smart way to make money with this new OV card introduction. The authorities are aware of the bottlenecks one have to get through to get those monies back but they are not doing anything about it.

By kwabena | October 23, 2009 1:34 PM

Come on. I don't trust the transport companies. When the new OV card was introduced, I was immediately robbed 10 euros and couldn't get into the metro gantry. Reported this to the metro personnel and they give you a form to try to claim the money back. After more than one year, nothing is heard from them. This is one of the worse OV system I have ever experienced. Try Singapore or Hong Kong. they only take money off you when you get out. Not before!!!

By ibizatown | October 23, 2009 2:09 PM

The Public Transport system here is terribly overpriced. Time and again I am subject to trains being late, overcrowded and rude staff. And every year they have the cheek to jack up the prices. I get a crappy service and pay through the nose for it. It's no wonder more and more people take to owning their own car/moped. There was once a time when it was good value for money, but now it's certainly not the case.

They should go and check out Madrid or Spains transport system. It's cheap, clean, comfortable and great value for money!! I'd rather pay tax to subsidise my transport system than to pay for cheating lying thieving bankers and their crony politicians

By Caycu | October 23, 2009 5:34 PM

It's almost impossible to get your money back, since you yourself have to prove that the transaction was in error. You have to go to a card-machine, to print out only the last 10 transactions on a little unreadable slip that has transactions in a random order. Lots of times there appears to be false information on this slip, with transactions that were done at places you've never been.

The online Mijn OV-chipkaart (www.ov-chipkaart.nl/mijnov) is a hoax as well. The Trans Link system points to the transport company for not providing the right information. It's a bureaucratic conspiracy.

The reason why people don't complain is that there is NO alternative way to travel.

In normal societies this is called stealing, but in Holland ripping off people is a national sport (Dirk Scheringa Bank).

By rotterdammer | October 23, 2009 5:56 PM

It is a crappy system, badly implemented.
Ever tried reloading a card in Amsterdam CS for example ?! Ever tried using a day card on a non-GVB bus ?!
Pay on leaving is so clearly how it should work, the brains behind this should feel disgusted with themselves.
After years of dilligently using strippencards, I will now avoid paying whenever possible.

By redsky | October 24, 2009 9:49 AM

ov card has to be pray for just because
the ideas ov card would fail in a short
a near future okay.

By original Boboo | October 24, 2009 12:26 PM

Not only a bottleneck at the reclaim window but sometimes also a mini one checking out. How about check in/out machines on the platforms?

By joe | October 25, 2009 3:20 PM

I`m living in Rotterdam since mid last year. At first I had to learn how to use stropcards, and that was hilarious:), than I was introduced to OV chip card, than again to the new OV cards used with rail...I guess people at the top are thinking how to make my life cruel. And the money you have to pay for the transport is ridiculous. Go to Warsaw for example. The ticket there is 0.80E and practicaly there is ONE ZONE in a city which is 4 times (or more)the size of Rotterdam...

By Papke | October 27, 2009 10:21 AM

its not given , its stolen , the OV chip card is a scam

By Zen | January 8, 2010 5:42 PM