Originally Posted by
monksy
I just found out today that the contactless card that Chase gave me was charged transit fare instead of my transit card (ventra). I commute daily with the CTA.. so this whole guessing game about which will register is a problem.
1. Is there a way to safely disable to contactless functionality. (I'm not sure I have access to an xray machine)
2. How has other people's expereince been with asking for non-contactless cards with other providers? Chase just flat out said "we can't offer a non-contactless card". The CSR then tried to go on about how it can be emotional/and frustrating.
Why would you want to disable the Contactless function on the card just due to this one issue with the mass transit? Just take out the Ventra card when you pay and you will not have a problem.
Then you can use the Contactless card at various merchants and have the same "fast and easy" experience at the merchants as you have using the Ventra card on the mass transit.
It is a win win.
It was not "stupid" at all for Chase to roll out Contactless payment. It is the global standard for credit card transactions and is the most frequently used processing method for in person credit card transactions in Canada, UK, Australia, and various other countries. All those places have mass transit and special cards for mass transit too and those folks have figured out how to make both work together.
It should not be that difficult. If it is, just ditch the Ventra card and let all of your fares be charged through the Chase card. Then you only have to deal with one card.
I assume there is a fare discount if you use the Ventra card so if it is worth it to you to get that discount then the very minimal effort to actually make sure that Ventra card is the one closest to the fare reader should not be a big deal.
Or if you are really that against the Contactless card you could just get rid of the Chase card... but most other issuers will be issuing Contactless cards in the coming years too so that is not going to be a long term solution.
Personally I am very pleased Chase has started to issue Contactless cards again, like they did a decade ago, and like so many other issuers in other countries. I've been making the suggestion to them periodically over the past few years and am pleased they finally did it.