metrocard failure

I hate when the burden of correcting a problem falls on the person experiencing it.

Last night Alexander and I are at the 81st Street and Central Park West subway station.  I use my debit card to add $40 to my Metrocard.  The machine THEN informs me it can provide no receipts.  Not a problem, I think.  I take my card and slide it through the turnstile.  The balance is $14;  the $40 I just purchased has not been added to my card. 

I approach the listless looking guy sitting in the booth.  He seems happy doing nothing.  I can hear him thinking, “Honestly, man, do I look like I want to be disturbed?”  I tell him my problem.  He mindlessly responds, “Don’t worry.  If the $40 didn’t appear on your card, it didn’t go through.  You won’t be charged.”  I’m skeptical, but want to believe him.

I go to Bleeker Street (Alexander and I are having dinner in the Village) and add forty more dollars to my card.

Today I check my bank account.  I was charged the $40 both times.  Surprise. Surprise.  Mr. tollbooth man was wrong.

I call the MTA and after being on hold for about 15 minutes, I am told what I need to do:

Go to a station that has a real person in the booth — ask them for the required form and envelope.  I am told I MUST use this envelope and this form.  Nothing else will be accepted.  Then, I need to complete the form and mail it in, along with my Metrocard. 

This involves considerable time and money.

    First I must find a subway station that is manned by a real person.  The one closest to me is ½ mile away.  The thermometer  hovers above 90 degrees today. 

    While there, I must buy another $40 Metrocard as the one I have needs to be returned to the MTA to verify my problem.

    The required form asks for the number on the vending machine that took my money and gave me nothing in return.  I mean really, am I supposed to know this number?  The tollbooth man never mentioned I should get it.  And I am certainly not spending $5 on my new Metrocard to go to the station and find the number.

I am now out $120.  The MTA is in bad financial shape.  Even their website warns that getting a refund can take months.   There is probably one person over in Brooklyn who handles all refund requests. 

Tomorrow I leave for the Cape. Once there I get to drive.  I can’t wait.