Senator Fuschillo Announces Senate Passage of Legislation to Repeal Lirr Ticket Refund Fee

Legislation Would Require MTA to Give Customers Full Refunds on Unused One-Way and Round-Trip LIRR Tickets

     Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (R-Merrick) announced that the New York State Senate recently passed legislation he cosponsors to repeal the MTA’s refund fee on one-way and round-trip LIRR tickets.

     “Charging riders a ticket refund fee that is often more expensive than the ticket itself is totally unreasonable. This legislation would put a stop to this unfair policy and require the MTA to do the right thing by its customers,” said Senator Fuschillo, Chairman of the Senate’s Transportation Committee.

     On December 30, 2010, the MTA shortened the amount of time LIRR tickets remain valid from six months to just two weeks. While passengers can return unused tickets for a refund within thirty days of purchase, the MTA now charges them a $10 surcharge for each ticket return transaction. In some cases, this surcharge is higher than the actual ticket price.

     The legislation (S3778D) would eliminate this $10 fee and require the MTA to provide passengers with a full refund for unused one-way and roundtrip tickets, without imposing any surcharges. Passengers would also have six months to either use the ticket or seek a refund under the proposed law.

     The legislation has been sent to the Assembly.