realizm Posted September 7, 2014 Share #1 Posted September 7, 2014 SEPTEMBER 5, 2014 We’ve all been there. The train is coming into the station, and you grab your MetroCard and quickly try and swipe it at a turnstile. "Please Swipe Again". "Please Swipe Again". "Insufficient Fare". The last two words are killer. You think to yourself “I swear I had a balance on this card”. You go and check the card out and you see you have “$2.45”. Yes, you need $2.50 to ride the subway, and you have $2.45 on your MetroCard. Sure enough you miss that train all because of that nickel. How did you end up in that situation any way? It turns out the MTA has designed it that way. Imagine how many tourists come to NYC and leave with balances that never get used. Imagine how many people lose metro cards with those balances that never get used. And even if it gets used on a later refill, the MTA gets to collect the cash earlier this way! Win win for them, right? But now, with some simple math, you can fight back! First, let’s see how the MTA tricks you out of your money earlier than you might want to release it to them. When you are buying a MetroCard, you can get a 5% bonus if your purchase is big enough. So you get the following screen early on in the purchase process: More in a complete step by step tutorial with graphs (!) can be found by clicking here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
QM1to6Ave Posted September 7, 2014 Share #2 Posted September 7, 2014 TO be fair, the MTA makes the pre-filled cards you purchase in a convenience store in the outer boroughs come with those amounts that leave nothing left over, e.g. $19.05, and you avoid the $1 fee if you purchase those cards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobtehpanda Posted September 7, 2014 Share #3 Posted September 7, 2014 (Or, if you're a "real" New Yorker who actually uses the subway on a regular basis, you could just not care and refill it every time you're about to run out, or buy a weekly or monthly pass...) The only people this really hurts are people who take the MTA on a very sparing basis and tourists. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
peacemak3r Posted September 7, 2014 Share #4 Posted September 7, 2014 I don't see how this is news to so many people. I've been using calculators searched through Google to find out what I need to make things even. Furthermore, I frankly can care less on the odd funds also! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sparen of Iria Posted September 7, 2014 Share #5 Posted September 7, 2014 All I care about is when they say "Please Swipe Again" and then they charge you double. But this is very, very helpful. Thanks for posting it! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kamen Rider Posted September 7, 2014 Share #6 Posted September 7, 2014 Or you could try to actually keep track of what's on your card. Top it off once a week if you feel the need.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realizm Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share #7 Posted September 7, 2014 The reasons mentioned by all is exactly the reason I stick with 7 day unlimited cards, out of necessity. Always putting time instead of multiple fares on the card. I save a heck of alot of money that way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brighton Express Posted September 7, 2014 Share #8 Posted September 7, 2014 All I care about is when they say "Please Swipe Again" and then they charge you double. But this is very, very helpful. Thanks for posting it! Haha wow I never thought that this was possible. Unfortunate. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Union Tpke Posted September 7, 2014 Share #9 Posted September 7, 2014 Thanks so much realizm! I have a few metrocards with obscure amounts that this could help for! Every penny counts! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted September 7, 2014 Share #10 Posted September 7, 2014 This is another reason I try to buy the Unlimited Express Bus card. It's a PITA to have odd amounts on your card. I do try to keep a backup card just in case I forget to fill up, but usually I fill up for one week, and then fill up again when I've broken in the first pass, this way I have my two week pass. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realizm Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share #11 Posted September 7, 2014 This is another reason I try to buy the Unlimited Express Bus card. It's a PITA to have odd amounts on your card. I do try to keep a backup card just in case I forget to fill up, but usually I fill up for one week, and then fill up again when I've broken in the first pass, this way I have my two week pass. One time a station manager at my stop somehow took two of my metrocards with odd fares on it and made it an even amount. A station agent one time actually replaced an unlimited card that had a error when I just purchased it saving me the trouble of having to send it for a refund by mail. So I'm fortunate in that regard if I end up with that problem. But yes totally best way to go unless one is on an extremely tight budget is to just get the unlimited card and avoid this mess to begin with. Some also add an additional 5 dollars on their unlimited card for the same reason you hold on to two metrocards in case the 7 or 30 day passes expire on you unexpectedly. Plus the money adds up while they have time already on the card anyway and end up with a free fare. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted September 7, 2014 Share #12 Posted September 7, 2014 One time a station manager at my stop somehow took two of my metrocards with odd fares on it and made it an even amount. A station agent one time actually replaced an unlimited card that had a error when I just purchased it saving me the trouble of having to send it for a refund by mail. So I'm fortunate in that regard if I end up with that problem. But yes totally best way to go unless one is on an extremely tight budget is to just get the unlimited card and avoid this mess to begin with. Actually that's how you can get the odd amounts taken care of is by going to a station agent and having them combine cards. You can't do that at a MVM though which is annoying. I like having a receipt for my purchases, not only to cover me in case I lose the card, but also for tax write-offs at the end of the year, so if it's just a few cents I let it go. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
realizm Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share #13 Posted September 7, 2014 Actually that's how you can get the odd amounts taken care of is by going to a station agent and having them combine cards. You can't do that at a MVM though which is annoying. I like having a receipt for my purchases, not only to cover me in case I lose the card, but also for tax write-offs at the end of the year, so if it's just a few cents I let it go. That too. I keep my reciepts because the metrocards itself have errors on it (The magnetic strip). Usually if there is an error at the turnstile it will tell you see the station agent or it will just say insufficient fare. This actually happened to me a few times. Tax writeoffs, got to look into that now that you reminded me. Thanks so much realizm! I have a few metrocards with obscure amounts that this could help for! Every penny counts! Your quite welcome! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Via Garibaldi 8 Posted September 7, 2014 Share #14 Posted September 7, 2014 That too. I keep my reciepts because the metrocards itself have errors on it (The magnetic strip). Usually if there is an error at the turnstile it will tell you see the station agent or it will just say insufficient fare. This actually happened to me a few times. Tax writeoffs, got to look into that now that you reminded me. If you have a side business (i.e. independent consultant as I am) then you can write off your transportation expenses where applicable... The trade off is you usually pay your tax preparer more as you'll file as a business as opposed to a filing just your personal income taxes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YankeesPwnMets Posted September 7, 2014 Share #15 Posted September 7, 2014 This just reminds of the time when my mom worked at a hotel. In addition to cash as tips, many tourists left their MetroCards (with leftover funds) as well. I remember my mom bringing home cards that had anywhere from $10 to a full 7 days left on them (back when the 14 day unlimited existed) But seriously, this is nothing more than easy math. I always keep around an $11.90 Metro as a supplement to my Unlimited 30 day card. Like one of the posters before said, this really only affects tourists and people who mainly drive or walk. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m7zanr160s Posted September 8, 2014 Share #16 Posted September 8, 2014 I think adding a quarter (25 cents) to a bonus amount ups the total by a penny. I did that until my total was divisible by 5. Once that happens, I just add change - under the bonus amount - to make it divisible by 25; problem solved. After that, I just put straight even amounts on my card, so it's always divisible by 5. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheKorean Posted September 9, 2014 Share #17 Posted September 9, 2014 (Or, if you're a "real" New Yorker who actually uses the subway on a regular basis, you could just not care and refill it every time you're about to run out, or buy a weekly or monthly pass...) The only people this really hurts are people who take the MTA on a very sparing basis and tourists. I take subway everyday and for me montly passes arent ecnomical vs filling up cards regularly, since I only swap two times a day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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