The Good Portlanders
When last we checked in on me, I had just returned from a lovely, albeit short, weekend in PDX. Alert readers will remember that I had lost my Husky Card. Fortunately, I was able to get a new one for a mere sawbuck. And I didn't even have to get a new photo because, things being digital these days, they had an archived copy of me, which they reprinted.
Das U-Pass, however, was another thing. I had to pay a $40 (or double double-sawbuck) fee for a replacement. It was still a bargain, even with the $100 original (yeah, they went up) because US$140 for over three months of unlimited rides is still well worth it.
So I go online to make a payment the other day and to my surprise my bill was only $10. When I checked my email later, I saw this:
Hello,
You recently came to our office to replace a lost student ID card. This
afternoon, somebody turned in your old card to our office. Although we
cannot reverse the $10 charge for your new card (as there is no way to
go back and reactivate an old card), we can reverse the $40 U-Pass
replacement fee since your old card came to us with the sticker still
attached within 5 business days. Your new total billed is therefore $10,
as opposed to $50. Please let us know if you have any questions
regarding this matter.
How about that? My card somehow made it back from Portland with everything intact. Good People of Portland, I salute you! Rule Portlandia!
On the other hand, it could have just been Good Seattletonians/Washingtites visiting PDX, finding my card, and bringing it back. But I prefer to think that Colin Meloy was just walking down Glisan Ave one fine day. He happened to spy my card and find it queer to see a Husky Card here. So he sped off northward, determined to reunite the card with its owner. He is now composing a melodramatic song about the whole melancholy affair. I'm sure of it.
Das U-Pass, however, was another thing. I had to pay a $40 (or double double-sawbuck) fee for a replacement. It was still a bargain, even with the $100 original (yeah, they went up) because US$140 for over three months of unlimited rides is still well worth it.
So I go online to make a payment the other day and to my surprise my bill was only $10. When I checked my email later, I saw this:
Hello,
You recently came to our office to replace a lost student ID card. This
afternoon, somebody turned in your old card to our office. Although we
cannot reverse the $10 charge for your new card (as there is no way to
go back and reactivate an old card), we can reverse the $40 U-Pass
replacement fee since your old card came to us with the sticker still
attached within 5 business days. Your new total billed is therefore $10,
as opposed to $50. Please let us know if you have any questions
regarding this matter.
How about that? My card somehow made it back from Portland with everything intact. Good People of Portland, I salute you! Rule Portlandia!
On the other hand, it could have just been Good Seattletonians/Washingtites visiting PDX, finding my card, and bringing it back. But I prefer to think that Colin Meloy was just walking down Glisan Ave one fine day. He happened to spy my card and find it queer to see a Husky Card here. So he sped off northward, determined to reunite the card with its owner. He is now composing a melodramatic song about the whole melancholy affair. I'm sure of it.