OPUS card for students 12 and 13 years old: exceptionally, SPEQ photo studio is open Sunday, August 30, 2009 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m

Press release

August 28 2009

OPUS card
for students 12 and 13 years old:
exceptionally, SPEQ photo studio is open
Sunday, August 30, 2009
from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Montréal, August 28, 2009 – Many 12- and 13-year old students going from elementary school to high school this year do not yet have a registered photo ID OPUS card entitling them to reduced fares when using STM transit. In order for as many of them as possible to get their card in time, SPEQ Photo studio will exceptionally open its doors this Sunday, August 30, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
To obtain a photo ID OPUS card, students must present:

Registration form (Will open in new window)"> Registration form and, because they are under 14, this form must be signed by parental authority;
Proof of age (healthcare card, student card, etc.)

They will have to pay $12.50 in cash ($3. 50 for the OPUS card and $9 for administrative fees).

OOnce again this year, the Société de transport de Montréal (STM) will be visiting many schools in Montréal, beginning August 24 until the end of October. To find out when this session will take place, students are invited to consult the 2009-2010 back-to-school calendar (Will open in new window)">the 2009-2010 back-to-school calendar.

HOW TO PURCHASE TRANSIT FARES ONCE THE CARD IS ISSUED ?
Thanks to the new system, students can recharge their transit smartcard in métro stations (with fare controller or through automatic fare vending machines), and from authorized retail outlets.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CARD IS LOST OR STOLEN
Because OPUS cards are registered, the transit fares they contain can be recovered by their owners, if their card is lost or stolen. If that happens, cardholders must go to SPEQ Photo, as soon as possible, located at 2020 University (McGill métro station). The lost or stolen card will be invalidated in the system, making it unusable by anyone else.

A new card loaded with the fares that remained at the time the card was reported lost or stolen will then be issued. Proof of identity will be required, as well as a fee of $13.75.

WHAT HAPPENS IF THE CARD IS DAMAGED OR DEFECTIVE ?
Students are invited to go to SPEQ Photo, 2020 University (McGill station) to have it replaced.

PHOTO ID OPUS CARD: PERSONAL AND NON-TRANSFERABLE
Lastly, photo ID OPUS cards are personal and non-transferable. If a card was lent to someone else or obtained by fraudulent means, it will be confiscated and the reduced fare privilege will be withdrawn. Moreover, anyone who disregards transit fare regulations is subject to a fine of up to $500.

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