is there a reason it is called VENTra ????

OK - it's Friday (TGIF btw) and I am going to unload a M_A_J_O_R VENTra...I got my card in the mail; followed the instuctions to activate it (very poor btw) and received a message that 'my card is already activated' (wtf). OK - I'll play along. I do not know the access code (never set it up - do-h); cannot log in to retrieve it (two strikes for you), so I call the "toll free" number (what a joke); and to speak with someone about it I am told

(with a very cheery female voice (oh spare me honey) "your wait time will be approximately 26 minutes". yeah right. like I have NOTHING better to do than sit on hold

and listen to this nauseating music (good thing I collect barf bags from southwest airlines (now THERE is a company with awesome customer service btw - can you say capitalism with a KAPITAL SEE?????). VENTRA darling - you get a BIG FAT F- in my grade book. I am flushing this lovely little card down the toilet. Oh wait - i will use my handy dandy "pick puncher" and make some nice guitar picks out of you; it was nice knowing you. and why do I hate the CTA ??? let me count the ways. When I get even a B+ from my customers I have to meet with them to see what ever I can do to change that grade to an A+.

 

OK - I feel SO much better now...TGIF

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Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on October 11, 2013 at 7:58am

I had no problems with Ventra. I got my PIN via email and my card a few days later, set it up, called in and talked to a very nice lady with a wonderful southern accent in Tennessee to confirm my CCP balance would transfer over. It did and the whole process was a piece of cake.

I'm not a fan of the way the card looks. I'd like it to have a better design -- maybe like they give the high school kids. The credit card look is so dull. From what I understand though, you have to have that one if you want the auto-reload feature.

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on October 11, 2013 at 8:02am

The optional prepaid debit card account is totally separate from the Ventra account. The card can be used for both accounts but both have to be set up separately. There is nothing special about the debit card account with respect to the Ventra account other than the fact that it can be used with the same card.

h' 1.0 said:

I got my card yesterday-- do I have no choice but  to have the debit card funtion? I don't want it.

Permalink Reply by Rich S on October 11, 2013 at 8:05am

The subject line in my email was "Convenience is Coming!" and I received the email on Sep 1. 

I was able to find it by searching Ventra in gmail. If you can't find it check your spam or maybe deleted. 



h' 1.0 said:

I also first assumed it was junk of some sort....

I wonder if I can ask for help here-- would you or someone be willing to look at your e-mail and tell me what  the subject line was (verbatim) so I can search for it?

Thx.

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on October 11, 2013 at 8:05am

Following is the email. The password is the 4-digit PIN.

[EMAIL]

From: <updates@ventrachicago.com>
Subject: Convenience is coming!
Date: [REMOVED]
To: [REMOVED]
Reply-To: <updates@ventrachicago.com>

Thanks for getting on board with Ventra™! You’ll receive your new Ventra Card in the mail within 7 to 10 business days. Then, you must ACTIVATE your new Card by calling 1.888.824.8802. Please follow the process below to create your Ventra access code to activate your new Card.

You may use the Ventra transit account username and temporary password listed below to view your account on ventrachicago.com. After changing your password, you can create an access code that will also allow you to review and make changes to your account over the phone. Once that’s completed, you’ll be ready to take advantage of online account management and much more.

USERNAME: [REMOVED]

PASSWORD: [REMOVED]

If you misplace your Chicago Card Plus (CCP) prior to receiving your Ventra Card, a new CCP card will not be issued. You will need to purchase CTA or Pace transit fare until your Ventra Card arrives.

Now sit tight. Your new way to pay for the CTA and Pace will be arriving shortly!

Thanks,

The Ventra Team

Money Network Account Services 7000 Goodlett Farms Parkway, Suite 200 Cordova, Tennessee 38016

© 2013 Chicago Transit Authority & First Data Corporation. Cards are issued by MetaBank™, Member FDIC, pursuant to license by MasterCard International Incorporated and subject to Terms and Conditions posted at ventrachicago.com. MasterCard and the MasterCard Brand Mark are registered trademarks of MasterCard International Incorporated. All rights reserved. All trademarks, service marks and brand names mentioned in this material are property of their respective owners.

[/EMAIL]

h' 1.0 said:

I also first assumed it was junk of some sort....

I wonder if I can ask for help here-- would you or someone be willing to look at your e-mail and tell me what  the subject line was (verbatim) so I can search for it?

Thx.

Permalink Reply by BruceBikes on October 11, 2013 at 8:05am

Subject: Convenience is coming!

From: updates@ventrachicago.com


h' 1.0 said:

I also first assumed it was junk of some sort....

I wonder if I can ask for help here-- would you or someone be willing to look at your e-mail and tell me what  the subject line was (verbatim) so I can search for it?

Thx. 

Permalink Reply by ad on October 11, 2013 at 8:27am


FYI.  Ventra just sent me a reminder email noting that I had not yet activated my card, and the reminder email also contained the activation code I needed to activate it.  Not sure they do that for everyone, but as a last resort a similar email may eventually be sent to you once they notice your card hasn't been activated yet.

 
h' 1.0 said:

Many thanks. Nothing found.

BruceBikes said:

Subject: Convenience is coming!

From: updates@ventrachicago.com


h' 1.0 said:

I also first assumed it was junk of some sort....

I wonder if I can ask for help here-- would you or someone be willing to look at your e-mail and tell me what  the subject line was (verbatim) so I can search for it?

Thx. 

Permalink Reply by ad on October 11, 2013 at 8:34am


That's pretty much my plan as well, which is I'm sure why they sent me a reminder email after not activating the card after having it for more than a month.  


Daniel G said:

I've given up on activating, since now that people have their e-mails, ventrachicago has been slammed. Am going back to the smart strategy of not activating until I am absolutely forced to. Dreaming of being one of like twenty people whose CCP cards get grandfathered in somehow, and commuters in the year 2030 think I'm some sort of government agent for using one.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 11, 2013 at 8:34am

You and many many others don't yet have their cards. I finally got mine last Saturday. Several other people I know got theirs this week, and lots of folks are still waiting.

Jeff Schneider said:

Are people only now receiving the cards?  I got the email on Sept. 4 promising a card within 7-10 days...but still don't have it.

Permalink Reply by Anne Alt on October 11, 2013 at 8:37am

The envelope looks like this.



Michelle Stenzel said:

First you have to make sure you don't accidentally throw away your card, which arrives in a generic envelope that looks like junk mail, from a bank that no one has ever heard of. (The only reason it caught my eye is because it had a double V on it that looked exactly like the Divvy logo.) Then you have to make sure you read all your e-mail from Ventra, even if it seems like an annoying PR note you can delete, because one of them contains your User ID and password. Then you have to read all the written instructions v-e-r-y carefully because there are pitfalls planted in numerous steps. After much frustration, I was able to activate my card and even charge new funds to it with my employer-issued transit benefits card. However, I haven't actually used the Ventra card yet, and I'm a little scared to try. Let's hope the weather holds up until all the kinks are worked out.

Permalink Reply by M G on October 11, 2013 at 9:01am

My problem has more to do with the touchless technology. I was told by a CTA employee (who was VERY well meaning) to load money onto my credit card to avoid paying $5 for a Ventra card I was going to get in the mail. (I misplaced my CCP during the stretch they were no longer issuing replacements but before I received my Ventra card).

I loaded $10 (which was charged to my card in full that night). Instead of my subsequent rides deducting from that credit, they each charged individually! So for 4 trips I paid $20.50 (I was mysteriously charged for $3 for two of the trips—I didn’t transfer!). That should have cost $9 for all four trips. 

 

I have yet to activate one of the 4 Ventra cards I have so far received. I have tried calling Ventra but simply don’t have an hour to wait on the phone to speak with someone. Their email “contact us” page only lets you type 150 characters in the message section. Not very helpful. 

Permalink Reply by Tom Dworzanski on October 11, 2013 at 9:32am

Your experience sounds kind of like this: http://articles.redeyechicago.com/2013-09-13/news/42047841_1_ventra...

M G said:

My problem has more to do with the touchless technology. I was told by a CTA employee (who was VERY well meaning) to load money onto my credit card to avoid paying $5 for a Ventra card I was going to get in the mail. (I misplaced my CCP during the stretch they were no longer issuing replacements but before I received my Ventra card).

I loaded $10 (which was charged to my card in full that night). Instead of my subsequent rides deducting from that credit, they each charged individually! So for 4 trips I paid $20.50 (I was mysteriously charged for $3 for two of the trips—I didn’t transfer!). That should have cost $9 for all four trips. 

 

I have yet to activate one of the 4 Ventra cards I have so far received. I have tried calling Ventra but simply don’t have an hour to wait on the phone to speak with someone. Their email “contact us” page only lets you type 150 characters in the message section. Not very helpful. 

Permalink Reply by Davo on October 11, 2013 at 10:02am

Why is anyone getting this stupid card when supossidly you can use any credit card with the RF simble on it. Has anyone done this yet? I havent because i rarely take transit. I am kind of pissed about the dollar increase for just a single ride though.

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