In message
, at
03:21:18 on Tue, 3 Jan 2012, SB remarked:
This from Boston. The CharlieCard is an Oyster-type pre-paid cardcard
used in Boston. Ditto Octopus in HKG.

Subject: Expiring CharlieCards causing confusion and frustration

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/201...iecards-causin
g-confusion-and-frustration/aCFuYJF2erbu5072enGKFI/story.html?s_campaign
=8315

For frequent riders, the expiration proves largely invisible: Their
cards get an automatic software upgrade, and two-year extension, when
swiped. But irregular riders may find themselves suddenly unable to use
their plastic CharlieCard. ..

A few weeks ago, reader Irene Gruenfeld of Sudbury and her husband took
their 5-year-old twins on a stroll through the city with a promise of a
Red Line ride from Charles/MGH back to their car in South Boston. They
had more than $10 on each of their cards, but the station gates failed
to open, displaying an "expired'' message. The vending machines
presented similarly cryptic information. No staff was present, forcing
them to buy the paper CharlieTickets spit out by the machine, which
cost 30 cents more per ride.

When the CharlieCard was introduced, five years was the industry
standard for the still-emerging smartcard technology. Manufacturers at
the time recommended a programmed "sunset date'' to stave off problems
that might arise from frequently used cards nearing the end of their
useful life, he said. As it became clear the cards could last longer,
more recently issued CharlieCards have been given sunset dates of 10
years. Most of the 6 million issued have the longer lifespan, he said.

Quite a few of Nottingham's "Cityrider" bus smartcards unexpectedly
stopped working on 1st Jan 2010 (not noticed until 2nd Jan as there was
no bus service on the 1st). Once alerted to this, they issued people
with new cards and transferred the credit while allowing passengers who
had a broken card to travel for free (this seems an important aspect!)
--
Roland Perry