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Post by lmtengs on May 28, 2010 14:49:48 GMT -8
Try calling them again tomorrow to see what the person says. Maybe a different person'll be on duty.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on May 28, 2010 17:24:54 GMT -8
Well the girl I talked to had to go find out so I assume she was talking to someone who knows what there doing!
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Post by Nickfro on Aug 5, 2010 8:39:24 GMT -8
A friend of mine loaded $250 onto their experience card, planning ahead for their summer holidays worth of ferry travel. After further calculations, they realized that another $50 should be added to the balance, making it $300. Therefore they phoned BCFS not more than 10 minutes after loading the $250 online to add another $50. They were informed that a minimum of $85 must be loaded onto the card, otherwise discount fares wouldn't be available. After thoroughly explaining that the $250 was just loaded onto the card mere minutes ago and a they underestimated the actual amount required, BCFS still wouldn't add $50 to the card.
It's things like this that really make me shake my head at some of their systems and policies.
On another note, I see the minimum loading amount to obtain discount fares has increased from $40 to $45 for footies and from $75 to $85 for vehicles. What is also frustrating here is that they do not post the minimum loading amount in their Experience Card information pages, but instead have the following comment:
The only way to find out what the minimum loading amount to obtain fare discounts is to apply and get to the page that asks you how much to load onto your card, or to phone them. Personally, I like to obtain all important information before proceeding with a transaction, and would sure like their online info to sufficiently supply everything I need to know. They used to supply that important information, but now it appears to be quite foggy.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,171
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Post by Neil on Aug 5, 2010 9:39:27 GMT -8
A friend of mine loaded $250 onto their experience card, planning ahead for their summer holidays worth of ferry travel. After further calculations, they realized that another $50 should be added to the balance, making it $300. Therefore they phoned BCFS not more than 10 minutes after loading the $250 online to add another $50. They were informed that a minimum of $85 must be loaded onto the card, otherwise discount fares wouldn't be available. After thoroughly explaining that the $250 was just loaded onto the card mere minutes ago and a they underestimated the actual amount required, BCFS still wouldn't add $50 to the card. It's things like this that really make me shake my head at some of their systems and policies. Just like their rigidness in charging you to change reservations, even if you've just made them. It would cost them nothing to alter either. Still, in fairness, it is made clear at the terminals that whenever you load the experience cards you must add the minimum, so I would assume the only people who don't know that are ones who've never paid while travelling.
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Post by lmtengs on Aug 5, 2010 10:40:24 GMT -8
They state their rules and they follow them. How is that sneaky/rude/irritating? Sure, some people think it's a breach of good customer service, but when you buy one of these things, you should be sure that you know the rules an regulations of the product. BC Ferries sets the rules, and BC Ferries keeps true to their rules, just like they should. And no, I don't think I'm wearing rose-tinted glasses....
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Post by Nickfro on Aug 5, 2010 11:04:44 GMT -8
They state their rules and they follow them. How is that sneaky/rude/irritating? I don't see anyone other than yourself using the words sneaky, rude, irritating. Don't try to put words in someone else's mouth. My opinion: There are rules, and then there is common sense. Most customers like common sense to prevail at times. Customer service can be lost when the staff follow the rules 100% of the time. Sometimes I think BC Ferries is turning into Air Canada of the seas.
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Post by lmtengs on Aug 5, 2010 12:05:53 GMT -8
They state their rules and they follow them. How is that sneaky/rude/irritating? I don't see anyone other than yourself using the words sneaky, rude, irritating. Don't try to put words in someone else's mouth. Remember that recent news story about that woman who was suing BCF because her card ran out? (it wasn't an Experience Card, but it's still BCF merchandise) The press portrayed it as such in that case, plus previous opinions from me myself and I have been meant to be read in such a fashion. Therefore, I am stating my new opinion. Plus, I never DID mention that anyone in particular said "sneaky/rude/irritating". If I had said "OH WELL JIMMY BUFFET SAID IT WAS SNEAKY/RUDE IRRITATING!" then that would be a different story... But yeah, I'm sorry if you saw that as putting words in someone's mouth.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Aug 5, 2010 13:26:51 GMT -8
I just loaded like $50 I think it was on mine. So you have to load the exact minimun amount to get discounts???
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Post by Nickfro on Aug 5, 2010 13:40:40 GMT -8
I just loaded like $50 I think it was on mine. So you have to load the exact minimun amount to get discounts??? No. Just load at least the minimum. If you got confused because of my friend's situation, it's because they required the minimum $85 to get vehicle discounts too, as most of their ferry travel requires them taking their vehicle.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Nov 6, 2010 18:18:58 GMT -8
Was the question ever resolved as to whether you can load an Experience Card from a gift certificate? I recently got a gift certificate, and I want to apply it to my experience card... is this possible? Obviously I'd still have to load the minimum amount to get the discounts.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Nov 6, 2010 22:02:32 GMT -8
The person I talked to from BC Ferries said you couldent which I thought was BS cause you can load it with cash but not a Gift Certificate which is pretty much the same as cash!
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Post by fastfifty on Nov 16, 2010 13:56:17 GMT -8
This question is for anyone has actually used a gift certificate in the restaurants or gift shop. Do they give you cash for the remaining value of what you don't spend? Could you actually buy a pack of gum with a $50 certificate, and get forty eight bucks cash for change?
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Nov 16, 2010 15:33:01 GMT -8
This question is for anyone has actually used a gift certificate in the restaurants or gift shop. Do they give you cash for the remaining value of what you don't spend? Could you actually buy a pack of gum with a $50 certificate, and get forty eight bucks cash for change? Yes, you would be given back the remainder in cash.
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Post by Scott on Nov 16, 2010 17:18:42 GMT -8
Yes, you would be given back the remainder in cash. You should get the remainder in cash. I believe it even says on the gift certificate that you will get the remainder in cash. Even still, we've had one incident where a ferry employee told us we couldn't get change from it, so be careful.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Nov 16, 2010 18:29:09 GMT -8
I have used a $10 one in the Cafeteria but I had to pay the rest seeing the price was more than the Certficate. I even had one guy in the Cafe say to the other lady if they even still use Gift Certificates. I guess they dont see them too often now!
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Post by Queen of Vancouver on Nov 30, 2010 6:20:06 GMT -8
can you use them for the buffet or other ammenities?
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Nov 30, 2010 10:56:37 GMT -8
Experience Cards can only be used for Fares at the moment! You might be able to use them for other things in the future but right now it's only Fares! Gift Certs you can use for any BC Ferries purchase.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Dec 31, 2010 12:48:57 GMT -8
k I have like $1.50 or somewhere in that range left on my Experience Card. Now does the balance have to be $45 when loaded or can you load $45 and have the balance like $46.50 with the remainder from before included to get the discounts??
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Post by Ferryman on Dec 31, 2010 13:01:07 GMT -8
You would have to still load the full minimum amount as far as I know, and then the balance will include the remaining amount of $46.50.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Dec 31, 2010 13:17:16 GMT -8
k I have like $1.50 or somewhere in that range left on my Experience Card. Now does the balance have to be $45 when loaded or can you load $45 and have the balance like $46.50 with the remainder from before included to get the discounts?? As Chris mentioned, you have to load $45.00 on top of the remaining amount. When done, you would have $46.50 available for passenger-only discounts. Similarly, if you loaded $85.00, you would have $86.50 available for vehicle and passenger discounts.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 2, 2011 9:20:22 GMT -8
Does you card have to be low to add money to get discounts cause I added $45 to my card and still have $45 left to put again on my card but I am wondering if I can do that anytime or just when it gets low to get the discounts???
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Post by Dane on Jan 2, 2011 11:03:09 GMT -8
All that matters is how much the reload is for - that "labels" the card for which type of discount is available.
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Post by lmtengs on Apr 5, 2011 18:39:14 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 5, 2011 19:05:24 GMT -8
Experience Cards are now being replaced by 'Auto-load buy-in Levels', whatever the heck those are... ummm, read that a bit closer. What they are changing is the Amount of the minimum $-load that you're required to put into an Experience card, when you choose the "auto load" option.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 6, 2011 8:34:36 GMT -8
Experience Cards are now being replaced by 'Auto-load buy-in Levels', whatever the heck those are... ummm, read that a bit closer. What they are changing is the Amount of the minimum $-load that you're required to put into an Experience card, when you choose the "auto load" option. The autoload idea is a good one for those people who value convenience. These are the type of people who might otherwise load $200 or more on their card to save the trouble of reloading. Then if the card is lost then there is the potential to lose more funds. Why the minimum? It is quite normal for a third party to manage this for a company. They typically charge a set processing/transaction fee, on top of the % fee the actual credit card company/bank charge. If the processing is done inhouse by the company and not a third party, the cost per transaction is often more expensive in the long run, when you add in labour costs and other overhead. So either way, the company has to make the process cost effective, or they would have profits seriously erroded. When you reload your Timmies or Starbucks card online a backend/transaction cost usually is covered by them, with a third party as well, but typically less than autoload. And when you reload your card in person with an attendant/cashier, a smaller fee is also incurred by whoever is processing the card. That is why you see logos on the handheld terminal you use for debit/credit cards. However since the costs are all lower than the autoload, there usually aren't minimums.
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