Public transport fare concessions for tertiary students

[dancingmongoose]

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Translink to drop student concession card for online system

[ozbob]

http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions/tertiary

Tertiary Students

A 50% concession fare is available for tertiary and post-secondary students on all TransLink public transport services, regional bus services and approved regional ferry services.

A new solution is now available for eligible tertiary and post-secondary students to travel on tertiary concession fares.

Students in South East Queensland can now apply for tertiary concession fares to be activated on their go card.

Students in regional Queensland (outside the go card network) can now apply for a tertiary concession sticker on their student ID.

[VD]

Hello, why can't students like me buy a paper ticket if we forget out go cards at home or if there isn't enough money on it. It's expensive enough on adult fares, oh and anything for students in the fare review.

PS: It was was meeting you at wulkuraka

[ozbob]

Hello, why can't students like me buy a paper ticket if we forget out go cards at home or if there isn't enough money on it. It's expensive enough on adult fares, oh and anything for students in the fare review.

PS: It was was meeting you at wulkuraka

Howdy!  I would be careful about the news report above.  According to http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions and this document > http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/tickets-and-fares/concessions/translink-approved-concessions.pdf there appears to be no reason why a student with ID could not purchase a concession paper ticket if needed.  I will check this out.

[kaykayt]

What happens to secondary school students?

[ozbob]

What happens to secondary school students?

Same as always >> http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions/school-students

[STB]

Hello, why can't students like me buy a paper ticket if we forget out go cards at home or if there isn't enough money on it. It's expensive enough on adult fares, oh and anything for students in the fare review.

PS: It was was meeting you at wulkuraka

Howdy!  I would be careful about the news report above.  According to http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions and this document > http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/tickets-and-fares/concessions/translink-approved-concessions.pdf there appears to be no reason why a student with ID could not purchase a concession paper ticket if needed.  I will check this out.

TransLink just confirmed on their Facebook page that tertiary (Uni/TAFE) students would not be able to purchase concession paper tickets with their ID cards.

[VD]

Hello, why can't students like me buy a paper ticket if we forget out go cards at home or if there isn't enough money on it. It's expensive enough on adult fares, oh and anything for students in the fare review.

PS: It was was meeting you at wulkuraka

Howdy!  I would be careful about the news report above.  According to http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions and this document > http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/tickets-and-fares/concessions/translink-approved-concessions.pdf there appears to be no reason why a student with ID could not purchase a concession paper ticket if needed.  I will check this out.

TransLink just confirmed on their Facebook page that tertiary (Uni/TAFE) students would not be able to purchase concession paper tickets with their ID cards.

Not happy with rushed policy

https://imgur.com/a/plx9s

[SurfRail]

At this point, the fact they have mucked this up yet again does not surprise me at all.

Queensland is run by idiots.

[Derwan]

Generally speaking this is good.

If "students" could buy concession paper tickets, we'd be right back at square one where a student ID with long expiry date could be used for years if the student drops out of uni.  Wasn't that the main reason for introducing something like this?

Just don't forget your Go Cards - and make sure you top up before the card gets low - or activate auto top-up.  (I haven't gone near an AVVM or thought about topping up for years!)

[Arnz]

However rushed this policy may be, it does go towards the 'original' aim of phasing out paper tickets when TransLink first intended to introduce smart cards to the system.   

Similar to how Uni/TAFEs or other higher education providers now control the expiry dates of the Tertiary go cards, another suggestion is the current online system for Tertiary students could be extended to those on Newstart unemployed benefits? (e.g if they gain a full-time job or were not attending the activities as agreed in the 'activity plan' without reasonable excuse, the JSA and/or the Centrelink agent can change the concession back to a adult go card within a few clicks).

While some concerns are valid, I'll be waiting to see any further feedback after April before making any further judgement.

[aldonius]

That's an excellent point, Arnz.

Same principle extends to health care concessions, too.

[Arnz]

That's an excellent point, Arnz.

Same principle extends to health care concessions, too.

Agreed re Health Care Card concessions.  Perhaps the Health Care Card and Go Card could be combined for Newstart recipients in SEQ? (similar to the combined Seniors Discount/Seniors Go Card).

[ozbob]

This will morph into a festering sore for the Government ....  even though we understand what they are doing, locking it down very tightly.  But they are losing touch with the community.  History repeating??

Meanwhile people hop on and off buses pretending to touch and whatever ... lol 

What an absolute farce ...

[ozbob]

Hello, why can't students like me buy a paper ticket if we forget out go cards at home or if there isn't enough money on it. It's expensive enough on adult fares, oh and anything for students in the fare review.

PS: It was was meeting you at wulkuraka

Howdy!  I would be careful about the news report above.  According to http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions and this document > http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/tickets-and-fares/concessions/translink-approved-concessions.pdf there appears to be no reason why a student with ID could not purchase a concession paper ticket if needed.  I will check this out.

TransLink just confirmed on their Facebook page that tertiary (Uni/TAFE) students would not be able to purchase concession paper tickets with their ID cards.

I will wait to see what the response is to my query.  They will have to change this then too > http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/tickets-and-fares/concessions/translink-approved-concessions.pdf

... Tertiary/post-secondary
students
Tertiary/post-secondary students
who hold a current student
identification card issued by
a Queensland institution and
meet all eligibility criteria are
eligible to receive a concession
fare. Students are required to
carry this card with them when
travelling on a concession fare. ...

[Derwan]

I will wait to see what the response is to my query.

It's actually here: http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/ticket-types/paper-tickets

As of 1 April 2016, concession paper tickets will no longer be available for tertiary and post-secondary students. Students will need to purchase an adult paper ticket or apply online for tertiary concession fares to be activated on their go card.

If students can remember to take their student ID, they can remember to take their Go Card.  Wouldn't they both just be in their wallet/purse anyway? 

We don't want to create another loophole, where ex students with ID's within expiry can still buy concession paper tickets.  TransLink is doing the right thing by closing the loophole before it gets exploited.

[ozbob]

I think it will be challenged however. 

That contradicts the other document.  They need to fix it up one way or the other.

The loophole is miniscule compared to the 9 and free rort!   

My own view is that if a student has the tertiary pass activated on their go card, and for whatever reason they need to purchase a concession paper ticket (go card faulty, lost or whatever) they should be permitted. Bonafides are easily established.

That is, as long as paper is available ... 

[STB]

I get what they are attempting to do, even though it seems disingenious on the surface (and the news reports badly conveyed that).  From what I have gathered, the point is to prevent students having to purchase a new card once they stop studying or go part time according to the university or TAFE, so by getting students to purchase an Adult Go Card and then having the concession fares applied and linked to their study level status then once their study level drops altogether or partially below the rules that state that the student is a full time student, then they will already have an Adult Go Card charging Adult fares ready to go without having to ditch their Concession Go Card and purchase and Adult Go Card instead.

The banning of them purchasing concession paper tickets is a bit of a worry if they happen to forget their card or their card becomes faulty all of a sudden, or they forget to top up their card - that still happens - but it seems to me like that's an early signal to what the new ticketing system is going to provide, and I suspect that paper tickets will be removed altogether once the new ticketing system comes into place.

[red dragin]

Forgot your concession loaded Go-Card -> pay full price -> you'll remember it next time.

In a former role, I had to let people into their apartment if they forgot their keys (but they always remembered their mobile phones  ). After 6pm it was $110 to be let in, even though I lived in the complex.

Why was it $110?

• I didn't want to be disturbed after hours
• The thought of handing over $110 made them remember their keys

They where also warned when first moving in of the charges (and the reasons behind them).

Guess how many locked themselves out twice 

[Derwan]

Forgot your concession loaded Go-Card -> pay full price -> you'll remember it next time.

Exactly.

They remember their wallet/purse (with cash) and their student ID... yet somehow forget their Go Card?

As for topping up, even those who choose not to have auto top-up get the 3 beeps to let them know.

It'd be nice if the TransLink app had Go Card account integration (that's another story) - but it's not too hard to do it using your phone's browser.

[dancingmongoose]

Forgot your concession loaded Go-Card -> pay full price -> you'll remember it next time.

Exactly.

They remember their wallet/purse (with cash) and their student ID... yet somehow forget their Go Card?

As for topping up, even those who choose not to have auto top-up get the 3 beeps to let them know.

It'd be nice if the TransLink app had Go Card account integration (that's another story) - but it's not too hard to do it using your phone's browser.

What happens when their go card suddenly stops working? I've lost track of just how many times I've seen go card just not being read by the machines.

[red dragin]

Buy another, contact Translink. That's what I had to do when mine failed (albeit not a TTCC).

I'm not saying removing warning labels from hair dryers here, but surely the general population is smart enough to work it out for themselves if there is an issue or they forget their Go Card.

[SurfRail]

It's not that huge a problem. 

I use my go card (comparatively) a lot more than other people do, and I've only ever gone through a grand total of 3 since the system was rolled out - first one I lost (within the first year), second one lasted around 7 years before it became too difficult to get it to read properly on most trips, third one is still going strong.

[Derwan]

Have any students done the "apply online" process?  How long does it take to get the concession approved?

Also - are you able to register more than one Go Card for a concession?  (I'm guessing not!)

[tazzer9]

My issue is that they are trying their hardest and spending the most amount of money fixing a problem that would barely exist if they made fares reasonable. They could easily start fining pensioners and healthcard holders who also rort the system.  (i have seen more people without a healthcare or pension card than without a student card when interrogated by the ticket officers)
I also have a privacy issue with them being able to track my exact public transport movements. 

[aldonius]

I'll be doing it later this week, Derwan.

[Derwan]

I'll be doing it later this week, Derwan.

I look forward to hearing about it. 

An easy, quick process will mitigate the "broken card" issue.  If verification is electronic and virtually instant, a broken card could be replaced within hours (or minutes if you have a "spare" card on hand).  However if one has to "remove" the existing (broken) card because you can't have more than one card registered at a time, that might slow things down a bit.

[Golliwog]

Have any students done the "apply online" process?  How long does it take to get the concession approved?

Also - are you able to register more than one Go Card for a concession?  (I'm guessing not!)

The FAQ says up to 14 days, but normally only around 2-5. I've put in a query through the online form on their website questioning what happens with adult fares charged on a go card during that processing period. I.e. will it be automatically be refunded to the correct concession fare once the application has been processed (assuming it was valid) or will they have to apply for said refund. Or are they even able to have that refunded.

[Golliwog]

Got a response:

Balance adjustments for the difference between adult and concession fares are not permitted during the period students wait for the concessions pass product to be applied to their go card. Students will be required to pay an adult fare until their tertiary fares application is approved and applied to the card.

Poor policy. If you accept that they were a student when they submitted the application, and the whole system is electronic then surely the common sense approach is to set any fares paid in the period between the application being made and it being accepted back to the concession rate. Any adult fares paid before applying would be a different matter however.

[ozbob]

Our public transport system generally is bureaucracy focussed rather than customer ...  just another example

No amount of ' world class ' rhetoric can change this blunt reality ..

[Derwan]

For the uni students, has there been much promotion at unis about this?

I saw a guy get on a bus the other day and ask for a paper ticket - with student card in his hand.  The driver had to inform him that he could no longer get a concession paper ticket and that he would be paying full price.  The guy apparently had a Go Card with no funds.  (I bet he won't forget to top it up again!)

I started to wonder how this person DIDN'T know about the change from 1 April, but it's easy for us to say as we follow public transport news.  So that got me wondering whether it was promoted at unis.

[ozbob]

It is just dumb bastardy ... and will come back and bite.

At least on non-BT buses  the punters can top up. 

[ozbob]

FYI
http://translink.com.au/tickets-and-fares/concessions

http://translink.com.au/sites/default/files/assets/resources/tickets-and-fares/concessions/translink-approved-concessions.pdf has been updated.

This could be read that a student could purchase a concession paper ticket? Providing they have the necessary cards. Not expressly ruled out.

The following cards can be used on TransLink services to receive a concession fare.
For full details of TransLink concession policies and eligibility criteria, please visit translink.com.au.

Tertiary/post-secondary students
Tertiary/post-secondary students must
meet ALL eligibility criteria including
carrying a current student identification
card issued by a Queensland institution
registered with the department AND
have applied for and received tertiary
concession fares (tertiary pass) on their
go card. The details on the student's
identification card must match the
tertiary concession details provided to
TransLink and linked to the student's
go card.

[ozbob]

^

I have spoken to TransLink about this.  It might be amended to expressly rule out paper concession tickets

[Arnz]

For the uni students, has there been much promotion at unis about this?

I saw a guy get on a bus the other day and ask for a paper ticket - with student card in his hand.  The driver had to inform him that he could no longer get a concession paper ticket and that he would be paying full price.  The guy apparently had a Go Card with no funds.  (I bet he won't forget to top it up again!)

I started to wonder how this person DIDN'T know about the change from 1 April, but it's easy for us to say as we follow public transport news.  So that got me wondering whether it was promoted at unis.

As someone attending QUT (though I've been a multiple past TAFE student), QUT's Kelvin Grove campus has placed the advertisements on the noticeboard as well as positioning the green shirt volunteers at the KG Busway Station. 

I do have to agree that while TransLink did put some effort, at least at QUT KG's campus, the bus stops outside Gardens Point and at the Gardens Point CityCat stop almost daily prior to April.  I'd also have to say TransLink could've put in a lot more effort than they did advertising the online Tertiary fares registration system, including sending the green shirt volunteer army at locations where there is heavier traffic including the food courts, libraries or nearby busy faculty buildings such as Business and Science.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> University students to lose public transport concessions because they're studying externally – Translink

Cash-strapped university students say they have been blindsided by Translink's decision to axe their public transport fee concessions because they're studying externally instead of on campus during COVID-19

TransLink has this week sent a wave of text messages to students at Queensland's premier universities declaring their 'tertiary fares ... have expired as you are not studying on campus'.

However, affected students say their external enrolment was not a choice.

"I was very much forced into it," UQ honours student Oliver Corfield said.

"I didn't have options for flexible delivery or anything internal, which (wasn't) a problem' – until concession fees were cancelled on Monday.

"14 days, it's given us, before we're onto full fares," which are double to the price of student fares.

"My pay hasn't increased or anything ... it's just less affordable."

Hailey Rufus enrolled externally at UQ this semester, due to contagion concerns around her lengthy commute to campus.

"It seemed ridiculous to put myself at risk on public transport for 4 hours a day, minimum two days a week for two 50-minute classes."

Her tertiary concession eligibility was revoked this week despite one of her three courses only being available externally.

"I'm part of the student committee ... and will have to attend on campus meetings a couple times a month, plus go in for student services like counselling or academic advisory meetings," she said.

Ciara Hambridge-Chambers has been unable to access tertiary concession fares despite enrolling as a full-time student after studying part-time last semester.

"Every class was listed as external only. Because I was forced into fully external study, I now can't re-access concession fares," she told the Courier Mail.

"I was keen to get my concession fares back to save money travelling to and from work."

Maiwar MP Michael Berkman is calling on the state government to 'urgently intervene to broaden the eligibility criteria' claiming the 'arbitrary distinction between internal and external students' an 'irresponsible blow' to students.

"Anyone studying full-time has less opportunities to work in paid employment, so their financial capacity is lower," he said.

"Student fare discounts (are) not specifically about facilitating affordable travel to a student's actual tertiary institution."

A TransLink spokesman this morning claimed 'any student' eligible for concession fares who is now studying externally 'through no fault of their own ... is continuing to receive tertiary fares'.

"Any student who believes they should be receiving tertiary concession fares to contact their student administration to discuss their enrolment status as it is the institution who determines eligibility," the spokesman said.

QUT students learning remotely 'due to COVID-19' are classified as 'internal' students, while Griffith students enrolment status will not be impacted by COVID changes – the universities today confirmed.

The Courier Mail understands that concession fees will not be waived for high school students who are forced to, or chose to, learn remotely amid the pandemic.