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→Concise chronology of events: final updates
Oh yeah, congrats to them for being unable to spell my name correctly even though they had it ''written in an email'' in front of them. lol. I really appreciate their offer to, say, adjust the balance on my account though. Shows that they really care about their customers.
{{/Translink}}
==Concise chronology of events==
To put everything into context, especially the Caltrain/Translink responses, here's a timeline of events.
;Late 2001
:Translink pilot program launched to select commuters. BART, MUNI, VTA, Caltrain, AC Transit, and Golden Gate Transit participate and install card readers at some of their stations/vehicles.
;Middle 2006
:BART and MUNI turn off their readers in anticipation of the pilot's conclusion
;October-November 2006
:VTA turns off their readers. Caltrain is supposed to turn off theirs, but leaves some on. AC Transit and Golden Gate Transit launch Translink to the public at large.
;November 6, 2006
:I order a Translink card through the Translink website
;January 2007
:I use my card for the first time, without problems, on an AC Transit bus
;February 21, 2007
:I use my card to "buy" a ticket from the Palo Alto train station to Millbrae. A fare inspector onboard looks at my card and walks on, leading me to believe that this is an acceptable way of paying for my fare.
;May 19, 2007, around 4.15 pm
:As previously, I tag my card at the Palo Alto station on my way to Millbrae.
;–, around 4.45 pm
:Fare inspector Sarah asks for tickets. I present my Translink card and am informed that this is not an acceptable method of payment.
;–, 4.56 pm
:As a result of confrontation and my refusal to get off the train, Belmont PD receives a call from Sarah to have me taken off the train.
;–, 4.59 pm
:Unwilling to pay a citation and unsure of what will happen when the police arrives, I get off the train and begin calling 511. Police arrive within seconds of me deboarding.
;–, 5.02 pm
:After the police leaves, I call 511 to file a complaint. A few minutes later, I take a bus instead of waiting for the next train.
;May 23, 2007, 5.29 pm
:Caltrain's first response to my complaint, from Leigh Ann Hildebrand, in which she says that it is Translink, and not Caltrain, who is at fault. I respond immediately.
;May 24, 2007, 1.48 am
:As per Caltrain's suggestion, I write an email to Translink detailing my ordeal.
;–, 5.32 am
:Translink responds (providing no name) with a reminder that officially, Translink can't be used on the Caltrain system until later this year. I respond at 9.18 am.
;–, 10.34 am
:A Translink "supervisor" (still nameless) informs me that the matter is being escalated and reminds me that paying for Caltrain is not an option in the Translink system. I respond, letting them know that they are still missing the point.
;May 26, 2007 2.02 pm
:A different Caltrain customer service rep, Astrid Lindell, responds, informing me that the fact that some equipment has intermittently been turned back on "has not presented a problem." A week after the incident, not one offer for a refund has yet been made.
;May 30, 10.23 am
:Astrid responds yet again, desiring to find out what devilish soul told me that I could use my card on Caltrain as well as why exactly I deserved a refund.
;–, 9.40 pm
:I respond, stating the obvious, and attach some pictures I took recently at the station showing the Translink readers in action.
;June 7, 9.35 am
:Astrid responds over a week later, saying that it is not clear to her why I used my card "given that the cards are being sold for use only on the specified agencies." I'm not really sure where she got that they were being sold for use only on the specified agencies, but then again, I should have known better.
;–, 10.05 am
:I respond, with a bit of a bitter closing statement.
;–, 12.19 am
:Astrid decides to end the conversation by stating curtly, "We have no further comments on this matter."
;to be continued...?
==Notes==
{{reflist}}