I've had no problem with mine.

Question:  Even if you have a valid transfer on the Q, you should/must tap when entering the Paid Fare Zone on the LRT?

Please put more people at the treasury window so users can transfer funds from their prepaid cards.  The lines are too long for working people to get this done during their lunch hour.  

You're kidding right? I haven't had a chance to use mine yet because the online system for ordering, registering, and charging is a broken piece of junk. It took 3 weeks and 2 phone calls to even get a card. When it came, it wasn't registered and no PIN was provided although everything you see online says otherwise. First phone call to get a PIN I was told to use the online "forgot password" option to get my PIN emailed to me--only to be told the EMAIL system was down and it couldn't be sent to me. I tried again a few hours later with the same results so I sent an email complaint. I got a call this morning to be told I had to call again for a PIN. Finally I got a PIN was able to log on. I tried to charge my card online. It took all my information and accepted my order--EXCEPT it never asked for my credit card info. Now my card is stuck in an un-rechargeable state because it already has an active order against it.

What flunky developer created this system--better yet--who did the quality control and who accepted it as ready for prime time? I can't wait to try and actually use my card. I'll be prepared with plenty of $1.00 bills a backup.

UNBELIEVABLE--no wait--this is METRO so it is totally believable. GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!!!

Metro has had over a year to get the Q-Card tested and should have had the online loading of the new cards working but evidently it is not.  They also should have had the online registration of the new cards working.  

They should have announced the roll out date earlier and the $500 limit so people would have been able to use up old SVC magnetic cards instead of standing in line for hours to transfer balances.

Mary Sit has been great at telling us how good the transition is going, but I am still waiting on answers to questions I posted days ago.  I was thanked for my patience but no answers are coming.

Why the $500 limit and can it be raised?  Mary Sit, are you looking into this?

I had some success with the Valero on main street,happy to report.  Was able to add $20 to my card which I will probably use for the first time in early Feb. The clerk had remembered me asking once before and was happy to be able to use the equipment, thought it was "soo coool" to see that my card had $6 on it and she could add $20.  So I am set for awhile.  

Thank you Mary Sit for the answer, although I don't agree with the $500 limit.  Having 2 cards is what I was planning on if the limit cannot be raised. The only minor problem I see with 2 cards is that the 55 rides for the cost of 50, only works per card.  So if I ride 49 times on card 1 then start using card 2, I'll have to ride another 50 times before I get the next 5 free.  The situation is resolved when I switch back to Card 1 and ride once and then get the next 5 free.

On a positive note, the advantage of 2 Q-Cards is if you loose Card 1 or it becomes unreadable, you have Card 2 to use on the train to go to 1900 Main to get a replacement for card 1 and you can use card 2 if it takes a few days to generate a replacement for Card 1.  

I expect Metro will have to wait for the end of the day to download the bus info to determine the balance that was on a lost Q-Card, so I don't think you will be able to go to 1900 Main the day your Q-Card is lost or broken and get a replacement on the spot.

If you come from Northwest Houston, from West Road Park and Ride, you usually pay $3.00 for your trip to the Medical Center.  You are suppose to get a free transfer right?  WRONG!  The 214 drops people off at the Northwest Transit Center in order to transfer on to the 298 TMC which is suppose to be free, however, the driver is still suppose to change the fare in order for your Q card to work properly.  Everytime you get on the 298 your Q card is charging people 50 cents for the transfer when it is suppose to be free.  When is this going to be corrected and how do we get a refund for all those extra charges to our Q card?

Tried using the Q card loader on 45 Tidwell to add money to my card for the first time. Put $5 in loader, While trying to figure out to put the card in, which took about 30 seconds, the machine did not add the $5.00, it kept the money. I called Metro's Q card help desk and spoke with someone young person who listened to my story and transferred me to Treasury and received a voice message to leave my name and number to be called back. Called right back to no avail.

My point is that when using the Reloader there obviously is a time frame limit when adding money. Please clarify this information, please.

Dominic Mazoch said:  "I've had no problem with mine.

Question:  Even if you have a valid transfer on the Q, you should/must tap when entering the Paid Fare Zone on the LRT?"

Good question there---unfortunately, I can't answer it.  No problems with mine, either.

I don't deal with any transfers now that I have the Q Card but I tap my Q Card EVERY TIME I either board the bus or before I board the train.  Even if I see that it didn't take anything off after the first (seeing that I'm still in the two-hour window), I still tap it.

Overall, I give this an "A-."

"Click here for the latest list of retailers."

Ummm---Mary?  Click where?  You may need to fix that---if you don't mind.  Thanks.

You need to tap entering the Paid Zone of the LRT.

I am not impressed with the service I have received.  I registered my card and still have not received a password.  24 hours had come and gone.  It was even moved up to a supervisor.  Metro is definitely not ready for the Q Card.  TWO people behind the window are you CRAZY......DO YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE WILL BE STANDING IN LINE......WAKE UP....

This whole "transfer balances only at the skeevy Main location" thing is a little inconvenient for those of us who RIDE THE BUS TO WORK and do not work ANYWHERE NEAR THE TERMINAL ON MAIN.  

No problems with boarding/charges and love the convenience - it obviously greatly expedites the boarding process.

When I bought the Q Card I expected that it would be similar to the "Smartcard" system I had used when living in Japan, including the ability to machine reload the card - but where are the machines?  Last week when I wanted to recharge my card there was no-one staffing the cashier window at NW transit center for at least the 15 minutes I had available at the time.  

I also registered online for the Qcard, but after 2.5 weeks with no confirmation, email or otherwise, decided to just buy one at the Valero.

I think most riders expected that the increase in fare that accompanies the Qcard would carry with it a more modern, automated, reliable, and convenient service.  The infrastructure to support this should have been in place when the card was rolled out to the general public Dec-Jan.  

Looks like a poorly managed implementation of a good technology.

Metro should have done this smart card like the toll-road authority and allowed the users to set up a credit card to feed into it when the balance got below a set threshold.  With the 1% cash back from some credit cards, the user might be able to get a small discount.

Hi,

I have a quick question.  I am considering metro as an option for my commute from Kingwood PR to Shell Woodcreek.  This route takes me on the 255 and then a transfer downtown to the 228.  Is this transfer free? I am assuming it is.  Also, what about on the way back, I am going from a zone three to a zone four, would I just need to the pay the difference?

Thanks.

I sent in my request for a card two weeks ago, and have yet to see or hear anything from METRO. If you think it will get better, then you probably bet on the Giants.

I am not able to find a clear explanation of the new Q-card fare structure or an explanation how it operates.

I take the 298 line from NWTC to TMC roundtrip everyday and currently use a Zone 3 30 day card @ $3 each way (not discounted).

1) Boarding at NWTC in the AM will the Q box indicate a $3 fare?

2) Boarding at TMC in the PM how will the system be set to charge me for the trip to NWTC ($3) rather than Kingsland ($3.50)?

3) And comparing the cost per mile for Kingsland - TMC to NWTC - TMC why is it $3?  Is the additional 12 miles (50% of the overall trip length) out to Kingsland only worth $.50?  Per mile the trip from NWTC to TMC should be closer to $2 to be proportional.

I ride the 246 commuter bus. The regular fare is $3.50, but I get a reverse commute (against rush hour) fare of $1.00. The lower fare will last until March 31. But not if you use a Q card. I got my Q card yesterday and was charged $7.00 for the round trip commute instead of the $2.00 I would have paid had I paid cash. Now I am trying to get the money I put in the Q card back since I will not be using the Q card before April when the fare goes up. Wish me luck.

Please inform the public: Q cards use the new fare structure. Cash uses the old fare structure until after March 31. If the new structure is higher for you (3.5x in my case), don't use the Q card yet!

Sorry, despite all the time METRO took, they got a whole lot of things wrong with this transition.

Well the cash alternative for me would be to take the 131 ($1) from NWTC to Preston Station and hop the rail.

This Q card may not have me for quite awhile.

I do applaud all the guinea pigs, er, early adopters...but would like to ask them- why?  

Knowing it would cost you more (simply by reading the website) you all went ahead and did it anyway.  Kudos for helping mankind in its endless struggle to stay out of the mud!

What a headache!  Metro nothing was broke.  Why did you try to fix it?

I say we need to boycott.  Any takers?

Quite frankly I'm getting ready to buy a high poluttin' animalbill.  For a federalized system to imply that it's doing the ridin' public a favor. By implying that this is the first increase in 13 years.

What a shame!  Anything runnin' on, Federal Gov't, land is handed out a bunch of Corporate Welfare.

The only differance is they do not have to stand in long lines to get their cheques.  Nor do they have to surrender every expense of their auntie's, mother's, cousin's, uncle's, grandma's niece, brother's preacher's wife's finances.

I'm here at the, "flat", if someone would like to holla' back.

                 Just keeping it real

                 'cause that just what I do.

                  Shari

SKJ2020HOUston@yahoo.com

title your comments, " Qcard

Debacle".  Otherwise I don't

wish to open any viruses.

P.S

Let's clear the D.A.'s office of liars.

Chuck gots'to go.  Let Chuck tinker with the Qcards. Instead of the emails in his office.  Hop 'Metro a bike or something.

He just needs to "raise up".

Response to 298Commuter - glad you could understand the web site, I sure had no idea that the Q card would not be programmed for the current fares, and I went to some effort. I'm not exactly an early adopter either, just got my Q card after my stored value card was used up this last Monday.

One of the most stressful aspects of the old system was I never knew for sure if the bus driver had the fare box set right. Periodically I would be overcharged. Some drivers got very irritated to be reminded I was a $1.00 customer. Last time I was overcharged was the second last time I used my stored value card.

With the new system there is no stress - I am overcharged 100% of the time. Both the old and new system are like handing Metro your wallet and asking meekly "please take the right amount of money out of my wallet". What other business operates that way?

To P&R Rider,

There is the subscription service.

With a subscription account, you set the amount you want added automatically to the card when the amount drops to a set limit.

To get a subscription account, you must register your card by calling METRO’s Customer Service Line at

713-635-4000.

Who do you contact when the Q-reloader on a bus isn't working?  I've spoted two busses in the last week with their q-reloaders flashing a red light on the bill intake and red light on the maing panel. Both were on the 19 Wilcrest route.  I don't remember both bus numbers, but one was #3312 out of West BOF and this happened on 2/6/2008.  I have no need of the q-reloader but I've seen them used a couple of times by others.

What kind of displays or other advertisements are being used to let patrons know the Q card can be reloaded at different stores like Velaro and such?

I go to a Valero at Briar Forest@Wilcrest (Valero#2615) several times a week and they're on the list of places to reload the Qcard.  If I didn't already know it though, there's no promotion at the store to let me know.   They do have a Qreloader machine, but it's behind the register and there's no sign that they do this service.  If METRO doesn't have vendors putting up displays no one is going to know where they can reload their cards.  There should be a sticker on the door or *somewhere* "reload your Q here".  If METRO is already doing this then this store isn't following this procedure.

Response to Timothy Wegner -

I agree!  I just checked the 298 bus schedule and found that picking up the bus at NWTC (I-10 & 610) costs the same as getting on at Kingsland ($3.5) yet is closer than the 216 which chgs only $2.50.  Screw Metro, I'm going to ride the 131 and catch the rail.

My old 298 fare was $84/month...the new fare will be 21X7 or $147.  I will not be raped by a gang of lying thieves.  Hell, for that amount I can drive and park.

Thanks for nothing Metro.

I have my Q card and have reloaded it on the bus once without any problems.  I am not riding the bus much at all anymore though since I can't afford to spend 6 dollars a day getting around. I have found the discontinuation of the day pass makes it difficult for me to get around to do anything anymore.  With the daypass ,  I could take my laundry to the laundrymat, go out again to the store, and maybe make a trip to the post office or bank.  Anyone who depends on the bus knows that you can't always just make one trip when you are carrying heavy things so all the Q card has done for me is make me less mobile.

Is anyone else having trouble with their Q card? I have to run mine past the scanner thing several times to get it to scan. I have hardly used it and it isn't scratched but it is not scanning to well.