Search ThisCrazyTrain.com

Monday, January 23, 2012

A few things I've noticed

GO has changed their service updates delivery system so I went ahead and re-registered at http://onthegoalerts.gotransit.com.

I tried to set up the SMS (text message) portion and it's been 30 minutes with no PIN texted to my phone. Glad to see the system is working on the day it officially launches (today).

For God's sake. Does no one test this stuff? I don't have time to try this over and over.

Second, I signed into the Presto website. I clicked on "Transit Usage Reports" so I can get a printout for the past year for my taxes and there's no link, no action button. Just some text explaining the tax credit, a notice that I have to download Acrobat reader and a phone number for questions.

Yeah, here's a question. Why the hell can't I download my transit usage report from the goddamn site? Do I really have to phone? What year is this?

Why can't anyone get THIS TECHNOLOGY RIGHT?!

I'm done.

22 comments:

Squiggles said...

And to think, they are getting a huge number of converts to PRESTO with the upcoming fare increase. I know I am 98% certain that I will convert. Don't want to, but can't justify giving them an extra 85 bucks a year to stick with the hassle-free monthly pass.

Anonymous said...

GO is doing all things wrong lately and the customer experience is suffering. If this continues they are going to have a real problem on their hands as sentiment continues to drop and the masses get upset.

ExGOnowTTC said...

The TTC's alert system is just as pointless. You can text the stop number and it's supposed to tell you when the next vehicle shows up. Only they don't send you anything if there's an accident or problem. Plus they want to charge for texts now.
No problem, i'll just use the money i got from you pay *HAH!* rise this year.

Shirker said...

Last week I tried to re-register my email multiple times (over a couple of days) and never received any confirmation links. Then all at once on Friday, my inbox was inundated with emails from each of my earlier attempts. Oddly, I had no problems registering a new email address. I wouldn't be suprised if you get the text later this week.

Anonymous said...

For the Tax Credit, it will likely be available at some point in February.

Probably around the time you'll get your T4's, etc....

D.F. said...

Usage reports for tax purposes aren't available until march 1st

C.J. Smith said...

Then for GOD'S SAKE JUST SAY MARCH 1st right on the %^&$#*!@ page.

God damn.

freaky_kel said...

has anyone figured out what the "uninterrupted period" in the government website means? does it mean we need to use the presto card on the wkends too inorder to be eligible for the tax credit???

C.J. Smith said...

Rest assured everyone! What it means is that in a 1 month period, you used your Presto card 32 times... or 16 days back and forth on the system. Okay? Most of us apply.

Bicky said...

On the FAQs page on the Presto site, it says beginning March 1, those reports will be available. They should put it on the main transit usage report page though. No one thinks to check FAQs. Okay, I did but I'm a geek. There I said it.

C.J. Smith said...

Don't let them off the hook that easy!!!
Put it where people will see it. Done.

lswgirl13 said...

The email updates are useless. They ALWAYS come AFTER the delay has happened.
I don't care about the tax thing, I keep all my receipts in a nice little envelope marked "GO TRAIN RECEIPTS - 2011". YES, anal is my middle name.

Anonymous said...

@ lswgirl13

Do you expect the alerts to come before a delay occurs? Think about it.

Todd said...

I find the alerts to be of little value too. I've been at union station when cancellations appear on the boards and it takes 15-30 minutes before I receive the alert on my phone.

Squiggles said...

@Anon: I think LSWgirl is talking about not finding out about the delay via notification until after it is cleared. There is no reason why they can't sync the departures board to the messaging system and send out the info at the right time.

Besides, I loathe it when I leave my nice cushy second home (though somedays it is the first) to discover that they sent the notice out 5 mins AFTER I get to the station, when things have been screwed up for a half hour or longer.

lswgirl13 said...

Yes, Squiggles got what I was trying to say.

Doug R said...

Registered this morning 24th and within 5 minutes I received my email verification. Hard to find the area where to enter you cell phone number for sms texts but that is setup as it pinged me 1 minute later. So things are working on Tuesday am. Now where is that Tims small, medium, whatever size cup?

lswgirl13 said...

On the new Tim's cups, is the human bladder capable of holding an extra-large Tim's cup???

Squiggles said...

Not certain. But I remember reading that it was almost 1/3 smaller than the starbucks Trenta. So, how does the new XL Tim's compare in volume to the Trenta?

I just know that it holds more caffeine than is recommended by Drs.

ExGOnowTTC said...

@Squiggles

Just for my own amusement, i always order a large at Starbucks. Just to confuse the staff.

Squiggles said...

I have done the same!

And to make things even better: the odd time I stop at Timmies, I ask for a venti.

lswgirl13 said...

You silly kids!