CTA

CTA Reminds Customers of Chicago Card and Chicago Card Plus Expirations

May 22, 2009

The Chicago Transit Authority reminds customers who purchased their Chicago Card Plus or Chicago Card four years ago that the cards are expiring and that free replacement cards are available.

Over 55,000 Chicago Card or Chicago Card Plus accounts will be affected by this round of expirations this year. Customers can check the expiration date of their cards by clicking the "Time to Renew?" link online at www.transitchicago.com.

Chicago Card Plus is a farecard with its balance kept in an online account. Chicago Cards use a stored-value system that allows fare value to be added to the card by inserting cash into any Transit Card Vending Machine, at Touch-n-Go locations, or using a debit or major credit card at Express Vending Machines.

Chicago Card Plus

More than 50,000 of the yellow and blue Chicago Card Plus cards expire in 2009 – with the majority expiring in July. The CTA will send e-mails to customer 45 days prior to the day the card is scheduled to expire. The e-mail will outline simple steps to verify the cardholder’s address online. Following verification, a replacement card will be mailed to the cardholder. The CTA will not send a replacement card unless the address is confirmed by the cardholder.

If a customer's old card has a remaining balance, the balance will be automatically transferred to the new card.

Customers are encouraged to update their Chicago Card Plus account online now by clicking the "Time to Renew?" link online at www.transitchicago.com, to assure that the CTA has the most accurate e-mail and address information for the account. Accounts also can be updated by calling 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Chicago Card

Approximately 4,600 of the blue on blue Chicago Cards are expiring through July 29. In addition to checking online at www.transitchicago.com, customers can check the expiration date of their Chicago Cards: at the passenger information units in most CTA rail stations; by calling 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. – 8 p.m.; or by visiting the CTA Sales Center at 567 W. Lake St., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Balances cannot be transferred when ordering online. Customers will need to use the remaining balance on their expiring Chicago Card prior to its expiration date.

To avoid deactivation or loss of their remaining balance, registered Chicago Card customers must obtain a replacement card. Only registered cards may have the balance transferred. In order to preserve balances, customers with unregistered cards are encouraged to go online or call CTA to register their cards before the expiration date. Once registered, customers will be able to transfer any remaining value to a new card.

Obtaining a new card with the balance transferred can be done through one of the following options:

  • In Person – Prior to card expiration, registered Chicago Card customers can transfer the balance from their existing card to a new one at the CTA Sales Center located on the second floor of CTA’s headquarters at 567 W. Lake St., Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. After presenting the soon-to-expire or expired card to the cashier, customers will be given a new card with the remaining balance transferred from the expiring card.
  • Over the Phone – Customers with a registered Chicago Card, who wish to transfer the balance of their existing card to a new one after it expires, also can call 1-888-YOUR-CTA (1-888-968-7282), Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m. A new card with the remaining balance from the expired card will be mailed within five to seven business days.

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