Opal unfairness
Sometimes I forget my Opal card because its in another bag or pocket of jacket. I applied for a second card and was told I was only allowed to have one (pensioner) Opal Card. I am annoyed because this seems ageist and discriminatory as you can have as many normal Opal cards as you like. This means that if I forget my card I have to pay full fare because you can no longer buy pensioner fares on the bus. Seems like a Government money grab on pensioners if you ask me. Really really freaking annoyed.
Yes I would try and do that mostly but I dont always remember to take it out of my pocket or the side part of my bag which is easiest while travelling to put back in the purse. Sometimes I have to dig around in my bag to find my money wallet and then the bus has moved off and the opal machine closed so its easier to keep in my pocket or side pocket of bag. It would be so much easier to have a spare.
Unfortunately there are some dishonest people out there who would mis-use it... that is why you have to report it if it is lost or stolen.
Perhaps you could put a tag on it and attach it to your bag handle, so it does not get lost in your bag.
The Opal card for Seniors is a privillege.
Kiwozok,
Are you male or female? If male, get yourself a manbag and give up keeping essential items in pockets. Or alternatively, keep your opal card in your wallet which is what I imagine most guys do. If you are female and have not yet learnt to swap essential items in your bags before using them then I suggest you either have one bag only (that’s what I do) or concentrate while swapping bags so that you have everything you need available. I guess you can only have one pensioner opal card because it can be misused if it can be spread around and used by non pensioners. I think that is fair enough.
I suggest your get more organised or pay for your lack of organisation.
I have my Opal card in my wallet. My handbag is not big enough for it to get lost in it. I rarely change bags, but if I do, then the wallet is the first thing to be transferred.
Have you thought about having a backpack or cross body handbag which is a lot smaller than most handbags these days, and have your wallet a different colour to the handbag so that you can find it easily?
The backpacks and cross body bags are fantastic if you don't want to get a sore arm from carrying around a 'normal' handbag and you can even put into the child seat of the shopping trolley and put the belt around the body of the bag leaving the straps outside the belt so that it can't be taken out of the trolley without you noticing it.
Something that angers me is the disadvantage rural people suffer in the state of NSW. Seniors cards offer no advantage on transport which is invariably “private” and there is no advantage from owning an opal card. Opal only advantages city dwellers.
None of you even mention the unfairness of the fact that you can buy single trip tickets on buses but thaty they have stopped the pensioner single use rides.
I believe Brisbane is the same.
Yeah Robi, but you get the clean air.
Good idea to only have one Opal card as what stops you from giving the second one to someone else. I know of a lady who applied for and used her mother's Opal card as she wasn't old enough for one herself. Her mother is in a nursing home so has no use for one.
Yep - fat too many dishonest people out there ripping off the taxpayer
So Old Geezer, did you report her?
Give TfNSW a call - 131 500. Report it, with the name of the cardholder (who is in a nursing home) and they'll establish the card no. and BLOCK IT.
Honest people need to call out dishonest ones.
No ifs, no buts, ... get with the programme it's 2018
OG - so if someone is using the card and they are not entiltled to they may be caught by the inspectors on the trains. just like riding without a card at all which is easy to do as well IF you don't get caught by the inspectors.
Kiwozok, I don't think we have Opal cards in WA..however I do see people wearing their seniors' travel card on a lanyard around their necks..seems a good idea to me..
Here's the website for the Gold Seniors/Pension Opal Card
https://www.opal.com.au/en/about-opal/opal_for_senior_pensioners/
It gives you all the information you need to know about the card and how to apply for the card which will take between 7 & 10 days to arrive as they need to confirm your eligibility for the card
If you live anywhere from Bomaderry (Nowra), Goulburn, Bathurst & Scone you can use the card.
If you're caught using another's card, the you're in BIG trouble.
You will also need to keep your concession card or Seniors card with you to prove eligibility for the card if a transport inspector asks for it - another reason to have it in your wallet.
If you 'lose or misplace' your card, then you have to apply for a replacement and once it's issued and the funds are transferred the old card is then unusable as it is deactivated, so you can't have 2 current cards in the one name with the same concession number.
I live in the Albury region and our local bus company has a 'RED' ticket which has a maximum cost of $2.50 for the day. It's the same cost as using the Gold Seniors/Pensioners Opal Card in Sydney.
If you 'need' to change your handbag/wallet, then you have to make sure the card is transferred, too, just like your Drivers licence, bank card, etc. Never keep your card in your pocket. I keep mine in my wallet, so that I have easy access to it. Then there's no reason not to have your card on you.
No discrimination at work here at all.
The OAP Opal card is a privilege afforded only to OAPs. That alone could be discriminatory by your standards!
It is up to you to be responsibile enough to make sure you use it when you travel. As others have said, put it in your wallet or purse or, as I have seen others do, put it in your phone. There are little stick on pouches you can get that attach to your phone case. If you chose not to take it with you, then you pay full wack like the rest of the travelling public. Seems fair to me.
A privilege only if you didnt pay your taxes presumably
what a bunch of sour pusses you all are. Dont you ever forget your card?
Doesnt it seem unfair to you that you can buy a normal fare on the bus but not a concession fare anymore?
So it's the govt's fault you forget your card?
Guess if you forget your teeth, it's your dentist's fault??
hahahha smartypants. Im not blaming anyone I am just pointing out an unfairness e.g, unable to purchase single trip concession fares when you can purchase single fare non-concession fares no problem.
Hi mate, don't know anything about the Opal card but I scratched around and found this. Maybe you have all this information but I did notice something about single tickets, if you forget your card. See ya later, walking time for the pups. Click on the link.
https://www.opal.com.au/en/get-an-opal-card/opal-single-tickets/
Thanks - the site says "...They’re designed as a back-up option, just in case you don’t have an Opal card yet, or you don’t have your Opal card with you". They obviously acknowledge some people forget their opal card or leave it in a pocket ... but if you are a senior or penisoner, guess what - no concessions on these. We used to be able to get single trip concessions but they cut them - I think that's unfair.
Further, if you lose your concession Opal you have to go online to order a new one (phone just doesnt answer) and then wait about a week to 10 days before it arrives. Meanwhile you have to pay full fare. Although someone told me you can buy a concession opal at Central ... must check that out next time I am there.
You don't have to go online to order a new one. I lost my concession Opal card recently, phoned 13 OPAL, and within minutes the card had been blocked and the balance transferred to a new card which I received in the mail a few days later.
Yep at Central, near country trains - they keep it quiet otherwise they'd be inundated with customers.
You were one of thr lucky ones
Why not keep your Opal card in your wallet with your money ???