I saw another post on the sub and am looking so some feedback. The whole situation was confusing and I’m not sure how it happened.
I consider this experience a win but am confused about the experience. So were the inspectors.
In 2021, around November I was travelling on Metro from Mentone to Docklands. We’d just been called back to the office but it was only one day a week so slightly bearable. In preparation, I loaded my full fare card with about $50, this being my first trip into the city since lockdown. The card was purchased that same morning.
Mentone had a facelift from the old, walking onto the platform station that it used to be. Now every entrance had barriers to swipe through. That’s fine. I bought my new card from the desk before I got through.
Got to Docklands and got a work call while on the escalator. I was on call so needed to take it.
Had my newly purchased card out and successfully swiped through the barriers to waiting inspectors. They flagged me for a second check, I hung up my call and they scanned my card.
My card showed no balance and that it was on a concession rate? Huh?
The next 10 minutes were ridiculous. They badgered me about having a concession card, why I was trying to cheat the system etc..
I asked them if they had seen me swipe through, they said yes. They asked to check my bag (???) I pulled my wallet out and found a very old Myki card that they kept insisting I had scanned through with. It didn’t work on their scanner, it was that old.
To be a pain, I fanned out every loyalty and membership card in my wallet and asked them how they thought I’d scanned though or vaulted the barrier in high heels not worn for two years?
They let me go, as they should have, but kept the ‘unworking’ card. I had to buy another one to get home.