Peralta EasyPass Questions & Answers
Q: How do I Get Peralta’s EasyPass TransLink Card?
A: To qualify for a Peralta EasyPass, you must be a full-time student with at least 12 or more units. To apply go to your College’s Cashier’s Office to sign the Pass Acceptance Form, pay your fee, and receive instructions to have your photo taken if necessary.
All Peralta EasyPass TransLink cards have a Photo ID. If you do not already have a Peralta Student ID card, you will not have a photo on file and must take the extra step of having a photo taken.
Q: How long will the new EasyPass be active?
A: Your card will be valid until August 27, 2009 or for as long as you are a Peralta student maintaining 12 units or more and pay your fee.
Q: Is it too late to sign up for a Peralta EasyPass TransLink card?
A: No. Applications for the Spring/Summer 2009 Peralta EasyPass will be accepted until August 1, 2009. All you have to do to sign up is to pay your fee, sign the Pass Acceptance Form, and have your photo taken at the appropriate Photo ID location.
Q: Once I have signed the Pass Acceptance Form, paid my fee and had my photo taken, how long before I get my new TransLink EasyPass?
A: It usually takes from three to five business days.
Q: Since I applied after the enrollment period, what do I use while I am waiting for my new TransLink EasyPass?
A: You will need to carry cash and pay full fare. Once AC Transit receives your photo from Peralta’s EasyPass Site Coordinator, they will create a new card for you and mail it to the Cashier where you applied for the EasyPass within 3 to 5 business days. Contact the same Cashier’s Office to pick up your new TransLink EasyPass card.
Q: When will I get my EasyPass TransLink card? I have not received anything yet.
A: All of the initial EasyPass applicants have had their new TransLink cards mailed to the Cashier’s Office where the card was applied and paid for. Pick up your new TransLink EasyPass at the same Cashier’s Office.
Q: My card does not work. How do I get it fixed?
A: If your card is defective, through no fault of your own, call TransLink at (877) 878-8883. They will verify your identity and remotely check your defective card.
If your card cannot be fixed remotely, TransLink will request that you mail your defective card to TransLink. Once the card is received and confirmed defective, TransLink will order AC Transit to make a new card for you. Once AC Transit gets the request from TransLink, a new card will be created and mailed to you within 3 – 5 business days. *Note – you may want to try the card first on another bus’ TransLink reader just in case the original reader was problematic. It is a good idea to carry back up cash in case your card does not work.
You must call TransLink as soon as possible to report defective cards. The EasyPass TransLink card cannot be verified or repaired by Peralta or AC Transit.
Q: The TransLink Reader stated, “Denied, insufficient funds.” What do I do?
A: Your card is defective. Call TransLink for instructions to fix your card.
General Questions about the EasyPass Program that apply to all TransLink EasyPass card holders
Q: Do I have to get a new TransLink EasyPass card every year?
A: No. You keep your TransLink EasyPass with photo ID long term - like you would your driver’s license. When you no longer qualify for the EasyPass, it will be removed from your TransLink card, but you can continue to use your TransLink card without the EasyPass loaded, by adding e-cash onto your card.
Q: How do I take care of my TransLink card?
A: Be sure to take care of your card as you would your driver's license and make sure it does not get bent etc. Since there are antennas throughout the card, do not punch a hole into it for hanging on a chain.
Q: My card is damaged, lost or stolen. How do I replace it?
A: Call TransLink at (877) 878-8883, so they can check your card’s activity and deactivate it to keep anyone else from using it. TransLink will verify your identity, charge a $5 balance restoration fee (paid by check or money order) and order AC Transit to make a new card for you. You will not have to have your photo re-taken. You will receive your new card in about 3 - 5 business days.
Q: What if my TransLink card has e-cash on it when it is stolen? What do I do?
A: Call TransLink at (877) 878-8883, so they can stop anyone from using your card and accessing your stored e-cash value. TransLink will charge the balance restoration fee of $5.
Q: The reader on the bus says that my pass expires in 31 days! I thought the EasyPass was for the whole year?
A: The EasyPass is active until it is no longer valid. The TransLink card automatically rolls over the active EasyPass every 31 days. Ignore the expiration date stated on the TransLink card reader.
Q: How do I use my TransLink EasyPass on AC Transit?
Each time you board the bus, simply "tag" (do not swipe) your card by holding it flat against the TransLink logo on the card reader as you board the bus. Wait until you hear the “beep.” The smart chip in the TransLink card will verify that you have an active pass.
If all you have loaded onto your TransLink card is your EasyPass, the first time you use the reader it will display “Travel O’K, Pass Used, Pass Added” followed by the date of expiration. After the first time, the reader will display the same message without the words “Pass Added.” If the card reader sounds “three beeps” instead of “one beep,” your pass has been misread by the reader, or has been damaged, deactivated, or is defective. Please contact the TransLink Customer Service Center at (877) 878-8883 if your card is not working.
Be sure to always have backup cash for your ride in case you have problems with your card. Please view the animated instruction, “How to use TransLink” by going to www.actransit.org, and clicking on the TransLink card graphic on the homepage. Be sure to have your computer’s sound turned on so you can hear the “beep.”
Q: What other transit systems can I use my TransLink card on if I add e-cash to the card?
A: You can use the TransLink card on San Francisco’s MUNI and Marin’s Golden Gate Transit if you have added value onto your card. To learn more about adding cash to your TransLink card, go to www.actransit.org, and click on the TransLink card graphic on the homepage. Select “Locations for adding value in person.” You can also set up an account online by clicking on the link, “Add value online” in the left-hand menu of the same page.
Source: AC Transit Marketing and Communications, February 2009
