OMNY Implementation/Metro-Card Retirement Discussion Thread

[mikecintel]

Hi Everyone,

FINALLY! I got my OMNY cards (3 of them) from the Bowling Green OMNY machines.  My experience is easy but I ran into problems the 1st and the 3rd try. This should not be hard but I am so use to pay with my credit card with the Metro Card machine that the OMNY machine is a little bit different.   The first time I put my credit card in it got an error and I thought it is like the Metro Card where you put your credit card in and then take it out and then put your Zip code. That is NOT the case with the OMNY vending machines. After you put the card in "Reading card do not remove" There is a animation circle that keeps spinning like on the computer Windows when you click on the application to load.  After I removed my credit card it says "Failed Transaction" and then it prints a receipt out.  The Status says "Unable to Issues (2D).  At the bottom of the receipt it says "Credit Card Charge Reversed". We apologize for this inconvenience.  Please try another vending machine or keep this receipt and contact customer service at 877-789-6669 for support.  Then on my 3rd purchase I got another "Failed Transaction" and it says "The Status" it states "Payment Error (2e).  I haven't tried the tap on my credit card so I am guess if there is a problem it will be the same error as what I stated.  Another difference is between the OMNY machine and the Metro Card is it DOES NOT ASK for the ZIP code anymore on the OMNY machine.

[7-express]

On 11/14/2023 at 1:47 PM, QM1to6Ave said:

I know tbey had concerns about people being stalked from their history, but with a password protected account, this should be less of an issue and they can restore it (maybe add in 2 factor auth or something if worried)

Yeah it just seems like they need to add in an additional authentication step that verifies that you have a valid account linked to a particular card and then another type for customer support to view all transactions.  Doesn't seem like rocket science but it will probably take a while for them to rebuild since it wasn't originally specced out and will need to go through many levels of testing and validation before being rolled out again.  I don't expect to see it back till the end of next year if I was a betting person.

[QM1to6Ave]

6 minutes ago, 7-express said:

Yeah it just seems like they need to add in an additional authentication step that verifies that you have a valid account linked to a particular card and then another type for customer support to view all transactions.  Doesn't seem like rocket science but it will probably take a while for them to rebuild since it wasn't originally specced out and will need to go through many levels of testing and validation before being rolled out again.  I don't expect to see it back till the end of next year if I was a betting person.

So irritating!

[rbrome]

On 11/17/2023 at 1:09 PM, mikecintel said:

The first time I put my credit card in it got an error and I thought it is like the Metro Card where you put your credit card in and then take it out and then put your Zip code. That is NOT the case with the OMNY vending machines. After you put the card in "Reading card do not remove" ... Another difference is between the OMNY machine and the Metro Card is it DOES NOT ASK for the ZIP code anymore on the OMNY machine.

Then it's exactly like pretty much any ATM or other payment terminal in the US. They used to read the magnetic stripe; now they read the chip. The card needs to stay in to read the chip. The chip is much more reliable, more secure, and more difficult to duplicate. That's why they don't need the zip code. 

[mikecintel]

42 minutes ago, rbrome said:

Then it's exactly like pretty much any ATM or other payment terminal in the US. They used to read the magnetic stripe; now they read the chip. The card needs to stay in to read the chip. The chip is much more reliable, more secure, and more difficult to duplicate. That's why they don't need the zip code. 

Thank you for the explanation.  But on the Metro Card machine I put it in with chip too and why does it ask for me the Zip code on that machine.  It should be like the OMNY Vending machine where it doesn't ask for Zip Code too.

Edited November 22, 2023 by mikecintel

[mikecintel]

Anyone in this forum still use Metro Card besides me?  I am still using it because I need it for 30 days unlimited.  Currently the OMNY does have have 30 unlimited fare cap.  I travel from Queens to go to Brooklyn and wake up 4AM in the morning to catch my 5AM bus and take the subway go get to Brooklyn for my 8AM shift-4PM shift.  For one day I would be $11.60 a day,  So it would be $58.00 a week.  Right now I work remote one day so it would be $46.40 a week.  So that is why I need a 30 day unlimited card.   I think they will make OMNY a 30 day cap soon when all the 472 station installed OMNY machines.  Anyway my question is when refill your 7 days or unlimited card or pay per ride card do you see on EVERY Metro Card vending machines it states "Single Rides Ticket Only"?  Just last week I need to refill my 30 unlimited Metro Card every machine says "Single Rides Ticket Only". There was ONLY ONE machine that does the regular refilling your Metro Card and to trade in your Metro Card.  Does anyone know what is going on with the Metro Card machines.  I do understand that the MTA will get ride of the Metro Machine fast but now it really hard to try to buy or refill a Metro Card.  This was just recent that I discovered that I had a problem.  So I still have 111 Metro Card left when I find a Metro Card machine that works I will refill all the 11 Metro Card up.  When time is up and we can't use the Metro Card anymore then I will go to the MTA Headquarters at 3 Stone street and I will return all my unused Metro Cards and I will get a refund.  I called up the MTA today and ask the same question about the Single Ride Ticket and  obviously they said the magic word "I don't know" so it's no use calling them at all.

Edited December 5, 2023 by mikecintel

[mikecintel]

PATH Contactless testing begins TODAY 12-5-2023!

For those of you who take the PATH now they will begging TODAY 12-5-23:

https://www.amny.com/news/port-authority-unveils-new-contactless-payment-system-for-path-train-dubbed-tapp/

Port Authority unveils new contactless payment system for PATH Train, dubbed ‘TAPP’

The Port Authority will introduce its new tap-to-pay fare system for the PATH Train to commuters this week, testing new turnstiles equipped with the technology that the agency has appropriately dubbed “TAPP.”

TAPP, which stands for “Total Access PATH Payment,” will be deployed starting Tuesday, Dec. 5, on five PATH turnstiles at 33rd Street in Manhattan and Journal Square in Jersey City for a “real-world test” of contactless payment for the mass transit service connecting New York and New Jersey.

“This pilot program will allow us to put our new TAPP system through its paces before we roll it out to more stations and eventually systemwide,” said Rick Cotton, the Port Authority’s executive director. “We are eager to move forward to make the TAPP tap-and-go fare payment system available to PATH riders as soon as possible.”

TAPP will allow commuters to pay the PATH fare, which costs $2.75, by tapping their credit card, debit card, or the digital wallet on their phone, similar to the MTA’s OMNY system. Currently, PATH accepts payments via MetroCard or its dedicated SmartLink card, which riders can tap on a reader affixed to the turnstile.

Assuming the pilot goes well, the Port Authority plans to deploy TAPP to all of the PATH’s turnstiles over the following eighteen months. Riders will still be able to pay with a MetroCard or SmartLink card for a while afterward.

TAPP was developed and is being installed by Cubic, the California firm that also developed the MetroCard, SmartLink, and OMNY. The Port Authority inked a $100 million contract with Cubic in 2021 to develop the new contactless payment system.

In 2019, the Port Authority said it was in talks with the MTA to adopt OMNY on the PATH train, integrating the two rapid transit providers. But a spokesperson for the Port Authority said Monday that it opted to pursue its own contactless system because agency honchos were uncertain when OMNY would be expanded beyond the MTA’s borders.

“Given the MTA’s pending phase-out of the Metrocard — accepted across the PATH system — the Port Authority made it a priority to have a tap-and-go payment system installed as soon as possible,” the spokesperson said. “For cost-efficiency and timeline certainty, we contracted directly with the same technology provider that OMNY uses, Cubic, which will also make it easier to address future maintenance issues.”

OMNY was first introduced to the MTA in 2019, and was installed on all city buses and subway turnstiles by the end of 2020. The MTA doesn’t intend to fully phase out the MetroCard for at least 18 months, agency honchos said in October.

In October, the Port Authority began installing OMNY readers on the JFK AirTrain, which connects to the subway and Long Island Rail Road.

The contactless machine looks "exactly" like OMNY except the word is changed from OMNY to TAPP.

Edited December 5, 2023 by mikecintel

[ABOGbrooklyn]

So OMNY will be for

NYC Transit/Bus

LIRR

Metro North

Roosevelt Island Tram, and Bus?

AirTrain

Access A Ride

NICE Bus and BeeLine Bus

And maybe NYC Ferry?

 

PATH to use TAPP

And NJT/Bus to use their own proprietary payment as well..

 

Edited December 6, 2023 by ABOGbrooklyn

[mikecintel]

38 minutes ago, ABOGbrooklyn said:

So OMNY will be for

NYC Transit/Bus

LIRR

Metro North

Roosevelt Island Tram, and Bus?

AirTrain

Access A Ride

NICE Bus and BeeLine Bus

And maybe NYC Ferry?

 

PATH to use TAPP

And NJT/Bus to use their own proprietary payment as well..

 

Yes OMNY will be for the things mention above and "MAYBE" for the NYC Ferry.  They didn't say there will be OMNY for Ferry.  If they did have it for the Ferry that would be wonderful.  Yes Path will us TAPP. NJ transit buses has their own proprietary payment.  I don't think you are missing anything else unless IF they have something new then we would know.

[Chris89292]

On 12/4/2023 at 9:16 PM, mikecintel said:

Anyone in this forum still use Metro Card besides me?  I am still using it because I need it for 30 days unlimited.  Currently the OMNY does have have 30 unlimited fare cap.  I travel from Queens to go to Brooklyn and wake up 4AM in the morning to catch my 5AM bus and take the subway go get to Brooklyn for my 8AM shift-4PM shift.  For one day I would be $11.60 a day,  So it would be $58.00 a week.  Right now I work remote one day so it would be $46.40 a week.  So that is why I need a 30 day unlimited card.   I think they will make OMNY a 30 day cap soon when all the 472 station installed OMNY machines.  Anyway my question is when refill your 7 days or unlimited card or pay per ride card do you see on EVERY Metro Card vending machines it states "Single Rides Ticket Only"?  Just last week I need to refill my 30 unlimited Metro Card every machine says "Single Rides Ticket Only". There was ONLY ONE machine that does the regular refilling your Metro Card and to trade in your Metro Card.  Does anyone know what is going on with the Metro Card machines.  I do understand that the MTA will get ride of the Metro Machine fast but now it really hard to try to buy or refill a Metro Card.  This was just recent that I discovered that I had a problem.  So I still have 111 Metro Card left when I find a Metro Card machine that works I will refill all the 11 Metro Card up.  When time is up and we can't use the Metro Card anymore then I will go to the MTA Headquarters at 3 Stone street and I will return all my unused Metro Cards and I will get a refund.  I called up the MTA today and ask the same question about the Single Ride Ticket and  obviously they said the magic word "I don't know" so it's no use calling them at all.

I still use a metro card because there is limited amount of omny vending machines near by,, one at junction Blvd  but too lazy to go there, and I’m not willing to go to cvs or Walgreens to buy an omny card

[mikecintel]

7 hours ago, Chris89292 said:

I still use a metro card because there is limited amount of omny vending machines near by,, one at junction Blvd  but too lazy to go there, and I’m not willing to go to cvs or Walgreens to buy an omny card

I see. Right now it's only $1 to buy an OMNY card so I would buy right now because when they raise the price to buy them it's too late. Get it now while it's only $1.

[mikecintel]

I have called MTA to see when the Metro Card machines to be taken away and the rep that I spoke with she stated Feb 20,2024 and that will be when ALL OMNY machines will be in all 472 subway station.  So that means the Metro Vending Machines will be taking away then.  That is strange because in 2 months they will have it in all subway stations?  MTA is very slow at doing things so I am kind of surprise what she told me that. Then she transferred me to OMNY support.  I asked that same question and the supervisor said it will be in 2024 but "we don't have a set date" when the OMNY machines be in all subway but it will be "by mid 2024" it will be in all subway stations.  Then I said then why did the rep said Feb 20,2024 and he said that "We PLAN to have it all out on by then".  Then he said after all the OMNY Machines are at 472 you can still use the Metro Card for "some time" and then it will be all OMNY. I even asked when will there be a 30 day cap for the monthly and he said "we did not roll out that yet" but we will "mirror" the Metro Card 30 unlimited day.  Then  I asked him will it be like how the 7 day cap is and he said we don't know because it is not rolled out yet.

Feb 2024 is not the middle of 2024.  I also asked the OMNY supervisor when the Reduce Fare OMNY physical calls will be mailed out.  I said the last time i called they said before the end of 2023 and now he said "we don't have a set date when we are going to mail out the Reduce Fare OMNY physical card" BUT it should be the next couple of weeks before the end of 2023.  Then she said if it is not in December then it will be in 2024.  I can't believe I don't have a straight answer.

Edited December 9, 2023 by mikecintel

[Amtrak41]

Why not just use a bank debit card and screw them and their OMNY card and machines  ? 

[mikecintel]

9 minutes ago, Amtrak41 said:

Why not just use a bank debit card and screw them and their OMNY card and machines  ? 

Personal  I am afraid that it will be "hack" and all my money in the bank will be gone.  That is why I rather get an OMNY card and just refill it online.  I had that happen once to my friend and she used her debit card and that is when the nightmare started. Eventually she got her money back but it took a long time.  I rather be safe with an OMNY card that is not tied to my bank account.  If it is linked to my credit card at least my credit card there are monitor my credit card in event my card got hacked.

Edited December 11, 2023 by mikecintel

[N6 Limited]

On 12/9/2023 at 12:46 PM, mikecintel said:

So that means the Metro Vending Machines will be taking away then.

Riders are going to have to top up their MetroCard balances to increments of $2.90 before then, so that they can use up their entire remaining balance. Imagine having value left over, and you can’t transfer to OMNY, so you have to mail it in to get a refund of less than $2.90.

[mikecintel]

1 hour ago, N6 Limited said:

Riders are going to have to top up their MetroCard balances to increments of $2.90 before then, so that they can use up their entire remaining balance. Imagine having value left over, and you can’t transfer to OMNY, so you have to mail it in to get a refund of less than $2.90.

Yes you are right but I use 30 day unlimited and i just refill a total of 11 Metro Card of 30 unlimited rides "in case" they take away the Metro Card Vending Machines.  Anyway if by the time they said we will stop Metro Card then how many cards I have left I will send it back to MTA or go to 3 stone street to request a refund.  Now I don't have to worry about the Metro Card Vending Machine being taken away.  You must think I am nuts LOL.

Edited December 12, 2023 by mikecintel

[Amtrak41]

10 hours ago, mikecintel said:

Personal  I am afraid that it will be "hack" and all my money in the bank will be gone.  That is why I rather get an OMNY card and just refill it online.  I had that happen once to my friend and she used her debit card and that is when the nightmare started. Eventually she got her money back but it took a long time.  I rather be safe with an OMNY card that is not tied to my bank account.  If it is linked to my credit card at least my credit card there are monitor my credit card in event my card got hacked.

For that reason, I opened a no min balance, no fee checking account at Citizens Bank ("One Deposit") for just this purpose. If they hack it , they won't get very far. 

[mikecintel]

1 minute ago, Amtrak41 said:

For that reason, I opened a no min balance, no fee checking account at Citizens Bank ("One Deposit") for just this purpose. If they hack it , they won't get very far. 

You are VERY SMART!  I will just stick with my OMNY card.  Thank you for the info .  I don't want to open too many accounts.

[QM1to6Ave]

On 12/9/2023 at 12:46 PM, mikecintel said:

I have called MTA to see when the Metro Card machines to be taken away and the rep that I spoke with she stated Feb 20,2024 and that will be when ALL OMNY machines will be in all 472 subway station.  So that means the Metro Vending Machines will be taking away then.  That is strange because in 2 months they will have it in all subway stations?  MTA is very slow at doing things so I am kind of surprise what she told me that. Then she transferred me to OMNY support.  I asked that same question and the supervisor said it will be in 2024 but "we don't have a set date" when the OMNY machines be in all subway but it will be "by mid 2024" it will be in all subway stations.  Then I said then why did the rep said Feb 20,2024 and he said that "We PLAN to have it all out on by then".  Then he said after all the OMNY Machines are at 472 you can still use the Metro Card for "some time" and then it will be all OMNY. I even asked when will there be a 30 day cap for the monthly and he said "we did not roll out that yet" but we will "mirror" the Metro Card 30 unlimited day.  Then  I asked him will it be like how the 7 day cap is and he said we don't know because it is not rolled out yet.

Feb 2024 is not the middle of 2024.  I also asked the OMNY supervisor when the Reduce Fare OMNY physical calls will be mailed out.  I said the last time i called they said before the end of 2023 and now he said "we don't have a set date when we are going to mail out the Reduce Fare OMNY physical card" BUT it should be the next couple of weeks before the end of 2023.  Then she said if it is not in December then it will be in 2024.  I can't believe I don't have a straight answer.

They are so incompetent. No one can stick to any schedule at the MTA

[mikecintel]

16 minutes ago, QM1to6Ave said:

They are so incompetent. No one can stick to any schedule at the MTA

Yes I agree with you 100%!

[ABOGbrooklyn]

I don't understand how the mta could even f$%k up payment cards. One of the very things that makes them money. You would think they would make sure this would be launched quickly..

[7-express]

On 12/9/2023 at 12:46 PM, mikecintel said:

I also asked the OMNY supervisor when the Reduce Fare OMNY physical calls will be mailed out.  I said the last time i called they said before the end of 2023 and now he said "we don't have a set date when we are going to mail out the Reduce Fare OMNY physical card" BUT it should be the next couple of weeks before the end of 2023.  Then she said if it is not in December then it will be in 2024.  I can't believe I don't have a straight answer.

Fits in line with my prediction from earlier this year...they'll start it at the very end of the year just to say they crossed the line but it'll realistically take much of 2024 to roll out.  Can't wait to see what a fiasco student OMNY will be with the next school year.

[mikecintel]

1 hour ago, 7-express said:

Fits in line with my prediction from earlier this year...they'll start it at the very end of the year just to say they crossed the line but it'll realistically take much of 2024 to roll out.  Can't wait to see what a fiasco student OMNY will be with the next school year.

So guess what?  I called OMNY CS and I asked when is the senior reduce fare going to be mailed and the rep said "Early January 2024".  I said I have called before and you guys said Dec 2023 before the end of 2023.  Then the rep replied that since it is a new year then it make sense to send out NEW Reduce Fare OMNY card because it's the "New Year".  I don't believe one word they say.  I think because they have to straighten things out like the kinks and everything before they roll it out.

Edited December 18, 2023 by mikecintel

[Chris89292]

Is there any update into when the omny machines will roll out on every station?

[mikecintel]

1 hour ago, Chris89292 said:

Is there any update into when the omny machines will roll out on every station?

When I called OMNY and asked them when every station will roll out with OMNY machines they said "They don't know and no give date yet".  The last time I spoke with a different rep he said it should be mid 2024 like the summer or the fall of 2024 and if it not it should be the end of the year 2024.  So another words they don't know when it will be all rolled out and just guess now.  Let's see it took 1 whole year to roll out OMNY readers on subway and buses so I think it will take the whole year to install the OMNY machines in every station.  Next April when there is a meeting about OMNY I guess we will find out.  Only 4 more months to go till April 2024!

Edited December 19, 2023 by mikecintel