Fare Collection, MetroCard/OMNY, and Revenue Handling
Fare Collection, MetroCard/OMNY, and Revenue Handling tests accurate transactions, secure cash, and correct guidance on fare media. The exam expects you to protect revenue, explain fare products, and escalate problems you cannot resolve at the booth.
Core rules
- MetroCard: check balance, expiration, and refill eligibility; explain reduced-fare and unlimited products only from current materials. Protect balances by directing riders to register their card.
- OMNY: explain tapping a contactless card or phone, checking the OMNY account, and fare capping in plain terms. Do not promise a refund or diagnose a personal device.
- Revenue: count cash in the booth according to procedure, record the transaction, keep cash out of public view, and secure it immediately. Never commingle personal money with fare revenue.
- Report counterfeit currency, damaged equipment, and shortages immediately; document what you observed, not what you suspect.
- Refunds and adjustments follow written procedures. If the rule is unclear, refer to a supervisor rather than improvising.
Worked example
A rider says OMNY charged twice for one trip. You cannot see the account from the booth. Correct response: ask which device was tapped, confirm the reader showed a successful tap, give the OMNY customer-service route, and explain how to review trip history. Reasoning: a booth cash refund is not the standard fix for an account-level dispute; guessing creates an audit problem.
Traps that cost marks
Leaving cash visible, accepting a payment without a receipt or record, “fixing” a MetroCard by re-swiping repeatedly, promising refunds, and discussing fare-evasion enforcement with a rider who is only asking for directions. Accuracy and auditability beat speed.
Key habit
Record the transaction, secure the cash, and route account problems to the right channel.