MRT for foreign seniors?

[HermesHermes]

OK, I get it, non-Thai residents are no longer eligible for discount on the metro. No problem, let's move on with changing reality. But how to transition to normal card pass?

 

I don't understand enough Thai to comprehend what to do. It sounds, from the explanation of the helpful MRT kiosk staff, that the balance (not insignificant in my case) has to be refunded to a Thai bank account. But I paid cash. And I do not have a bank account anyway (it involves jumping through hoops for tourists) . Anyway, it seems unreasonable that I have to have my credit sent to a different form of payment than I made to pay for it.

 

So, I suggested that he transfer my balance to a new normal pass. If I understood him correctly, no can do.

 

And what is this tying of identity with transportation passes for some years. Are jihadis using their real passports to travel via subway? It all seems just a little bit ridiculous to me. Next you won't be able to pass for taxis by cash, because some criminals use them as getaway cars (not). 

 

BTW, this kind of surveillance is not unique to Thailand. By contrast, in Vancouver, Canada (Montreal and Toronto, I do not know) it is optional whether you register your Skytrain card or not. There are pluses and minuses to doing so. But even in BC (when long distance bus service existed) after a crazy man not inspired by religion but mind altering substances or psychosis cut a fellow passenger's  head off, they started demanding gov't-issued ID to travel intercity. I don't mind this when I get a discount, but in order to get regular fare, I do resent this. I saw a lot of this transportation monitoring in PRC. I think Singapore does not require it unless crossing a border.

 

Is this the new normal for Thailand? But more imprtant, how do I get my money back since I no longer qualify?

[impulse]

I just kept using my Elder MRT card.  I've topped it up several times in the past few months.  No new card required.  I don't think I'm getting the discount any more, but it's still cheap transport.  And if I ever leave Thailand for good, I'll give it away with whatever baht are left on it.

 

Edit:  I don't know for sure whether I still get the discount.  I assumed that since the card is tied to my foreign passport, their system would be smart enough to debit the correct amount.

 

[DonniePeverley]

Wait .... there is a seperate price for foreigners on the MRT than for locals?

 

WTF since when ?

 

What about the self pay machines ?

[HermesHermes]

I too have no idea what  I am being charged. Actually, what happens is that it sort of still works. What do I mean by this? Well, about a quarter of the time it refuses to let me past the turnstile. I go to the kiosk. The person does something. Then it works. The only time it was a problem was when I asked for it to work properly, 'this card works only some of the time, can I replace it?'  If I let it hobble along semi-functioning nobody asks me to do anything special.