MetroRiders.Org

CTgirl wrote on Thu, 22 June 2006 08:34
Did anybody have trouble using a passes/farecards machine and pay using either a debit or credit card?

I arrived at Vienna and attempted to purchase from one of the machines, and first tried to use my debit card...it got to processing the transaction, then after a minute or two it cancelled the transaction, making me go through the process all over again. So i did, this time, trying to use my credit card, but again, it made me wait a few minutes and then cancelled the transaction.

At that point I had already wasted about 4 minutes, so I gave up and had to use cash to get enough on my smartrip to get on metro (not nearly as much as I wanted to put on it though)

This caused me to miss the train that was just arriving in Vienna when I arrived at the station (I saw it pulling in as I turned to go to the machine)

Anybody else have this problem today or in the past, and any way to get around it (other than playing machine roulette hoping you find one that will actually work?)

I've had something similar happen as well. But, it always happened in the case that I used my debt card as a "credit" purchase and then later that day wanted to add more value as a "credit" purchase and it would not go through. So, I used the debit option and entered my PIN number and it worked that time around. I don't carry cash at all and if I do its just to pay for my lunch during the day

Sand Box John wrote on Fri, 23 June 2006 09:06
[i

1) Linking it to a checking or savings account (Chicago Transit Authority has this option)[/i]

WMATA provides a similar option.

Not the same. This is simply a Citibank credit card that also has Smartrip built in. This is no different than the federal government offering ID cards with Smartrip capability built in.

What I'm talking about is the functionality offered by the Chicago Card Plus. It's a similar concept to the concept used by toll road operators. What happens is whenver your balance falls below a certain amount, it is AUTOMATICALLY replenished through either a credit card or your checking account. That way somoene NEVER has to stop at a farecard machine. Chicago Card plus only offers the option of recharging with a credit card, but I believe Transport for London also offers the ability to do it with a checking account (important because more people have checking accounts than credit cards).

http://www.chicago-card.com/

Dharm wrote on Thu, 22 June 2006 18:03

I've had this happen to. I don't think it has anything to do with the machines (otherwise like the soda/candy vending machines have a "exact change only" they could have a "cash only" sign), but rather either the phone line or the up stream processor of credit card payments. This happens at merchants to me on occasion. Maybe this can be solved with the next generation equipment. To me the best solution is to allow additional options for adding value to Smartrip cards inlcuding:

1) Linking it to a checking or savings account (Chicago Transit Authority has this option)

WMATA provides a similar option.

2) Allowing people to add value by credit/debit card over the internet (Transport for London has this option)

..or perhaps, as San Box John said, use cash...the Metro system ran just fine for a long time using a cash only system....When Sand Box John mentioned using cash, he didn't mean doing a full-blown marketing campaign directing people to bring bankrolls into the system...what he meant, and I've known John for years, was, when all else fails, cash always works...you're right, with plastic, any number of things can go wrong, it could be something as simple as the magnetic strip is losing its ability to communicate information due to excessive wear & tear...who knows, but at least with cash, you'll never be stuck at the faregate

I've had this happen to. I don't think it has anything to do with the machines (otherwise like the soda/candy vending machines have a "exact change only" they could have a "cash only" sign), but rather either the phone line or the up stream processor of credit card payments. This happens at merchants to me on occasion. Maybe this can be solved with the next generation equipment. To me the best solution is to allow additional options for adding value to Smartrip cards inlcuding:

1) Linking it to a checking or savings account (Chicago Transit Authority has this option)

2) Allowing people to add value by credit/debit card over the internet (Transport for London has this option)

You described the solution above. Use cash.

If the machines clearly state that they accept credit and debit cards, then they should accept them. They shouldn't sit there trying to process your transaction for a minute or two, then just say that the transaction was cancelled, without any reason as to why. (it should at least say the server is busy and to reattempt the transaction)

As an aside, encouraging/forcing people to carry large sums of cash to purchase passes or farecards would be a Public relations nightmare for Metro, since pickpockets would know this immediately, and crime would probably have a huge jump on metro (at least if a card is stolen, you can call the bank and get it cancelled, if your cash is stolen, then you are out of luck

CTgirl wrote on Thu, 22 June 2006 08:34

At that point I had already wasted about 4 minutes, so I gave up and had to use cash to get enough on my smartrip to get on metro (not nearly as much as I wanted to put on it though)

There are a number of reasons you had this problem. Some are not the fault of a malfunction in the WMATA fare vending equipment.

Anybody else have this problem today or in the past, and any way to get around it (other than playing machine roulette hoping you find one that will actually work?)

You described the solution above. Use cash.