button
- Option for additional cards
- Child swift app in wallet
- App called swift bus app
- Store card in wallet
- Virtual swift passes
- Recent journey details
- Add card to app
- Phone payment by Swift
- Card on phone to leave at home

## Recent user reviews (10 of 56)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swift-collector/id1500287021/reviews.md

### 1/5 — AWFUL - AVOID

*2025-09-21*

Terrible app that doesn't work. Deserves zero stars.

Will not read the card - judging by reviews this is a common and longstanding issue. TfWM simply do not care.

The 'help' option from the menu is anything but helpful - all it does is open the website on the homepage. Great job guys.

There is also the fact that this app does not need to exist. I bought credit online while logged into my account. Why do I have to "claim" credit I have bought? You could just load it onto the card automatically, but for some reason have chosen not to? Very odd
 I can not think of any other system that works in this way.

AVOID.

### 1/5 — Useless App

*2025-01-03, version 2.0.20*

Never works to top up swift

### 1/5 — Never works

*2024-10-08*

The swift app never works, I haven’t been able to top up my child’s swift card for months and the shops that it tells you that you can top up on are never able to top it up either. Complete waste of time rather like the bus timetables.

### 1/5 — Swift

*2024-02-05, version 2.0.3*

You need to fix the app it won’t let me collect my swift ticket. This is so annoying wasting our time and money .

### 1/5 — Waste of time

*2023-09-01, version 1.8*

Do not use this app has blocked my card!

### 1/5 — Poor app

*2023-06-23*

The app is clearly poor and not user friendly, whoever designed it must be going home daily thinking that they are stealing a living.

Ultimately the app should have a clear top up button. 
Then card number then amount you wish to top up with. Simple.
Then below options for additional cards.
I’ve have 2 children and don’t have a swift card myself. 
You should also have the clear facilities for child to have the swift app in there wallet on there phone.
Finally the apps are hard to find and logically should be called the swift bus app (sounds to obvious)

### 1/5 — Mostly doesn’t work

*2023-01-31, version 1.8*

It’s a gamble maybe it will work maybe it won’t. Took me many many many tries to make it work and only one of my cards was updated the other wouldn’t work!
Don’t bother switching to the TfWM app it’s even worse!

### 1/5 — Worst app ever

*2023-01-05, version 1.8*

Whenever I even try to scan it takes forever to load and when it does the payment doesn’t load to the card

### 1/5 — Aga

*2022-11-06*

It doesn’t work ! Useless! Can not load the bus pass on to the card ! ! ! I have bought 4 weeks bus pass for my son but it’s not showing on the card , driver doesn’t let him in the bus , I have to give him cash 😡😡😡.It’s like a big scum !!common it’s years it is not working!

### 1/5 — This app is a nightmare

*2022-09-11, version 1.8*

Never ever works, my poor child ends up walking really far to school every time because she tries to save money. But when she wants to get the bus this app never works!!!!

## Frequently asked questions about Swift Collector

### What does the Swift Collector app do?

The Swift Collector app allows you to view your current balance and loaded products on your West Midlands transport smart card. It also enables you to collect any top-ups or new travel products you have purchased through your online Swift Account.

### How do I use the app to collect top-ups?

To collect top-ups or products, ensure your device's NFC and internet are switched on. Then, simply hold your Swift card to the back of your compatible iPhone. The app will then allow you to check for updates and collect your purchases.

### Is the Swift Collector app free to use?

Yes, the Swift Collector app is free to download and use. There are no in-app purchases or advertisements mentioned in the app's description.

### What devices are compatible with the Swift Collector app?

The app is compatible with iPhone 7 models or later, running iOS version 13 or higher. Your device must also have NFC capabilities enabled to use the card tapping feature.

### Can I use this app for any transport card?

No, this app is specifically designed for the Swift transport smart card used for buses, trams, and trains in the West Midlands region. It cannot be used with other transport card systems.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.0.28 — 2026-05-20

Minor UI and usability improvements,
General performance optimisations

### 2.0.27 — 2025-10-08

Product display updates

### 2.0.20 — 2024-12-12

visual update and collector bug fixes

### 2.0.3 — 2024-01-10

Visual updates and performance improvments

### 1.8 — 2020-08-08

The latest version contains bug fixes and performance enhancements

## Apps similar to Swift Collector

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| [ABC Cars](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abc-cars/id588999320) | 5.0 (3) | Free | Travel |
| [NX Bus mTicket](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/nx-bus-mticket/id1151163268) | 4.0 (2) | Free | Travel |
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| [WMBus East/West Midlands Buses](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/wmbus-eastwest-midlands-buses/id1634977380) | — | Free | Travel |
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## More apps by West Midlands Combined Authority

- [SwiftParking](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/swiftparking/id1497512932)
- [TfWM- Powered by Swift](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tfwm-powered-by-swift/id1513880983)
- [TfWM - Information & Tickets](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/tfwm-information-and-tickets/id6738204545)

All apps by West Midlands Combined Authority: https://appshunter.io/developer/494592085

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-09-01.*