Intex

I learned the hard way that the Metro Police require you to fasten a picture (ie: staple- as if I have a stapler here)to the Orange weekly or monthly Metro Card. Evidently having the picture on top of the proper space, under the plastic cover is not enough. It cost me 80 Euros today. The police take cash or Credit Card ON THE SPOT, or else.

What a way to start your day.

jody

You were ripped off by someone.

The metro ticket agents used to put your picture under the plastic film so I'm sure that's the only way to afix it. I've been using the same carte orange card for years and have shown it to inspectors and never been stopped.

Live and learn

stormbird

Intex - did this happen on the train - were there other people around you at the time?

Did they offer identification etc?

Travelnut

The way I am reading the OP's statement is that he/she put the orange id card into the plastic sleeve and then just inserted a photo on top of that, without affixing the photo to the card. The photo spot on the card has a sticky place you reveal, as I recall. At any rate, the photo must be affixed / stuck onto the card, not just carried with the card. Otherwise, someone else could use it during the validity period (sharing it).

Travelnut

p.s. it is doubtful that a scam artist would be prepared to take credit cards. I say this was a legitimate fine.

MademoiselleFifi

Are you talking about the regular old Carte Orange or the new Navigo Decouverte? My (very old) Carte Orange was self-laminating; did that change?

I was confused by some recent posts here http://fodors.com/forums/threadselec...p;tid=35077501 describing the Navigo Decouverte as having just a sticky spot for the photo to lie on top of, without any other permanent film over it. I thought maybe that poster just didn't assemble it correctly; how can a card that's meant to last 10 years have a photo just stuck on top like that? Wouldn't someone be able to just peel the photo off to share it then?

Intex

There were about 4 Metro Investigators in uniforms and identification at the Tour Eiffel stop, on the steps down from the metro track.

The card does have an adhesive area, that I just noticed after using "glasses", but we just pushed the picture underneath the plastic cover that they supply you. They beleiev that if it is not affixed, then someone else could use the card, in theory they are correct, but I guess intent is not good enough.

The problem is, if you purchase the Orange card from the automated machines, as they almost force you to do!, then you never receive the accompanying ID card, unless you are astute enough to ask the station master for one.

This was not a scam, but just bad luck, as woman officers seem to be less lenient than the men.

Anyway, I hope you learn from my mistake.

kerouac

Sometimes the inspectors are not in uniform, particularly when they come on board buses. They show identification when they start the control procedures.

Travelnut

Intex, thanks for sharing your experience. Hopefully, others will see this and also the many (many!) posts on Fodors and Tripadvisor that fully inform how to assemble and use the C.O. ticket, including the advice that it must have the id card with it.

suze1

I'm sure glad I read this post, I never read anywhere that you had to have a picture with you. We're going to be in Paris 5 nights and 4 days so I'm assuming we'll need the card.

I'm just going to print a picture at my work on regular paper, I'm assuming that's OK and that it doesn't have to be on regular picture paper, or does it?

kerouac

Very small picture. Half the size of a US passport photo at the most.

mstraveler

Am feeling a little dense, but I don't understand the ID part. Going to Paris 11/22 and after years of just getting the visitor transit pass am planning to take a small photo and assumed I would pay my money, get the pass, put my picture on it and be done. There seem to be a step I am missing...I need to get an ID in addition to the pass with my picture? Would appreciate a clarification of what to do except show up with a picture and some cash to pay for the pass.

Many thanks!

Travelnut

The Carte Orange is three pieces:
1. small ticket that looks about the same as a regular metro ticket
2. identification card - this is the 'orange' part. there is a sticky place to put your photo,staples are not required. You write the id card # onto the ticket (there's a small space for it). The photo should be very small, maybe 1x1 inch.
3. gray plastic folding case - slide the orange id card into the clear pocket and insert the ticket in the slot, fold the gray plastic holder and put in your purse or pocket.

Pull out the ticket to use at the turnstiles, retrieve the ticket and replace in the gray holder.

Photos for examples:
http://www.discoverfrance.net/France...nge_sleeve.jpg
http://ecoville.e.c.pic.centerblog.net/bvj49ou1.jpg

avalon

Better yet get the Navigo Decouverte , It still has an ID card which requires a picture, but your weekly or monthly ticket is loaded onto a plastic card that just has to be touched to the scanner. Carte Orange is going to be phased out.

It will cost you an extra 5€, but can be used on future trips.

Christina

This would seem clear to me that just putting a photo on top of a plastic sleeve, but not permanently attached, would not be legal. It would be like not having a photo attached at all. The whole point is that these are individual, not a pass that you can share amongst people, and that's why it must be permanently attached.

I kind of doubt that the metro police said you should staple a photo to it -- that wouldn't be permanent, either. There is a small stickey spot for the photo, but the plastic cover is laminated on top of that, and is permanent. There are instructions they give you right with it that tells you all that and tells you exactly what to do. They are in French, but if you are going to buy French passes, you have to take responsibility for understanding the directions -- or just buy the tourist pass, which doesn't require a photo ID and will be understandable.

Travelnut's directions are pretty good but they do leave out the step that you have to put the plastic laminate over it after you affix your photo. The instructions tell you that.

mstraveler

Thanks travelnut and avalon. The pictures were helpful and the clarification of Navigo is something I have also been confused about since it seems that the Carte Orange is still being sold. I had always assumed the "phasing out" meant that old ones were good, but no more new ones would be sold. But that does not appear to be the case. I am assuming the Navigo is sold in the same places as the Carte Orange? And Thurs-Sun for the following week?

Thanks all.

kerouac

Sale of the Carte Orange coupon has been discontinued in ONE station so far - Trinité. I imagine that they are using that station to test public reaction and that the discontinuation will accelerate starting in January 2008.

superheterodyne

>> Sale of the Carte Orange coupon has been discontinued in ONE station so far - Trinité. <<

Add a couple stations of Line 11.

Gretchen

AND do not overlook the instruction to write the number of your Carte Orange cover ON the weekly ticket you purchase to use.

scdreamer

We purchased weekly passes in late October - bought them at the Coulaincourt-Lamarck metro station from a human (as opposed to the machines). The agent told us we needed to put an ID photo on the card in the gray plastic folder, but we were never able to find a place to copy a photo, so we used the tickets all week without any photos affixed. Guess were were just lucky we never got stopped - as were were on the Metro at least four or five different times every day.