Thieves!

[bladesplace]

G'day,

This morning at I saw my smart card balance was nearly zero (it wouldn't let me touch on), so I went to the AVVM to put $10 on (one $10 note).

To my horror, after putting the note in when prompted, the machine crashed. It started beeping wildly and cancelled itself - taking my $10 with it and not crediting it onto my account.

So, I called TL immediately. They said they will do an 'investigation' and I'll get a phone call within 10 days. When I asked about my $10 and my account, the operator told me it has pretty much vanished and I'll probably never see it again. 

I was cheerfully told I'll need to buy a paper ticket for today's journey. But, the last of my on-hand cash was eaten by the AVMM. I was informed tough luck. They won't even arrange for something to use in the mean time.

Basically, I had to fair evade this morning. And, I now know there are no contingency plans for machine faults - they're just a money grabbing exercise.

Not good enough!

[haakon]

Egads, Some I think if I get a go card (unlikely under the current fair scheme) I'll be topping up with EFTPOS so I have a paper trail to beat Translink over the head with.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the updates Blade.

Yes I agree Haakon, at the moment might be best to do EFTPOS only if this is the way it is going to handled.

Hopefully a better system will be in place before widespread roll out of the cards.

[crouchg]

Blade, I have had this out with Tl on at least 2 ocasions already...

On phone to TL:-

Me: I am standing at Central Station and I have no money to get home, because the SC has charged me incorrectly, what should I do?

TL: Sorry I cant help you you will receive an answer to your query in 10 days

Me: Should I wait here for 10 days then?

TL: Sorry I cant help you.

Me: Do you not have a duty of care to deal with this issue? What if I was a child or a female and I was attached walking the 25km's home?

TL: Sorry.....


Hmmm, their Daddy's would be proud of the job that TL have done with the smart card, NOT!

[ozbob]

This is quite a serious issue IMHO crouchg, thanks for raising it.

Some latitude would have to be given to the befuddled Go card user under the circumstances to travel without a valid ticket other wise there might be some problems.  I think TL need to get to grips with this rather rapidly to ensure commuters are not put in dangerous situations.

Personally I think any court of law would consider that travelling with a valid ticket under such circumstances is not fare evasion at all.  Just  the product of a faulty system.

[bladesplace]

Crouchg,

Did TL eventually refund you?

I fare evaded this morning, and did again this afternoon. I'm going to continue to do so until I would have spent $10 in fares normally, or until this gets sorted - whichever is sooner. And besides, I'm not fare evading when you get right down to it - I really have already paid.

The scary part is that no one has actually noticed! The TO's at Central this morning didn't even raise an eyebrow when I showed them my SC and then didn't even attempt to touch off.

Cheers

Blade

[crouchg]

Crouchg,

Did TL eventually refund you?

I fare evaded this morning, and did again this afternoon. I'm going to continue to do so until I would have spent $10 in fares normally, or until this gets sorted - whichever is sooner. And besides, I'm not fare evading when you get right down to it - I really have already paid.

The scary part is that no one has actually noticed! The TO's at Central this morning didn't even raise an eyebrow when I showed them my SC and then didn't even attempt to touch off.

Cheers

Blade

Not sure quite how a magistrate would see that blade, your fare evading and I can condone that. I was refunded, some I am still waiting some more, which I am told is coming through.

[ozbob]

Blade has highlighted a weakness with the Card.  It has been said by the Minister and others that the Go Card will reduce fare evasion, I am not so sure.  Failure to tag on (and failure to tag off) is a flat $3 on the bus and ferry, $5 on the train initially (After June $5 bus and ferry, $10 rail). Contrast that to travelling without a paper ticket ($150).  RAIL Back On Track does not support fare evasion, but under some circumstances eg. as Crouchg has highlighted, or machines faulty and so forth as Blade has pointed out it is reasonable to travel and reverse ticket IMHO.

I noticed in the city loop bus the other afternoon conditions of carriage that specifically mentioned smart card and failure to tag on and failure to tag off as being a breach.  Notice might have there a while but hadn't noticed it before.

Cheers

[crouchg]

The smart card has, whacked me again with another incorrect penalty fare.

The system even has that I tagged on and off correctly but it charged a penalty anyway!

So ill get my refund in up to 10 days, not much good when I want to get home from work tomorrow!

Thats $10 or my money that the SC system has now stolen from me.

I wonder how many people actual check their balance and know that money is going missing from their cards?

[ozbob]

Not looking to promising is it?

Thanks for the info crouchg!

[ozbob]

Same thing happened to me on the 467 bus the other afternoon, that is incorrect penalties.

I am waiting for the reimbursement.

Cheers
Ozbob

[crouchg]

Noticed this morning that the driver had to set the unit on the "off stop" procedure then left it in this mode until Petrie Station.
The roads registering "Please Touch Card" between stops for the entire journey.