Embaressing moment on Arriva Bus

If the eResidency card shows you are of retirement age (I think has a 60+ on it ??) then it serves the same function as the Karta Anzan.

Here we go, I was waiting for this one....This is going to take months for people to get their heads round and I have a feeling that, this is not the last time we will hear a story like this.

Not just about the buses but anyone who needs an ID card shown are going to question it.

well theres a surprise......

I think its important to put in context - even once is too often, but from talking to friends its quite rare its questioned - I've not had a problem using the card on either buses or the ferry, and its uncommon for friends in Gozo to experience problems

Angela - does your card have a 60+ sign on it ?

That must have been awful! We have been questioned by bus drivers when we have presented our EResidency cards and tendered our 50cents but have not encountered anything like that. We have stood our ground and pointed out the 60+ on the back of the card and they have accepted the cards - often with a comment about it being the first time they have seen one....We haven't been checked by an inspector to date, so thanks for letting us know about his attitude

Our Karta Anzan was issued by the local council and we still carry it to show. Have councils stopped issuing them ? if not just apply for one and carry it.

Is the new EID designed to replace the Karta Anzan?

I have to say that when I questioned the new arrangements for the Karta Anzjan when making our ID application at the new Gozo office, as nice and as helpful as the clerk was, she gave me incorrect information, saying I had to apply at the local council office and I would be issued it from there. I didn't argue with her and just decided to wait and see. I blame the managers who seem to have little idea of how to manage and promulgate correct information rather than take issue with front line staff.

Karta Anzan no longer issued to foreigners

"Is the new EID designed to replace the Karta Anzan?" yes

Yes  our e-residency has 60+ on it which we kept pointing out to the inspector but he still kept asking for the "elderly" card. Its pure lack of communication between the Council, the Ministry and the transport system....I wouldn't wish this experience of anyone...still no answer from Arriva!!!!!! And still no reply to the numbers given by the Ministry.

The local council cannot issue this card due to the new numbers on the e-residency, we have tried this twice already, that would be the answer to everything - issue everyone with the card The largest problem is that nobody wants to accept responsibility and we literally don't know which way to approach this situation in order that it doesn't happen again apart from paying the full fare

As you are in Gozo,  I'd go to the bus terminus in Victoria and speak to the person in charge

angela lister wrote:

The local council cannot issue this card due to the new numbers on the e-residency, we have tried this twice already, that would be the answer to everything - issue everyone with the card The largest problem is that nobody wants to accept responsibility and we literally don't know which way to approach this situation in order that it doesn't happen again apart from paying the full fare

Your old number is on the new EID!

We have send a letter to the head office in Malta, I could try with Gozo but I think the answer from them would be "Its the Maltese Inspectors"  but thanks

That was the original problem with the Kartanzjan in the first instance as they were issued by the local councils who wrongly made the assumption that if one held an id card then as a foreigner you had residency which by and large they didnt.

I know its not ideal but i think one has to stand your ground with these things. Or if forced to pay the higher fares keep the tickets and TAKE THE INSPECTOR AND DRIVERS DETAILS THEN go get the refunds.

I agree with you, but when you cant even get their name etc its quite difficult. Im waiting for a reply from Arriva. Its so frustrating.

angela lister wrote:

I agree with you, but when you cant even get their name etc its quite difficult. Im waiting for a reply from Arriva. Its so frustrating.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Romina Carabott
Customer Care Officer
Corporate Services Directorate
Transport Malta 
 
romina.carabott@transport.gov.mt

angela lister wrote:

I agree with you, but when you cant even get their name etc its quite difficult. Im waiting for a reply from Arriva. Its so frustrating.

date and time of bus and vehicle route number, reg number - and the ticket should be enough.

tearnet wrote:

angela lister wrote:

The local council cannot issue this card due to the new numbers on the e-residency, we have tried this twice already, that would be the answer to everything - issue everyone with the card The largest problem is that nobody wants to accept responsibility and we literally don't know which way to approach this situation in order that it doesn't happen again apart from paying the full fare

Your old number is on the new EID!

Not if you have not had an ID card before

its all down to total lack of communication between the issuing depts the government and the companies requiring these documents.

rooikat wrote:

tearnet wrote:

angela lister wrote:

The local council cannot issue this card due to the new numbers on the e-residency, we have tried this twice already, that would be the answer to everything - issue everyone with the card The largest problem is that nobody wants to accept responsibility and we literally don't know which way to approach this situation in order that it doesn't happen again apart from paying the full fare

Your old number is on the new EID!

Not if you have not had an ID card before

Ahh, so what it on the back of the new EID if you didn't have an ID card before?
Do you not have a 5 or 6 digit number ending in A ?

its probably a phone number to phone home....:-)

Or perhaps Byron's phone number for advice on your EU  rights?

tearnet wrote:

rooikat wrote:

tearnet wrote:

Your old number is on the new EID!

Not if you have not had an ID card before

Ahh, so what it on the back of the new EID if you didn't have an ID card before?
Do you not have a 5 or 6 digit number ending in A ?

It's a 7 digit number plus an A - which is probably why local councils can't use it to issue a Kartanzjan - even if they were prepared to do so....

rooikat wrote:

tearnet wrote:

rooikat wrote:

Not if you have not had an ID card before

Ahh, so what it on the back of the new EID if you didn't have an ID card before?
Do you not have a 5 or 6 digit number ending in A ?

It's a 7 digit number plus an A - which is probably why local councils can't use it to issue a Kartanzjan - even if they were prepared to do so....

I think you will find that is your id number, ours has 7 digits all together if you include the first two which are zeros, the numbers after the zeros is your id number, someone can correct me if they think otherwise

Just been reported in the Times

"He [the Transport Minister] also said that discriminatory bus fares would stop and foreigners would be charged in the same way as the Maltese."

georgeingozo wrote:

Just been reported in the Times

"He [the Transport Minister] also said that discriminatory bus fares would stop and foreigners would be charged in the same way as the Maltese."

but when??? and in what decade?

the whole sentence is full of ambiguities and errors

1. " discriminatory bus fares would stop" so no more child fares ?
2. "foreigners would be charged in the same way as the Maltese." its not about foreigners, but residents and non residents

when ? 5:30am, but day, date (or, indeed decade) not specified

georgeingozo wrote:

the whole sentence is full of ambiguities and errors

1. " discriminatory bus fares would stop" so no more child fares ?
2. "foreigners would be charged in the same way as the Maltese." its not about foreigners, but residents and non residents

when ? 5:30am, but day, date (or, indeed decade) not specified

to me there is no distinction I am never referred to as a resident OR noin resdient - but EITHER WILL ALWAYS BE FOREIGNERS.

The distinction is that resident foreigners already get the lower rates :-)

but my point is it refers to all foreigners

putting the wordplay to one side its about time the playing field was levelled.

I agree, ludicrous state of affairs, especially for a country so dependent on tourism

georgeingozo wrote:

I agree, ludicrous state of affairs, especially for a country so dependent on tourism

especially for an EU country whose tourism relies heavily on tourists from other EU member states... very short-sighted

rainbow3 wrote:

rooikat wrote:

tearnet wrote:

Ahh, so what it on the back of the new EID if you didn't have an ID card before?
Do you not have a 5 or 6 digit number ending in A ?

It's a 7 digit number plus an A - which is probably why local councils can't use it to issue a Kartanzjan - even if they were prepared to do so....

I think you will find that is your id number, ours has 7 digits all together if you include the first two which are zeros, the numbers after the zeros is your id number, someone can correct me if they think otherwise

Our second number is not a zero I suspect that as they finally manage to catch up on the issuing, that the first zero will also fall away and they will all be full numbers but still making it 7 in total  - possibly to differentiate between those that have had a re-issue (5 or 6 numbers) and those that have never had an ID (7) numbers - just a guess

Sounds correct rooikat

I wonder when all the resident based discounted travel schemes in the UK will stop? Petition anybody?
Oh sorry, forgot, no politics. Anyone else remember?
PS. Not taking the ps out of admin, just reminding others who seem to have forgotten.

Just a thought, if you cannot get details of inspector etc due to unwillingness or language issues, just take a photo of them with your mobile phone and send that in.

rooikat wrote:

rainbow3 wrote:

rooikat wrote:

It's a 7 digit number plus an A - which is probably why local councils can't use it to issue a Kartanzjan - even if they were prepared to do so....

I think you will find that is your id number, ours has 7 digits all together if you include the first two which are zeros, the numbers after the zeros is your id number, someone can correct me if they think otherwise

Our second number is not a zero I suspect that as they finally manage to catch up on the issuing, that the first zero will also fall away and they will all be full numbers but still making it 7 in total  - possibly to differentiate between those that have had a re-issue (5 or 6 numbers) and those that have never had an ID (7) numbers - just a guess

I'd say its more to do with the design of the data bases they are using for eID and groupings. But basically, does it really matter?