If you are a frequent traveler in the San Francisco Bay Area, US, then the Clipper Card is your key to unlocking seamless and convenient public transportation options. For the uninitiated, the Clipper Card acts as a re-loadable contactless smart card that helps simplify the fare collection mechanism across various service providers, ultimately eliminating the need for purchasing individual tickets and effectively making commutes faster.
Based on your travel needs, the use of a Clipper Card can be varied since it holds both cash value and transit passes. Such a novel concept provides immense flexibility not only for frequent commuters but also for occasional travelers, especially for those who are willing to navigate the San Francisco Bay Area’s public transportation network. The Clipper Card is currently integrated as a virtual card within Google and Apple wallets, and it also features special programs that offer discounted travel fees for low-paying individuals and senior citizens. Lastly, frequent users can also enjoy discounts on future commutes.
If you own a Clipper Card and you want to know the process to get a refund for unused fares or a replacement for a lost card, then our extensive guide can help you find the correct path without any hassle.
How to Get a Refund For Unused Fares
Before you decide to ask for a refund of unused fares for your Clipper Card, there are some necessary rules and regulations that you must remember. Starting with the refund amount – a cardholder can only ask for a refund if the remaining balance on his or her card is $5 or more. Additionally, you have to pay a card refund processing fee of $5.
The refund terms and conditions also state that requests for refunds for transit passes or stored rides will be subject to the policies followed by the specific service providers who provide those services. And if your Clipper Card balance carries a validity of 180 days, after which it will expire and no refund will be provided.
Users of the Clipper Card should also note that no refunds will be provided for cards that have a value added via the pre-tax or tax-exempt transit benefit program. Now that you have a thorough rundown of what to expect and what not to expect, follow the steps recommended below to submit the refund request for your Clipper Card.
- Start the process by first heading over to the official website here.
- On the landing page, scroll down till you reach the ‘Forms For Cardholder Requests’ section, and from there, click on the PDF link under ‘Card Cancellation Form’.
- Proceed to download the PDF file and then print it out. After that, fill out the form with all the required information, such as your Clipper Card serial number, contact information, reason for cancellation, payment details for the refund, etc.
- Once you have filled out the form, mail it to the following address: Clipper Customer Service, PO Box 318, Concord, CA 94522-0318.
- After receiving your cancellation form in the mail, Clipper Customer Service will verify your claims and process the refund in due time.
Lastly, if you are planning to request a refund for fares that were loaded into your Clipper Card ‘in error’, then there is no need to cancel your card. Instead, you can get in touch with Clipper support via phone at 877 878 8883 to request your refund.
How to Get a Replacement For a Lost Clipper Card
There are two ways you can ask for a replacement for your lost Clipper Card – online or via phone. Steps for each process have been provided below.
Make a Request Online
- Begin by first logging into your Clipper account here.
- Once logged in, click on the ‘More Options’ menu, and from there, select ‘Report Lost Or Stolen’.
- After reporting your lost Clipper Card, your card will be blocked from further use. Additionally, for a minimal $3 fee, your card will be replaced, and the remaining balance of the old card will be restored.
The aforementioned process will usually take around two business days to be completed. Alternatively, you can also pick up your replacement card from any of the Clipper Customer Service centers.
Make a Request via Phone
- The first step involves making a phone call to Clipper Customer Service at 877 878 8883 (TDD/TTY 711 or 800 735 2929).
- Once your call gets connected to a live agent, state that you want to block your Clipper Card, and then follow the on-call verification process by the customer care representative.
- After your identity is verified, your replacement request will be undertaken, and within two business days, you will receive your replacement card in the mail along with your restored balance from the previous one.
