What Is Ventra?
Ventra is an electronic fare payment initiative for the Chicago Transit Authority, a project of the Regional Transportation Authority. The initial phases of the system were rolled out between May 2014 and September 2015, with a second phase to follow as well. Ventra has increased convenience for bus and train riders, who can purchase tickets from any number of vending machines or automated devices in CTA stations. The system was also designed to be a source of revenue for the cash-strapped Regional Transportation Authority, which is in charge of CTA, Metra rail, and several other public transit services. In this article we will see about ‘Ventra Account Suspended’.
Ventra Account Suspended
A Ventra account will stand suspended when a holder of a Ventra card does not have sufficient funds to cover past-due purchases. Suspensions range from a few hours to 90 days and are determined individually. The number of times a Ventra account has been suspended may also affect the length of the suspension.
How Does A Ventra Account Get Suspended?
A Ventra account can get suspended in several ways. A customer can be suspended because the account owner did not load the fare in the card, or it was loaded but not used for a while, so the fare was assessed against the account balance. Canceled cards may also lead to suspensions because when a Ventra card is canceled, any remaining balance is reassigned to another card and therefore becomes unavailable. People subject to a joint Ventra card can also have their accounts suspended.
How Does A Ventra Account Get Unsuspended?
A Ventra account can be unsuspended in several ways. A customer can return to the vending machine and hope they still have enough funds on the card. They may also request a refund from the CTA. The Ventra card can also be reactivated by going to the Ventra website and paying. However, funds can only be applied if the card has sufficient funds.
Regardless of payment method, some fees apply to Ventra cards. Customers who do not purchase their card before it expires will be billed an additional $5 as an “expired” fee. Customers who activate a new Ventra card also incur a nominal fee. Some customers find that these fees can be more than the amount of money they save using the Ventra payment system.
Don’t Wait Until Your Account Is Suspended.
If you do not want to wait for your Ventra account to be suspended, here is how you can transfer money off your card:
Purchase fare with CTA fare product (i.e., CTA token, Transit Card, or Pass)
Cancel your Ventra account and request a refund. You can contact the Ventra Customer Call Center at 1-877-NOW-VENTRA (1-877-669-8368).
Ventra Customer Service will issue you a MasterCard debit card loaded with the full dollar amount of the Ventra card.
Note: This process may take up to seven business days and cannot be expedited.
After this, you can use it as your payment method for your online purchases. Ventra Card allows you to pay with no cash and no hassle. They have a mobile app for Android and iPhone devices. Not of your refund. You may withdraw this cash just like you would any other debit card.
Do You Have Any Other Options When Your Account Is Suspended?
Yes, there are other ways to pay for your CTA purchases. You can:
Pay with cash or a debit card issued by an outside financial institution. Cash payments cannot be made through the Ventra app. Pay with a credit card issued by an outside financial institution. You can pay via Visa, MasterCard, or American Express and make purchases through the Ventra app. Pay with a credit card issued by an inside financial institution partnered with Ventra.
Other Problems With Ventra?
Though the Ventra system has improved convenience for many riders, it’s also been a source of frustration for some. Riders have complained about issues like not being able to receive transfers from buses to trains or not being able to register their debit and credit cards in the system if their banks aren’t part of the “contactless” payment network.
Fare Enforcement Concerns
The rollout of Ventra has been beset with problems from the very beginning. Shortly after the system went live in September 2014, customers complained that they were being charged multiple times for each ride. On top of that, many riders said they were receiving fines even though they had paid with Ventra.
The CTA responded by pointing the finger at Pace, claiming that the suburban bus service’s equipment was responsible for the double charges.
Conclusion
Ventra is a convenient tool for Chicago Transit Authority riders, but it is not without its faults. There are several ways that riders can trigger suspensions and penalties, resulting in a pile of fees. Before enrolling in your Ventra card, you must read the fine print so that you don’t get embroiled in unwanted fines. You also want to ensure that your Ventra card is not all original equipment since this may scuttle your chance at an unsuspended account.
