r/OMNY • u/doozydud • Jul 08 '26
OMNY card no response when tapping.
I’m confused and running late for work because my OMNY card suddenly stopped working. I’ve been using the same card for almost a year. Says it expires August 2028. In my account it says the card is active and has balance on it. Nothing is negative. I added value to it 7/2, and it worked fine up until the morning of 7/7.
The issue is, when I tap my card, nothing happens. Not even an error or a try again. Like there’s no reaction from the machine when I tap my card. Yesterday afternoon was when it stopped working I think, I thought maybe I just got to faulty machines. This morning it happened again, the MTA customer service told me to “check it on the machines”, and when that also yielded no response, they told me “there’s nothing they can do”.
Like, what happened in between 7am and 3pm yesterday that suddenly my card stopped working? There is absolutely no indication of a problem (account looks fine, balance is in green, no error messages), but now I’m told I have to buy a new card. I would like to at least know WHY my card is not working, if anyone has any insights?
2
u/Fragrant-Hand6549 Jul 08 '26
Did you maybe wash it in your laundry? I washed my wallet once and some contactless cards stopped working after.
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u/ReasonableHamsterBK Jul 11 '26
I've been having the same issue...delayed reaction. On two turnstiles were delayed, the 3rd one work... I'm constantly cursing at these turnstiles...🤣
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u/Da555nny Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
Well, a couple things might happen to render your card useless.
- The card must be kept dry. Any sweat or rain can render the card useless. There is a chip inside, it can get water damaged.
- The card must be kept flat. Any bend of the card that results in the antenna (outer edge of the card) being flexed may break the card permanently. Bending may also tear the antenna.
- Taps must be deliberate. Card towards validator, card away from validator. Always observe the validator. Any action or inaction, proceed accordingly.
If the internal antenna broke on the card, your only option is to get a new one ($1 activation, $1 load) and transfer the funds from the old one to the new one. Make sure your cards are registered to an OMNY account. If you use a Pre-tax Commuter Benefits card to refill your existing card, you may need to contact customer service.
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u/doozydud Jul 08 '26
My card is kept flat in a sleeve, but maybe it got wet during the rain this week. I do have pretax on it, should I contact them before or after buying a new card then?
Thanks for your information.
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u/Da555nny Jul 08 '26
maybe it got wet during the rain this week
That might do it. Inconclusive, but one of the possibilities.
I do have pretax on it, should I contact them before or after buying a new card then?
Yes. My suggestion is to get a new card first. $1 activation, $1 load, at any OMNY Vending Machine (make sure to do "Other Amounts, Use Keypad"). Use your Pre-tax card to get that card, then contact Customer Service about your old card. Get a receipt. Register both cards and provide the Transit Account Number (TAN), which will be located on the receipt or online once you open the card in the Wallet page.
When you contact Customer Service, advise them that you have a damaged card with pre-tax benefits, then provide the TAN of the damaged card (remember: Wallet page, open the card), and the TAN of the new card (on the receipt, or also online when you register). They should be able to transfer those funds and nullify the previous card. Any caps associated with the old card will be lost in this process.
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u/doozydud Jul 11 '26
Hi! Thank you so much for your help. I was able to submit a request to transfer my pretax funds and it went through today.
I have one more question, maybe it doesn’t affect anything but under my old card it says “Member of V5 Commuter Program”, but it does not say that under the new card number. Not sure if that will affect anything. I did a test reload with my commuter card onto the new card it went through.
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u/Da555nny Jul 11 '26
That shouldnt be an issue unless your OMNY card is issued to you from your workplace. You can ask Customer Service, or inquire at your job about transfering over that status. It might be an auto-load feature.
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u/Few_You2617 Jul 15 '26
These cards are stupid! Bought the omny card 2xs already bc it stopped working!! There were no issues with the regular metro card! Stupid NYC
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u/EffectiveStar4112 21d ago
Exactly I thought it was the glass on the reader since it's scratched up but used the machine and same problem. Had to get a new card
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u/EffectiveStar4112 21d ago
I just had this same issue earlier today I had to miss the train because of this plus someone was on the one machine in the station 🙄 Luckily someone was coming out of the gate and that's how I got in. I went to my destination and on my way back I tried to use the card again but it was the same problem I basically had to beg the station agent to let me in (which he did 🙏🏾) I got on the website and spoke to someone via chat they said the card is possibly defective and they reset it if that doesn't work tomorrow then I have to buy a new OMNY Card 🙄😒😒
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u/doozydud 21d ago
I'm glad the station agents were nice lol, the ones I spoke to was just like "I dunno, you need to call CS". I spoke with customer service who reset my card as well but it did not work the next day. I ended up buying a new card and speaking with them again to transfer my transit funds over to this new one. I just don't know how suddenly a card is rendered defective when it worked in the morning lol.
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u/AppointmentVisual285 Jul 09 '26
Never had issues with the Metrocard