Kevin Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 The readers also now say "Tap Below" instead of "Tap Card". https://twitter.com/240front/status/396724971004645376 Here's a shot of the new "Processing" screen. https://twitter.com/240front/status/396725582257340416 No improvements for reliability, apparently. https://twitter.com/240front/status/396726504651907072 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted November 2, 2013 Report Share Posted November 2, 2013 Hmmm I didn't even notice the screens now say "Tap below". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 In reading all this, it seems that the Class Action lawsuit has been forgotten: lots of gripes but no wanting to join the suit. I'm attaching the Plaintiff's Motion. Take a quick read over it and see if anyone has experienced similar problems.Plaintiff's Motion for class certification_Pleading.pdf Like, I'm no lawyer, but all of the stories in the Trib and Sun Times yesterday saying people were being double, triple, quadruple billed for one fare- doesn't this sort of prove the allegations? Stuff like this takes time. It is questionable whether the defendants have been served yet. Then they get 30 days to answer. Also, a class action is the opposite of what you think. Other aggrieved parties get notice whether they want to opt out, not that they have to join. As I noted earlier, the Ventra records are going to be audited, either because CTA said it eventually will, or because the plaintiff's attorney is entitled to discovery of them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 "New CTA Ventra problems arise ‘every day’ — unlike live phone help" http://www.suntimes.com/news/23480068-418/new-cta-ventra-problems-arise-every-day-unlike-live-phone-help.html CTA spokeswoman Tammy Chase said “There’s never been a discussion to have call [representatives] on the weekend.” When the company where I used to work was taken over, the first thing they said was "we can't limit customer service to 9 to 5 Eastern time, but have to have it when the customers need it." That was over 20 years ago. The article also raises the issue that if the call centers are in California and Tennessee (but at least not in Mumbai), there weren't any jobs created in Illinois, even though CTA urinated away $450 million on this. Pat Quinn won't be happy. And his appointee Jackie Grimshaw is again clueless. Why is she on the CTA Board, if she didn't know about the Lincoln cutback until too late, and didn't know anything about Cubic's performance of the contract? Finally, why hasn't Tammy Chase been fired already? Her b.s. to the media isn't helping. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Ok, let's lighten the tone of this thread here for a minute... I found this great pic of two transit enthusiasts(or two people just wanting to dress up for Halloween and couldn't figure what to be) on the people of the CTA site. Anyhow, it's interesting because of the caption "Who Wins This Fight?" with one dressed as a disposable CTA Transit Card and the other as a Ventra Card. Share your thoughts. This is just a little icebreaker here. Something to lighten things a bit... Who Wins This Fight? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 .... Who Wins This Fight? Who is paying off the ref? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Ok, let's lighten the tone of this thread here for a minute... I found this great pic of two transit enthusiasts(or two people just wanting to dress up for Halloween and couldn't figure what to be) on the people of the CTA site. Anyhow, it's interesting because of the caption "Who Wins This Fight?" with one dressed as a disposable CTA Transit Card and the other as a Ventra Card. Share your thoughts. This is just a little icebreaker here. Something to lighten things a bit... Who Wins This Fight? Apparently your post didn't work on one so far. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owine Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Glad to see the processing overlay added to the Ventra readers. I think that will go a long way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owine Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Stuff like this takes time. It is questionable whether the defendants have been served yet. Then they get 30 days to answer. Also, a class action is the opposite of what you think. Other aggrieved parties get notice whether they want to opt out, not that they have to join. As I noted earlier, the Ventra records are going to be audited, either because CTA said it eventually will, or because the plaintiff's attorney is entitled to discovery of them. Maybe we should wait for a judge to certify this as a class action suit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owine Posted November 3, 2013 Report Share Posted November 3, 2013 Ok, let's lighten the tone of this thread here for a minute... I found this great pic of two transit enthusiasts(or two people just wanting to dress up for Halloween and couldn't figure what to be) on the people of the CTA site. Anyhow, it's interesting because of the caption "Who Wins This Fight?" with one dressed as a disposable CTA Transit Card and the other as a Ventra Card. Share your thoughts. This is just a little icebreaker here. Something to lighten things a bit... Who Wins This Fight? If Ventra can stay in the fight until December, it will win by default. And those earrings might make the transit card top heavy and vulnerable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 WGN TV news just had that "Emanuel is going to put the heat under the Ventra contractor." (earlier story). I bet they are quaking in their boots, now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I'm not going to be a Chicagoianrazzi, but I was waiting for a Brown Line train at Kedzie and noticed again, what I saw in the past. -I noticed a male passenger quick tap his Ventra Card at the turnstile only to get the "STOP" screen. He quick tapped again... "STOP". On the third time, he tapped and held there for about three seconds... "GO". Was he double or triple-charged because of this??? Only this customer will know when he checks his account. This, to me, seems to be the biggest issue with Ventra... customers need to know how to use the card properly. It's fast, but not wave and go fast. A lot of people think that it takes a half second to one second and they're done with the card. Even a #78 Bus Operator said that many quick tap and head to the back, only to get the "STOP" screen and the Operator has to yell for them to come back up and try again. Three seconds is not that long... that's pretty fast!!! It takes about five seconds to process a Debit/Credit order on the registers and about ten to twelve seconds to process a personal check(provided info updates and issues don't arise). I wish it only took three seconds to process Credit/Debit and Check orders at the store... we'd be faster than our competition!!! Bottom line from my observations... Ventra is only as difficult as you, the customer, make it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chicagolooper Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 As a follow-up to my post of 1 Nov. (#905) where I indicated that someone would be getting back to me to address my refund issue: This morning, I did receive a call from Ventra Customer Service and the person was very polite and patient. She verified my account information and indicated that a credit would be applied to my account. I checked just now.....and there it is. So I am happy. I will be very careful when tapping the card going forward and not so quickly move to another machine to tap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 ... Bottom line from my observations... Ventra is only as difficult as you, the customer, make it. Read above what Emanuel just said. I'm sure Safeway didn't get away with having that attitude of its customers. Ask about the 8000 about to be laid off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Read above what Emanuel just said. I'm sure Safeway didn't get away with having that attitude of its customers. Ask about the 8000 about to be laid off. Local 881 is working on this. Three stores are slated to become Jewel or Jewel-Osco. Those employees in those three stores will be changed over from Dominick's to Jewel... like the one employee said "I'll get a different shirt to wear." The others that will be closed down(btw, before Christmas, so there's a nice present for those affected), I'm sure they'll find places for them in the three stores being transformed, move them to other Jewel stores, or another buyer will transfer them over to their employees. There's three possibilities. I don't think it'll just be "severance package and have a nice life." Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Local 881 is working on this. Three stores are slated to become Jewel or Jewel-Osco. Those employees in those three stores will be changed over from Dominick's to Jewel... like the one employee said "I'll get a different shirt to wear." The others that will be closed down(btw, before Christmas, so there's a nice present for those affected), I'm sure they'll find places for them in the three stores being transformed, move them to other Jewel stores, or another buyer will transfer them over to their employees. There's three possibilities. I don't think it'll just be "severance package and have a nice life." That is OT, but I have a neighborhood Dominick's store (I knew that was in trouble when it became a subject of a Walmart attack ad), that I don't think anyone is going to buy. The usual subjects already have stores in the area. I wonder if anyone picked up the closed Jewel store across from the Walmart on Golf Rd. But my point was...if you assume it is the customers' fault, you go out of business...that is unless your customers are stuck with CTA as their only alternative. Then Tammy Chase and Brian Steele think it is o.k. to be stuck on the phone for a half hour, but apparently their ultimate boss doesn't think so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rippler Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I'm not going to be a Chicagoianrazzi, but I was waiting for a Brown Line train at Kedzie and noticed again, what I saw in the past. -I noticed a male passenger quick tap his Ventra Card at the turnstile only to get the "STOP" screen. He quick tapped again... "STOP". On the third time, he tapped and held there for about three seconds... "GO". Was he double or triple-charged because of this??? Only this customer will know when he checks his account. This, to me, seems to be the biggest issue with Ventra... customers need to know how to use the card properly. It's fast, but not wave and go fast. A lot of people think that it takes a half second to one second and they're done with the card. Even a #78 Bus Operator said that many quick tap and head to the back, only to get the "STOP" screen and the Operator has to yell for them to come back up and try again. Three seconds is not that long... that's pretty fast!!! It takes about five seconds to process a Debit/Credit order on the registers and about ten to twelve seconds to process a personal check(provided info updates and issues don't arise). I wish it only took three seconds to process Credit/Debit and Check orders at the store... we'd be faster than our competition!!! Bottom line from my observations... Ventra is only as difficult as you, the customer, make it. Would anyone expect a "new and improved" system to be slower than what they've been using for many years with the current Chicago Cards/Plus? I sure wouldn't. Using my old card triggered a near instantaneous green "enter" when I quickly touched my card to the front of the turnstyle and kept moving, you didn't even have to stop for it, just keep walking through the turnstyle while you touched the card to the front. Now apparently you need to stand there for a few seconds holding the card in position. It doesn't make sense why it would be slower. And if they don't give you those specific instructions when they send or sell you a card, why would anyone expect the use of the card to be any different than before? We should be able to do a quick tap, get a quick response, and go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Busjack Posted November 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Would anyone expect a "new and improved" system to be slower than what they've been using for many years with the current Chicago Cards/Plus?... If speeding up boarding (given such former efforts as the Go Lane) was supposed to be the objective, the answer has to be no. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Now apparently you need to stand there for a few seconds holding the card in position. It doesn't make sense why it would be slower. And if they don't give you those specific instructions when they send or sell you a card, why would anyone expect the use of the card to be any different than before? We should be able to do a quick tap, get a quick response, and go. I agree, Rippler. But I've been observing the various Ventra Card holders that press and hold for three seconds and those that tap for one second or less and go. Those that hold get a "GO" unless there is an issue with the card(no pass, not enough fare). Those that tap rarely get the "GO". Most get the "STOP" and keep getting it until they hold it for three seconds. You can make this into a rhyme or even a slogan to make people know how to properly use their Ventra Cards: "Hold, you go. Tap, you come back".© sw4400 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
owine Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Unlike what others have said, my transaction this morning was much faster on a reader updated with the "Tap Below" and "Processing" screens. From tap to processing was near instantaneous and maybe 3/4 of a second later I had the Go sign. Granted, I have been doing the tap and hold which is why I have had success paying my fares. I wonder if quick taps work better now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Unlike what others have said, my transaction this morning was much faster on a reader updated with the "Tap Below" and "Processing" screens. From tap to processing was near instantaneous and maybe 3/4 of a second later I had the Go sign. Granted, I have been doing the tap and hold which is why I have had success paying my fares. I wonder if quick taps work better now. Not that I've seen. Kedzie Brown Line had those "Tap Below" and "Processing" screens. You still need to do the tap and hold. I'll visualize it this way... when you put a Flash Drive or SD Card into your computer, it takes a few seconds to read and put the info on the screen. It takes the Ventra Readers a few seconds to bring up your Transit Balance and Unlimited-Ride Period Passes and deduct/use what is available. No computer or machine can process in a fraction of a second. Even Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus users tried this back in the day and I remember Bus Operators calling them back up to tap again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jajuan Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I'm one of those quick tappers and haven't really had problems to date. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sw4400 Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 I'm one of those quick tappers and haven't really had problems to date. You're lucky or you tap and keep it close enough until it says "GO". Every quick tapper I've seen on the buses or at rail stations get the "STOP" until they slow it down a bit. Another example of going too fast here goes back to the Credit/Debit Cards at the store. Sometimes, customers swipe them so quickly through the reader that they say "Please Swipe Again". They always tell me it's the machine and hand it to me to try. I swipe it slower and it says "Processing". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BiT Posted November 4, 2013 Report Share Posted November 4, 2013 Would anyone expect a "new and improved" system to be slower than what they've been using for many years with the current Chicago Cards/Plus? I sure wouldn't. Using my old card triggered a near instantaneous green "enter" when I quickly touched my card to the front of the turnstyle and kept moving, you didn't even have to stop for it, just keep walking through the turnstyle while you touched the card to the front. Now apparently you need to stand there for a few seconds holding the card in position. It doesn't make sense why it would be slower. And if they don't give you those specific instructions when they send or sell you a card, why would anyone expect the use of the card to be any different than before? We should be able to do a quick tap, get a quick response, and go. The only thing missing on CC/CC Plus was the MasterCard logo- and that's why it was changed, period: the CTA gets 50% of all "fees" from making purchases with Ventra- look at Ventra's logo (CTA Pace and little Shopping Bag). hhhhhhhmmmmmmmmmm- doesn't take a rocket scientist to see where this is going and why. That's probably why they made the announcement about no fare increases for next year- paid for by poor folks who can't pay otherwise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Amtrak41 Posted November 5, 2013 Report Share Posted November 5, 2013 I don't know Chicago politics well enough to know if this is a dog and pony show to show they care, or something of use: http://www.suntimes.com/23539960-761/aldermen-want-council-hearings-on-ctas-ventra-card-problems.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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