CTA Rant Thread (Chicago, Evanston, Addison: credit, cost, shops)

[Avengerfire]

Pictures would be nice!

[Avengerfire]

Yet another reason I refuse to get and use a Chicago Card.

About 400 CTA customers overcharged on fare cards -- chicagotribune.com

[Thepreacherswife]

Originally Posted by Avengerfire

Yet another reason I refuse to get and use a Chicago Card

About 400 CTA customers overcharged on fare cards -- chicagotribune.com

This didn't have anything to do with Chicago Card. It was the new farecard vending machines CTA installed that take credit cards instead of cash. And it wasn't a CTA issue, it was a credit card processor issue. CTA caught the problem and got the credit card processor to make good for the customers. Good for them.

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

This didn't have anything to do with Chicago Card. It was the new farecard vending machines CTA installed that take credit cards instead of cash. And it wasn't a CTA issue, it was a credit card processor issue. CTA caught the problem and got the credit card processor to make good for the customers. Good for them.

It has happened with the Chicago Card before and it can again. I was just providing an example of why I wont give the CTA or any of its contractors access to my debit and/or credit card accounts.

Did the get the banks to reverse ALL overdraft charges for people whose accounts went negative because of this?

[Avengerfire]

Ok here are some more reasons.

Identity theft at the CTA
CTA | Chicago Transit Authority - CTA Press Releases

Example of CTA Chicago Card overcharging from 2006

CTA Tattler: Blizzard of CTA news - the good, the bad, the ugly

[Avengerfire]

Originally Posted by Thepreacherswife

...CTA caught the problem and got the credit card processor to make good for the customers. Good for them.

"Krysten Lynn Ryba of Logan Square said she bought $5 worth of fares in June and ended up with more than $70 in extra charges last week. Metavante has agreed to reimburse her overdraft fees, she said, but refused to take responsibility for her overcharges because they claimed they were legitimate charges."

About 400 CTA customers overcharged on fare cards -- chicagotribune.com

[j33]

I've linked up the CTA card with my credit card ever since the program began, but I watch my statements like a hawk, and know (based on past experience), that whenever I've had to dispute a charge (I've only had to do so a few times), they've been there for me. As such, I'm not too worried, plus, I get airline miles for riding the CTA, how can you beat that?

What one should never do, is link it up with your debit card, that is just a recipe for disaster.

[supernerdgirl]

From the Tribune

Many more users, like Robert Harris of Calumet Park, said they were inconvenienced by the influx of charges. Harris found his bank account suddenly $200 smaller from legitimate charges Friday, he said. The charges, which he assumes have built up since he began using the machines in April, didn't cause him any overdraft fees, but they will prevent him from making his last student loan on time, Harris said.

Since when did people stop watching their damn checking accounts?
If I started buying things and the charges didn't show up for WEEKS, then I'd probably do some snooping around.

Oh, I forgot, everything is the CTA's fault, even people being stupid and not taking personal responsibility for their own finances.

[j33]

No kidding, not to mention, if you link it up to your debit card, you are out the cash while they research a dispute, if you link it to a credit card, unless you are the sort who maxes out your credit card, you aren't out anything while a dispute is researched. One thing over the years I've learned is that in certain places, never use your debit card (e.g. as a 'tab holder' in a bar etc. as they reserve a bit of 'credit' on the card, and that ties up your cash until it is released, which sometimes might take a day or two, but if it is 'reserved' as credit on a credit card, then nothing but a small bit of credit that you probably wouldn't use anyway is tied up for a day or two).

[Puddy4LyF]

Originally Posted by prairiestate

Well, let's see.

In Philly, the trains and stations are clean, and there are transit cops all over. You actually feel safe on transit there, and there are very few people creating a nuisance.

I'm new to Chicago so I can't comment on the two head to head, but Philly's subway systems are clean and secure? Are you nuts? I've never been accosted so much to purchase bootlegged material and seen as much grafiti as I have on the Philadelphia subways. I'm thinking you must have had a really lucky visit, because in the 4 years I spent at LaSalle... the subway was one of my least favorite treks in Philadelphia. (BTW, city of brotherly love my ass.)