Elderly forced to buy unnecessary AT HOP cards, according to political leader
Political party New Zealand First is urging SuperGold Cardholders who travel for free on Auckland public transport not to waste their money buying a prepaid card.
New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters says seniors are being pressured to spend $15 on an Auckland Transport prepaid HOP card and advises those who have done so to demand their money back.
Peters introduced the SuperGold Card in 2007, which allows holders to for travel on the bus, train or ferry from 9am on weekdays and all day on weekends and public holidays.
“SuperGold Cardholders should demand their money back if they paid $5 for the card and the minimum $10 prepaid credit because the HOP card is simply an attack on the elderly,” he says.
Auckland Transport’s HOP-card campaign has already signed up 11,129 SuperGold Cardholders.
“That means Auckland Transport has fleeced more than $166,000 from seniors who gain no advantage from buying the tag-on, tag-off card,” says Peters.
“It is a grand confidence trick.
“A SuperGold Cardholder told us she would never use the $10 she was forced to load on the card and quite rightly asked, what is Auckland Transport doing with all the money?”
The SuperGold Card provides senior citizens with a range of discounts and travel concessions through the 10,000 businesses that take part.