My nice exciting state of the art plastic card Freedom Pass which I picked up
on third attempt earlier this year has somehow lost its magnetism. After a sort
of flickering half-life which meant pressing it on to the barrier reader
differently, or moving on to the next barrier, or asking the LT staff to let
you out, it has finally given up the ghost. Anybody else have trouble, or know
how common this is?
Anyway, acting on repeated urgings from station staff and bus crew, I took it
into the High Street post office this AM to get it changed, but the young lady
on the counter, after consulting seniors, said that I'd have to apply for a new
one, and gave me the application form.
I went back to the Post Office this afternoon with the completed form, the old
pass, and assorted documents to identify myself and prove my residence. On the
form I had ticked the box marked "Faulty" to explain why I wanted a new card.
After checking my documents, and ticking the appropriate bits on the form, the
clerk asked me for two passport-size photographs. I pointed out that I only
wanted my plastic oyster card replaced and there was no problem with the photo
ID card, but the person was adamant - telling me she needed a photo to put on
the application form as well as one for the card. She suggested I go up to
Woolworths up the road and get the new pix. I could not see why I should.
In the end, I asked her to give me back the old card, which she eventually did,
also giving me back the application form. I fail to see why I should go to the
trouble and expense of providing new photographs when it is not my fault that
the card was faulty. Besides, the form I provided first time had a photograph
so why should the authority need a new one and what would they do with it?
Could cause confusion in their files!
And, on re-examining the application form I find that as one might expect, it
instructs if you are renewing your freedom pass please bring your existing
card, if you are applying for your first freedom pass bring two photographs.
Makes sense.
I've e-mailed the alg, asking them for a letter confirming the pix aren't
needed and suggested they could also send a memo to the Post Office.
Anybody else have reliable information or experiences of this issue? Anybody
know how widespread the problem is of cards that don't work?