Wonder why the lines have been so long at the automated ticket machines at T stations? Machines across the MBTA haven't been taking credit cards since Thursday night. The machines still accepted cash, so people who happened to have cash on them were able to get passes, but anyone with a credit or debit card received the message that the machine couldn't contact the related credit or debit card company.
That might not be a huge deal if it were the middle of the month, but many people were buying their monthly December pass on Thursday and Friday. Some city public transportation systems, like San Francisco's MUNI, provide a three-day grace period for monthly passes to cut down on those change-of-month lines and the resulting commuter rage, but not the MBTA, which reminds monthly pass users that their card will expire on the last day of the month.
The MBTA staff exacerbated the problem because the employees never bothered to stick a sign on the machines saying they weren't taking credit. Some people kept moving from ticket vending machine to ticket vending machine. They thought they might find one that worked until other commuters advised them to give up. MBTA employees at three different stations didn't even say there was a problem until they were asked about it.
This episode is a minor inconvenience, but it certainly raises doubts as to whether or not the new CharlieCard system is "convenient," "flexible," and "easy to use." (Their words, not ours.) But, if the MBTA can't even get the credit card process right, then should we believe that their fancypants automated system will be "easy to use"?
If you were left hanging because the ticket machine refused your credit card, or if you have problems with the new CharlieCard, you can - and you should - call, e-mail, or write MBTA officials. This Bostonist is sending them the text of this post because, at the very least, the MBTA employees could posted a sign saying the credit card system was out of service.
Image taken from the MBTA's CharlieCard promotion. That really hip dude looks happy with Charlie now, but what do you want to bet that the relationship will sour?
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Not only was I unable to purchase my monthly pass with a credit card on 11/30 and 12/1, but I was charged each time I attempted to pay! I have two $44 charges on my credit card and one on my debit card! Make sure to check your statements.
I am furious that this went on for more than a day and STILL they did nothing. No signs, no assistants from the attendants near the Charlie Card machines when customers were clearly trying to make purchases with their credit cards. Now I have to go to the trouble to get all these charges off my bill.
Ditto to Bill's comments, charges showing up on my credit cards for each attempt to purchase. Some but not all of the charges have already been reversed - so someone knows there's a problem but no statements anywhere by the MBTA that I can find to admit this! Last time I use the machines to purchase - you can still buy monthly passes at other locations like supermarkets.
I was in the Davis Square T station Friday morning, and as I was going through the pass reader I heard someone ask the T employee who was just hanging around why they weren't doing anything to help. The employee yelled back that people shouldn't depend on buying passes on the 1st. I wonder how many of those people waiting had tried to buy their passes on Thursday just to encounter the credit card problem?
I wonder how many other people are left with mystery charges on their bill. I contacted the Globe and Herald. You guys should too! I e-mailed Mac Daniel. He writes the Starts and Stops column. You can e-mail him at starts@bostonglobe.com.
Fortunately I rec'd a couple phone called from MBTA people this morning and they are working on it.
To the T's credit, on Friday evening the machines told you the credit/debit card option wasn't working, and wouldn't let you select it. And at Harvard, station employees coned off the credit-only machines and put up a sign saying the credit computer was down.
But it would have been nice if this happened sooner, and everywhere.
Apparently you need a better fare card system.
The MTA's MetroCard system, despite some flaws, has the advantage of buying a 30 day or 7 day unlimited MetroCard valid from 30 or 7 days from when you first use it in the system.
So if you were to buy a 7 day unlimited MetroCard right now, then go use it on a subway or bus, you would not need to get a new one until next Thursday.
It is simple, effective, and makes it more flexible for the rider to buy on their own schedule, not the MTA's.