Thanks travelnut for the info. By the way, how much is a bus ticket/pass for two people for a week in Paris to go all over?

All the transport prices are found on this website:

www.ratp.fr

Look under "titres de transport", then under "tariffs".
I advise you to familiarize yourself with the tools on this site, esp. the maps and routing feature.

You don't have to use a passport photo - a photocopy of a photograph will do. We just photocopy the passport page (using our fax machine) and then cut out the photo for their ID card.

One tricky thing about the Carte Orange is that it works on a calendar week basis (Monday-Sunday), so that if your visit covers only part of a week or straddles two weeks, you might not get your money's worth. Individual tickets bottom in carnets of 10 are 1.09 each (or 1.40 if bought individually). The Carte Orange is 16 euros for zones 1-2 (all you really need). So you need to take 15 journeys in a calendar week to break even. On the one hand, many trips in Paris are quite walkable (and it's a nice way to see the city). So you might take public transportation less than you expect you will. On the other hand, you can't transfer from bus to metro, vice-versa or metro to bus (a separate ticket for each is required, but metro-metro transfers are covered by a single ticket), so you might occasionally need two tickets for a single trips. If you expect to make four one-way trips over four days, then it's worth buying. Three days or fewer and it probably doesn't make sense. They sell a Paris Visite card (1, 2, 3 or 5 days) but it's more expensive - e.g. 18.60 for 3 zone, 3 day card (and a whopping 27.20 for a 5-day card). (The three day card might be a good value if the added benefits of the Paris Visite card, which provides discounts for certain transportation, sites, stores and restaurants are worth it to you.) The Paris Visite card can be validated to start on any day.

>We finally got the correct address and got our refunds. <

Good for you, S.

Many times I've seen the Metro police check all passengers in a car -- tourists and locals alike.

Woody

For Carte Orange photos, there are photomatons for 2 euros in most metro stations, all train stations and just about every Monoprix, to name only a few locations. They use a video system now that allows you to choose the least horrible pose (but who cares for a Carte Orange?).

I don't feel worry for anyone who tries to take advantage of other public transportation systems, but would have in this case if it were solely the metro clerks fault. However, the OP admitted in the first post that they had read all about it on Fodors, many posts, and knew that you were supposed to have the card but that the metro police didn't bother you if you didn't. I agree with Kate who I think said the clerk probably assumed you had the card if you were trying to buy it from a machine, that's what they are for -- people who know what they are doing and already have the card. It isn't really clear from this post what assistance the clerk was asked about, either -- maybe just how to push a button or something functional about the machines, it's not clear. Otherwise, why would you not get them from the clerk directly at the window if you were asking their assistance? that's the weird part.

So, susie knew all along, apparently, that she was supposed to have the ID card, and decided to skip it, anyway. Even if it were the clerks error, clerks aren't perfect, if you knew you had to have one, why wouldn't you ask them about iot? Also, I have never read many posts on here where people claim the metro police don't care if you don't have the card -- in fact, I have read the exact opposite and always post on those threads when someone claims you don't need one. I always say that by regulation you must have a card, it is not debatable, and many other people say that also. I don't think I've ever read a single thread on Fodors where a person has said you don't need one and everybody agreed or said nothing.

Thanks for the info Susie.

For the picture you can cut out a face from a digital picture also.
The CO is REALLY cost effective for the bus because Paris buses do not have transfers--you need a new ticket (as from a carnet) for each leg. With the CO, you just hold it up.
The other good "buy" is the Mobilis, IF you know you will be using the public transport a LOT in one day (I think the break even point is 5 legs) and you don't have the CO. The Paris Visite is rarely a good deal.

>> Otherwise, why would you not get them from the clerk directly at the window if you were asking their assistance? that's the weird part. <

Under a new scheme for labor organisation at the RATP, some stations have no more manned booths but only vending machines with helping staff. Maybe the OP bought his/her CO at one of these stations.

The op said << However, the metro agent did not give us the carte orange card that you are supposed to receive when you purchase the weekly pass.>> Actually the obtaining of the carte orange wallet (which the OP did not get) is an infrequent transaction compared to the obtaining of the coupon hebdomadaire (which the OP did get). A Metro traveller in Paris often carries the same carte orange wallet for years, only obtaining the weekly or monthly ticket as necessary. I can recall a clerk having to search for the carte orange while she had the weekly ticket (coupon) readily available.
I am not surprised the clerk did not offer one - the expectation would be that the purchaser would know what they wanted and would ask for what they wanted.

-----Under a new scheme for labor organisation at the RATP, some stations have no more manned booths but only vending machines with helping staff.----

U sure about this SH? I believe some entrances to stations no longer have manned booths but all stations have at least one manned booth somewhere.

>> U sure about this SH? I believe some entrances to stations no longer have manned booths but all stations have at least one manned booth somewhere. <<

Yup. Edgar Quinet is an example : there is no more vending booth (well, technically there is still a booth, but only with heping staff)

At Les Halles, the upper ticket office is closed on the weekend and there are only machines, but the other ticket office down on the RER level is open. Unfortunately, there is no written indication of this.

Actually, to get back to the title of this thread, it must be mentioned that the intervention was by ticket checkers, not "metro police". Metro police do indeed exist and most people would not want them to take an interest in you. "RATP Sûreté" is even worse, with their clubs and their attack dogs, but they are there more for intimidation than intervention.

Wow...some of you can be harsh. However, the only reason I posted was so anyone else going would be sure to know to have the card and get the photo. That's all. I was just trying to be helpful. One person responded about the address we were given was probably just the main building...just so you know, that was not the case. The address for was a residence and the actual address was several blocks down the street. In any event, we had a wonderful trip.

Susie, the information is very helpful for others. It was your accusations and conspiracy theories that I found unwarranted.

I have to disagree with most of the responses to the OP. Nobody should have to read FODORS website or a guidebook to be assured they're being issued the proper documentation to ride a metro/bus/train. By going up to an authorized ticket agent to purchase access you're saying, "I want to ride the metro/bus/train. WHAT do I need to do in order to make this happen (i.e. pay x amount of money, produce x documents/identification, etc.)? In this case, in order to ride the metro you need a ticket AND a card. Enough said. If you already have a card, you tell the agent you don't need one. But it was the agent's job to sell the patron the correct access documentation and he did not do his job. The tourist office was right in recognizing the agent's oversight and suspending the fine.

Roundtrip you are applying american thinking to French culture. It simply doesnt work like that. Plus the OP KNEW THEY NEEDED the card and choose to skip it.

I have to disagree with Roundtrip.

I've bought many Carte Orange weekly coupons in Paris (after acquiring the initial "kit&quot. The OP said she "asked a metro agent for assistance and after several attempts at using the automatic machines, finally got passes".

Anyway, I've observed metro agents attempting to assist people who don't speak French as best they can. Often, the agent will ask over and over again "how many zones" and the customers will leave in frustration because they don't know how to answer the question.

Many times I've seen agents ask if the customer already has a "carte" or just wants the "coupon" and people who do not have cards answer "just the coupon".

If you don't know what you're doing, you don't know what you're doing.

She also says "I had read postings about the card, but that if we did not have it, the Paris metro police did not hassle tourists over it."

I have been visiting travel forums for more than ten years, Paris specifically, and have never, ever read anything like that. Quite the opposite. Whenever there is any discussion of Carte Orange, someone always comes along and reminds everyone that they'll need a photo from the card - AND to be sure to write the card number on each weekly coupon.

"That was not the case with our lovely metro policeman."

I, personally, think "lovely metro policeman" is disrepectful. Especially to a public official who is just doing his job.

"In any event, I was very upset by the experience as it clearly appeared to be a money making activity targeted at tourists."

Whenever I've seen a ticket check on the metro or buses, they've always checked each and every person - not just those who look like tourists.

And, according to the RAPT website, Carte Orange is intended for residents only, anyway - as it is heavily funded by taxpapers.

If you read the English version of the RATP website, there is no mention of Carte Orange, rather only the passes that are intended for tourists.