DC One card problems?

[Anonymous]

Does anyone else's child have a DC One card that keeps dropping the transit subsidy? The first time it happened we thought the card had a problem so we had it replaced. Now that it has happened again I'm wondering if something else is going on.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Does anyone else's child have a DC One card that keeps dropping the transit subsidy? The first time it happened we thought the card had a problem so we had it replaced. Now that it has happened again I'm wondering if something else is going on.

It happened to us. After a few attempts to resolve it online and over the phone, we were told to get a new card and it hasn't happened since. The cause is still a mystery.

[Anonymous]

His worked, then stopped. Then the new card worked and then stopped. He was harassed by police because the attendants tell the kids (lots of them) with cards that don't work to walk through the gates. I've printed up his subsidy paperwork to prove that it should work and now he carries that in case he gets stopped again.

[Anonymous]

Yes, ongoing problems. Gets a new card, can't get new card to link to the account-the whole system is a mess. Kids solve the problem by going thru with their friends. At my kid's regular metro station, the metro person waves him thru in the morning, she even stood up for him when metro police started harassing him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:His worked, then stopped. Then the new card worked and then stopped. He was harassed by police because the attendants tell the kids (lots of them) with cards that don't work to walk through the gates. I've printed up his subsidy paperwork to prove that it should work and now he carries that in case he gets stopped again.

I believe if the card has a negative balance then the subsidy will not load the next month or at all. You can get a negative balance by using the DC One card at times other than the designated "school" travel times on weekdays.

Our kid had a negative balance of $1.75 from using DC one card after the designated time in the evening and the subsidy would not load as result. You can check the balance on the DC One card for a negative balance at any metro station. If there is negative balance, then you have to add money to the DC One card to make it a positive balance at one of the smart trip machines. I added $2.00 to get my kid's DC One card out of a negative balance and the subsidy then activated when I tapped it one the Metro train turn style.

[Anonymous]

I thought the same thing and so I check regularly now. He doesn't have and has never had a negative balance.

[Anonymous]

Can anyone post the link and any helpful tips on how to Pply for a new card? Can it be used for any metro travel or only directly to and from school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Can anyone post the link and any helpful tips on how to Pply for a new card? Can it be used for any metro travel or only directly to and from school?

You get the card from your school.

The free rides are only to/from school but you can load additional money on it like any other farecard.

[Anonymous]

Is there no discount for kids if they are not traveling to school?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Is there no discount for kids if they are not traveling to school?

No - unless they are under 5 and traveling with an adult (then it is free).

[Anonymous]

I thought it worked anywhere in the city during the set hours, is that wrong? My kids school now uses the cards for field trips, which are during the school day but not to and from home.

[Anonymous]

yes- it is pretty liberal in use. My son used his to attend a cultural school function down town with his classmates that ended at 10:30 and it worked.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:yes- it is pretty liberal in use. My son used his to attend a cultural school function down town with his classmates that ended at 10:30 and it worked.

they work until they don't - hard to tell when the system will decide to cut them off. We try to keep $20 on it just in case.

[Anonymous]

same thing for us.

[Anonymous]

Ours have never worked. Fortunately, they mainly take the bus and the bus driver just waves at them once they flash the card. I tried to activate the transit subsidy and got stuck in password hell (it wouldn't let me have 3 kids with one email address) so since we only use if for bus I just said f it.