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SEPTA buses are running again in the city during morning Nov. 9, 2009 as striking transport workers and SEPTA officials reached an agreement overnight. ( Tom Gralish / Staff Photographer )

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READER FEEDBACK

TransPasses: SEPTA announces exchanges, credits

By Peter Mucha

Inquirer Staff Writer

Commuters who have an unpunched TransPass valid for last week are entitled to an exchange or credit - even if the pass was partially used, according to SEPTA.

A punchmark indicates the rider used the pass to ride the regional rails, which remained in operation during the transit workers strike, which began Tuesday.

Such punched passes, and the TrailPasses that kept being honored for regional rails, are not eligible for credits or exchange, SEPTA said.

Unpunched weekly and monthly passes are eligible, even if they were used before the strike.

"We only brought out the punch when there was a service disruption," explained SEPTA spokesman Jerri Williams.

Generally, people trying to use a TransPass - usually honored on buses, subways and trolleys - to ride the regional rails were told they might want to purchase tickets instead, she said.

"We hope that at the time they used it that was explained to them," Williams said.

Many eligible customers can use any sales location, preferrably original place of purchase, SEPTA says.

People with passes obtained through an employer program or a pre-tax program, however, must mail in their requests, along with their passes.

Holders of an eligible weekly TransPass have until Dec. 31 to turn it in for a new one.

Starting next month, holders of a November pass can get a $20 credit toward purchasing a new monthly TransPass.

"Nobody should be asking for their credit until the end of the month," Williams said. "They'll need to use it the rest of the month."

When get the credit on the next pass, they'll turn the old one in, she said. The offer is good for December, January and February.

Weekly TransPasses cost $20.70, while the monthly ones cost $78.

Those using employer or pre-tax programs to obtain passes should submit the pass by mail to: SEPTA SIP REFUNDS, P.O. Box 58609, Philadelphia, PA 19102-8849. Be sure to enclose a note with contact information, including address.

Weekly and monthly TrailPasses are ineligible for credits - even if unused - "because service was not interrupted," Williams said.

Anyone who feels an exception should be made, or who has a complaint, can send a letter of explanation to the same address.

Refund requests could take six weeks to process.

Contact staff writer Peter Mucha at 215-854-4342 or pmucha@phillynews.com.

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Comments

Posted 12:50 PM, 11/09/2009

bsbombo

How about we just shoot them all in the head?

Posted 01:01 PM, 11/09/2009

Wolfgang

Suck it SEPTA.

Posted 01:45 PM, 11/09/2009

Jkitty

LOL remember Willie saying he wanted to see the books..everyone said he was crazy and should take the package. Now, you know why the union went on strike. SEPTA backstabs everyone. And now all of us know it.

Posted 02:03 PM, 11/09/2009

pieman

i agree with wolfgang!!!

Posted 02:12 PM, 11/09/2009

Wassup!

Septa should let everyone ride free this week as a goodwill gesture. Maybe some of the folks will return for good.

Posted 03:02 PM, 11/09/2009

monae75

Actually it isn't fault SEPTAs there was a strike, it was the union. So, in reality the union workers should offer we inconvenienced riders something.

Posted 03:04 PM, 11/09/2009

southphillyitaliana

Wassup! I agree with you, that's what they did back in '98 - I believe it was 3 days worth of free rides, something like that. This has to be the angriest strike I've ever experienced, if only because of the dire straights we're in these day, so I don't get what they're thinking not giving us ANYTHING in return for what we had to put up with this last week.

Posted 03:04 PM, 11/09/2009

TMH

The strike is over. However, everyone knows, Septa will pass the cost of this contract onto the rider. FARE HIKES COMING SOON.

Posted 03:06 PM, 11/09/2009

LoudKATHY

Make the RENDELL pay out of his own thieving pocket. Nobody cried when Pennsylvania Gov Rendell the Crock and the rest of the crooked Pennsylvania legislature held a top secret 2am meeting to vote for a pay raise for themselves. As for seeing the book. SEPTA probably is stealing the UNION pension funds. TWU 234 President WILLIE Brown should of held out to see the books

Posted 03:41 PM, 11/09/2009

warrenholly

"When get the credit on the next pass, they'll turn the old one in, she said. The offer is good for December, January and February." So if I were to get a December transpass on November 29, I would get a $20 credit for December and I have to return the November pass. I hope that December pass works on November 29th and 30th unless I am misunderstanding something.

Posted 03:54 PM, 11/09/2009

kingofpoker

Yes-you are misunderstanding-you need to buy your pass for December on the 1st or hold it till January to get your 20.00 credit.

Posted 03:56 PM, 11/09/2009

ipaymytaxes

it is true ..the city is being run be high school drop outs who boast that they pass a drug test. Unbelievable

Posted 08:43 PM, 11/09/2009

feets

septa knows we will pay anything that is why there needs to be competition, until there is competition then they will get away with it due to the fact of they got by the you know what