Code 13

This is a warning. Do not bend or scratch your UPass.
Why you ask? Well, let me tell you a story.

Last Thursday I was on my way to the Lincoln Park campus for class. I entered the Belmont el stop, put my card through and attempted to go enter the turn style. I was denied. "Code 13, please see attendant!" the machine screamed at me. See an attendant I do. He lets me through with no explanation of what a code 13 violation entails.

That evening on my way back to my apartment I prayed that the violation earlier that morning was just a fluke, put my card through and was promptly denied again. ANOTHER code 13 violation! I once again tell an attendant who makes a joke: "You know, they turn these things off if you are failing one of your classes." Very funny.

I am later told by another attendant that a code 13 means my card was scratched or bent somewhere and no longer worked. I needed to get a new one. I make my way over to card services in the Student Center and receive no help besides the fact that I must call the CTA and they will send me a new one.

LIES. I call, do not receive a new UPass and worst of all am told that I must make my way to the CTA building somewhere in the loop via the pink line and pay 35 dollars for a new one! Really? Thirty-five dollars?

Moral of the story: do not, I repeat, do not place your UPass anywhere that it can get scratched or bent. It will not work and you will pay.