Metrocard Machines Take the Morning Off

Posted on July 28th, 2008 by The SUBWAYblogger in Transit Failures
A Metrocard mechanic cleaning some parts of the machine.

A Metrocard mechanic cleaning some parts of the machine.

Did you try to buy a new Metrocard this morning between 8:30AM and 10:30AM?  Hope you didn’t try to pay with a credit card, because the machines weren’t taking them.

For unknown reasons, dozens if not hundreds of Metrocard machines stopped taking electronic payments.  Not a big deal if you were going for a $2.00 ride.

However, if you were in the market for a new $82 unlimted card, chances are you didnt have that dough burning a hole in your pocket.

The issue seemed to have replicated itself again around the afternoon rush.  I did see an especially long line at the machines this afternoon.

I guess this is what happens when you are still using Windows NT in your systems.

I guess this is what happens when you are still using Windows NT in your systems.

Around 6 p.m., at one entrance to the Times Square station, signs on the vending machines indicated that they were not accepting credit or debit cards, and a station agent opened the exit gate and ushered passengers through without making them pay.  [City Room]

Can you just imagine all the sea of confused tourists flocking to the token booth?

  1. Brad said on July 29th, 2008 at 10:50 am

    Yeah, this happened to me in Kew Gardens yesterday - I had to hike to an ATM to get cash. And nobody from the MTA was opening the gate and letting me in for free.

    Reply
  2. Stephanie said on July 29th, 2008 at 3:25 pm

    Not only did I try to get a Metrocard with my debit and credit card, but I was charged for these transactions that supposedly never went through. Anyone else have this problem? Not sure who I should bring this up to, the MTA or my bank/credit card.

    Reply
  3. Stephanie said on July 30th, 2008 at 12:58 pm

    To the other Stephanie. I had the exact same problem! I called the MTA and they said they’d credit my account within the next 10 days. Well, I told them that I didn’t want to wait 10 days because they have my money so they should be able to give it back…$80 is a lot of money in my world. They said they’d call me back, which they never did. So I called again today and was hung up on by Ms. Anderson (the highest level employee they would let me talk to). And then (this is the best) when I called back the woman who I spoke with, Roberta, told me that they stole my money and that in her oppinion we should all get together and sue them.

    Reply
  4. MetroCard Vending Machines Fail — Transit Blogger said on August 1st, 2008 at 3:10 am

    [...] earlier this week while browsing the transit blogosphere, I read on Subway Blogger how the MetroCard Vending Machine’s (MVM) ability to take electronic payments crashed. One would figure that the problem would be taken care of quickly but not so as it continued into [...]

Have something to say? Here's your chance. Post it for all of us to read.

How do I change my avatar?

Go to gravatar.com and upload your preferred avatar.

Flash Back

Categories

Tag Cloud

ss_blog_claim=e1b9eeb8c6812ce0414a86d1c7c3a36d ss_blog_claim=e1b9eeb8c6812ce0414a86d1c7c3a36d