Los Angeles Metro Steals My Money!

How to Buy and Reload a TAP Card

The concept of having a prepaid card is not new to me. My full-charge bookkeeper mother used to find such things silly and loathsome; they hold onto your money while it's doing nothing for you (i.e., gaining interest). I shrug and say that I am offered discounted travel with the card so they can have some cash reserve for me.

Well, guess what. If the card isn't used in 30 days, the money disappears off the balance. Just goes straight to $0. I have called up to complain and have been told that if the card is inactive, this is what the program does. To make matters worse, they say that they will put in a request / order to have the card reloaded, but this takes two to three BUSINESS DAYS.

I tell this clerk that that is of no use to me NOW since it is NOW that I want to ride public transit. She tells me to check the fare two or three days in advance. I tell the b*tch that I don't know when I will use public transit until the moment that I need it. I do not check the balance of my card on a daily basis and I do not care to wait for customer service to get on the phone.

This is an UNACCEPTABLE practice. I have written to customer service and they don't really much care. It's the way the computer program is programmed.

To use the vernacular, "F**k that S**T!" I don't know to whom I should complain. I would gladly write to the TIMES, but I also think there must be some larger transit authority that oversees Los Angeles Metro... like the Department of Transportation?

I'm at the end ofy my rope with these clowns

.....

So on my latest email rant to them, I told them that my money was being stolen from me and that is an illegal action in this country (whether it is or isn't is irrelevant to me... I say it is so I say it's so). I used the example of what the world would be like if I didn't make deposits or withdrawals to my savings account. Would Americans allow a bank to zero out everyone's account and tell them that their funds are not available unless they make a transaction. If they don't / can't, the account will be 'reloaded' but it will take 2-3 business days to access the funds.

I told them want I want my money back. They told me all sales are final. I told them I would send my story to the LOS ANGELES TIMES AND to the District Attorney's office. I'm sure Legal Aid would have a field day with this. So, for now, my refund is pending and--of course--my funds are not available to me. Ain't that some sh*t ?