13 May 2011: SEQ: Go card fixed fare increases, check your go card history ...

[ozbob]

Media release 13 May 2011

SEQ: Go card fixed fare increases, check your go card history ...

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers strongly supports attempts to crack down on fare evasion, however the disparity between the total number of fixed fares on the go card and those actually claimed back means that stepped up user education for the go card is also needed. (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The doubling of the fixed fares will act as a further incentive for users to touch correctly with the go card (1)."

"However, as shown in the TransLink tracker (2) there is a very considerable disparity between the total number of fixed fares, around 3.5% of all trips, and those actually claimed back, around 0.04% of all trips."

"Clearly this disparity reflects some fare evasion, but feedback we have received at RAIL Back On Track also suggests that many users are not aware that they are actually copping fixed fares due to system failures, particularly on the bus system. Some users also cannot be bothered with the claim process, but the increase in fixed fares may well change that."

"We would urge all go card users to regularly check their go card histories, and claim back the considerable amount of money that the may well be incorrectly debited. Errors do occur with the go card, it is not perfect so be 'go smart' and check regularly."

References:

1. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/transport-minister-annastacia-palaszczuk-doubles-go-card-penalty-fares-for-errant-commuters/story-e6freoof-1226054909816

2. http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2010-11-quarterly-report-oct-to-dec.pdf  page 9

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Discussion thread --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5941.0

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th May 2011

Re: SEQ: Go card fixed fare increases, check your go card history ...

Greetings,

The incidence of the fixed penalty fares on the go card  is concerning, on average for every 29 trips on the go card there is a penalty fare. This indicates some underlying issues with go card use. No doubt some users have been deliberately not touching off in order to avoid a higher fare, but also it means that many go card users have been getting penalty fares and not knowing due to system failures.

This is further confirmed because only 1 in 90 fixed fare penalties are adjusted by a user claim.  No doubt the increases in the penalty fares will see more claims made by users, but it is important that TransLink step up user education and properly inform users of the fare adjustment procedure.

A ticketing system that results in an error every 29 trips or so, is definitely not 'world class'. Properly educating users and fixing up equipment issues and improving the fare structure, may help get to a 'world class' status.

Best wishes

Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

27th May 2011

Fair go for fixed fares ...

Greetings,

Fixed fares on the go card double from Monday 30th May 2011 --> http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/go-card/fixed-fare

We hope that some latitude is given to those go card users who on receiving multiple fixed fares might find themselves short of funds on their go card, and at risk of a fare evasion offence. (Because of the previous smaller amount for fixed fares they may not have been aware that they were receiving multiple fixed fares).

It is essential that users check their go card history regularly, and beware that it is important to claim fare adjustments quickly, as it can take time for adjustments to be processed, up to 10 days although it is usually quicker than that.

It is important for users to check each time they touch on and off for beeps (sometimes inaudible), read the screen (sometimes not possible due to glare and/or moisture) and the colour codes (usually readable except in strong glare).  Usually one of these three indications can be read ...  Go card history and touch status can be quickly confirmed by checking cards on a ticket machine.

Also if a citizen is genuinely unable to use a go card for either cognitive and/or physical reasons there is the TransLink Access pass.  See --> http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/other-tickets/special-access-passes/translink-access-pass

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

================

Media release 13 May 2011 re-released 27 May 2011

SEQ: Go card fixed fare increases, check your go card history ...

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers strongly supports attempts to crack down on fare evasion, however the disparity between the total number of fixed fares on the go card and those actually claimed back means that stepped up user education for the go card is also needed. (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The doubling of the fixed fares will act as a further incentive for users to touch correctly with the go card (1)."

"However, as shown in the TransLink tracker (2) there is a very considerable disparity between the total number of fixed fares, around 3.5% of all trips, and those actually claimed back, around 0.04% of all trips."

"Clearly this disparity reflects some fare evasion, but feedback we have received at RAIL Back On Track also suggests that many users are not aware that they are actually copping fixed fares due to system failures, particularly on the bus system. Some users also cannot be bothered with the claim process, but the increase in fixed fares may well change that."

"We would urge all go card users to regularly check their go card histories, and claim back the considerable amount of money that the may well be incorrectly debited. Errors do occur with the go card, it is not perfect so be 'go smart' and check regularly."

References:

1. http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/transport-minister-annastacia-palaszczuk-doubles-go-card-penalty-fares-for-errant-commuters/story-e6freoof-1226054909816

2. http://translink.com.au/resources/about-translink/reporting-and-publications/2010-11-quarterly-report-oct-to-dec.pdf  page 9

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

[ozbob]

From the Brisbane mX 27th May 2011 page 5

Swiped out by fix price

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

TransLink go card penalty doubles to $10 for not 'touching off' buses, trains and ferries

TransLink go card penalty doubles to $10 for not 'touching off' buses, trains and ferries

    by Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    May 30, 2011 12:00AM

GO CARD users who fail to "touch off" will be slugged with a $10 fee from today, even though nearly 800 commuters a week are being overcharged by the system.

The new fixed fare is double the previous penalty to deter some long-haul commuters from deliberately failing to touch off because their fare is more than the fine. But commuters claim the higher fee will hurt those who do the right thing but are let down by faults in the system.

"Many users are not aware that they are actually copping fixed fares due to system failures, particularly on the bus system," said Robert Dow from commuter advocacy group Back on Track.

"Some users also cannot be bothered with the claim process. But the increase in fixed fares may well change that."

He said some of the problems experienced by commuters included "inaudible beeps" indicating they had touched off and glare or moisture on the go card reader screens, making them difficult to see.TransLink has confirmed it received 9341 requests for adjustments in the first three months of this year, which included eight days of free public transport following the January floods.

Spokesman Andrew Berkman urged customers to take extra care when touching on and off public transport from today.

"The change will target those who were ripping off honest users by taking advantage of the lower fixed fares," he said.

"Customers can check their go card by checking the reader on the bus or ferry, or at the train station; at a ticket machine; online for those who have registered their go card or over the phone."

He denied the machines were prone to failure with card readers at stations operating 99.7 per cent of the time, and 99.4 per cent in buses and ferries.

Mr Dow called for "latitude to be given to go card users who received multiple fixed fares".

"They might find themselves short on funds on their go card and at risk of a fare evasion offence."

The penalty for failing to touch off in buses or ferries will rise to $5 today, and to $10 at train stations.

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Go Card users warned to watch out

Go Card users warned to watch out
Daniel Hurst
May 30, 2011 - 5:39AM

Go Card users have been urged to regularly check their balances for mistakes as transport authorities today ramp up penalties for incorrect use.

From today, the penalty for smartcard users who fail to touch on or off properly on the railway network doubles, while bus and ferry passengers also face steeper penalties.

The "fixed fare" penalty is now $10 for adult railway passengers, $5 for bus and ferry users and $30 for people riding the Airtrain, in a measure the state government says will target repeat fare evaders.

But commuter lobby group Rail Back on Track called on users to check their usage to ensure any errors didn't end up costing them money.

Spokesman Robert Dow said people charged the wrong amount should request an adjustment.

"Currently 3.5 per cent of all trips are resulting in a fixed fare but only 0.04 per cent are actually being claimed back," he said.

"What that means is for every 90 fixed fares there's only one adjustment. That's quite amazing."

Mr Dow said although some of the fixed fares undoubtedly flowed from fare evasion, the figures also suggested that many people were unaware of being charged incorrect amounts.

He predicted the increases in fixed fares from today would result in more people noticing when they had been wrongly charged.

"I think the message is just to make sure people are alert when they touch on or off and if they do get a fixed fare they can get a fare adjustment," he said.

"We'd encourage people to regularly check their Go Card history."

People with registered Go Cards can check their histories by logging on to the TransLink website. Otherwise, cards can be checked at Go Card top up machines at major rail and bus stations.

Last week, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the majority of customers did the right thing, but others were being dishonest.

"TransLink advise fare evaders cost the government approximately $18 million in lost revenue each year," she said in a statement.

"TransLink studies show about 70,000 trips a month are fare evaders taking advantage of the low penalty rate by deliberately not touching off at the end of their journey."

TransLink chief Peter Strachan said customers who made an honest mistake or were unable to touch off could go online or phone up to request an adjustment.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/go-card-users-warned-to-watch-out-20110529-1fau2.html#ixzz1NlwNqh28

[ozbob]

Blog feedback at the Courier Mail and Brisbanetimes has more than confirmed the issues ...