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.
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?
4 thoughts on “Metrocard Machines Take the Morning Off”
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.
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.
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.
[…] 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 […]
SUBWAYblogger 
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.
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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.
LikeLike
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.
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[…] 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 […]
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