Opposition Statement: Go Card problems turn commuters away

[ozbob]

Go Card problems turn commuters away

Saturday, 24 May 2008

THE Go Card has seen commuters turn away in droves following a spate of problems with the troubled system.

Faulty software has robbed unsuspecting commuters through ?double touch? fines and transfer errors ? and then there are problems with the refund policy.

Shadow Minister for Transport Tim Nicholls said the State Government?s promise the electronic ticket would make travel easier has not been realized for thousands of frustrated commuters.

"After spending more than five years and $130 million on the ticketing system, you would think these problems would have already been addressed," he said.

"Instead commuters are being charged for technical failures the Government promised would be ?ironed out? before the system was rolled-out."

Mr Nicholls said by the time the bugs were dealt with, the damage to the Go Card?s reputation would be done.

"The Go Card, in theory, is a good idea. Unfortunately the lengthy delays and long-running problems with the system have left many commuters wary," he said.

"The Government needs to provide a coherent and consistent, user-friendly policy on refunds because there just isn?t any evidence of a refund policy."

http://www.qldcoalition.org.au/news/article.aspx?ID=2417

[Otto]

I am noticing an increasing number of passengers boarding the bus with GoCards , but choosing to buy paper tickets (not including offpeaks) instead. Some whom I have asked no longer trust the GoCard system.