Dear Editor,

The Jamaica Urban Transit Company (JUTC) seems to be transitioning to a new card system.

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I really didn’t see any announcements, but my card did not work a few times and a driver advised me the company is phasing out the card reader and I should go and get a new card.

Anyway, I don’t usually go to the terminus in the transport centre, but I made the added effort because I no longer see the mobile units on the road and I feel embarrassed every time I can’t pay my fare if the machine can’t read my card.

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I top up like every two months to make sure I can.

I will forgive the unclear process, although I stood in line at the windows for over 15 minutes only to be told I should visit customer service first to get a form before joining a line. There were no signs/posters or a flyer/brochure to guide the customer.

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Now that I have the new card I have noticed a real flaw in the system. This one I can’t forgive.

The old bus ticket would tell you the balance on your card so you can plan and budget. In the new design, someone thought it wise to remove this feature. Is the JUTC expecting each member of the commuting public to keep a piece of paper to tally how many trips have been taken then deduct that total from the last top-up, all while remembering the balance before topping up.

This is crazy! How does this serve the public? How is this “smarter”? Seems like a backward step to me.

I mentioned this problem to a driver and he said the system is coming on stream fully next month. Are there plans to fix this omission? I know I am not the only one who has been put out by the balance being removed from the bus tickets. Was the public even consulted? Sigh!

Will there be an alternative? An app to log on and check, maybe, or a website to ascertain one’s balance.

Come on, JUTC, this is a grave oversight.

Lots of people will be embarrassed on the buses if they can’t readily tell their card balances.

Put back the balances in the bus tickets.

Distressed Commuter

Portmore

St Catherine