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Comment by arthurgibson | Hacker News Reader

Also not mentioned is that these cards expire in some 3-6 month range and are usually never redeemed.

I just looked into this. From http://web.mta.info/metrocard/mcCombinationValue.htm -

> Your MetroCard can be refilled with time and value for about one year. The MetroCard Vending Machine will tell you when the card expiration date is coming up, and will issue you a new MetroCard at no charge with all your purchases on it.

I haven't had my coffee today. I took that quite wrong at first.

I can tell you from experience that the cards don't last a year. They are very flimsy and they stop working sooner than that. If a card becomes too damaged to read you are supposed to send it in to some MTA address to get a replacement but I've done that and never heard back from them. You can also go to their office in lower Manhattan during business hours and do it in person. Which is okay if you work downtown, but useless otherwise.

Try the station agent next time.

The station agent gave me the prepaid envelope to send the damaged card to the black hole "processing center".

At one year they replace the card for free. Seems like a good thing, so you don't end up with one that falls apart...

Expiration is 1 year from issue, and will auto replace with a new card if they are filled in the last month.

Also the station agent can replace it for you even after its expired

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