Winston and Helen's Super Gold Card!

**oldrider** · 13th March 2010, 19:42

There has been a lot of media talk about us oldies over subscribing the Super Gold Card account!

Let me tell you that I have had one of these cards since it's inception and never had one occasion where I could take it out of my wallet, let alone use it!

It is bloody useless as far as I (or any other card holder known to me) am concerned, so please don't tell me that I am burdening the taxpayer with it!

Apparently it has more benefit if I was in Australia!

So who is oversubscribing the budgeted figure and where? I must be subsidising them too!

**Genie** · 13th March 2010, 19:50

My mother has one and she hasn't used it but does use her Grey Power Card.....is that like Black Power.

I saw a thing on the news and not many had used their cards either.

NOt much you get for all those years of hard work is there?

**Toaster** · 13th March 2010, 19:51

Amuses me how they look to cut back this card usage but never seem to cut back on all the MP perks.

Come on Government put our money where your mouth is and give some back - LEAD by example and take some perk cuts or even a pay cut.

**JimO** · 13th March 2010, 20:10

Originally Posted by oldrider

There has been a lot of media talk about us oldies over subscribing the Super Gold Card account!

Let me tell you that I have had one of these cards since it's inception and never had one occasion where I could take it out of my wallet, let alone use it!

It is bloody useless as far as I (or any other card holder known to me) am concerned, so please don't tell me that I am burdening the taxpayer with it!

Apparently it has more benefit if I was in Australia!

So who is oversubscribing the budgeted figure and where? I must be subsidising them too!

isnt there a ferry in Otematata you could use??

**oldrider** · 14th March 2010, 07:04

Originally Posted by jimjim

isnt there a ferry in Otematata you could use??

The holiday season brings a couple of "fairies" around that could be on offer (if I was that way inclined) but I don't think the card qualifies for that either!

The only thing the card does for any pensioners that I know, is that we have had a bit of a laugh over how useless it is!

No business or service ever seems even know what it does, it's an embarrassment to even present or ask about the card, so it just sits in the wallet!

I think it is supposed to work like the old PSIS membership card, where participating businesses and services gave members discount but this card doesn't seem to have any participants.

**AllanB** · 14th March 2010, 07:29

Bet you'd use it if it gave you a 25% discount off tyres and oil!

Probably secure your vote too!

**Pixie** · 14th March 2010, 07:59

Originally Posted by Genie

My mother has one and she hasn't used it but does use her Grey Power Card.....is that like Black Power.

Yes and no.Black Power will stand over you and extort money out of you.Grey Power will bail you up and make you listen to their boring life stories -much worse.

**PrincessBandit** · 14th March 2010, 08:02

Originally Posted by Toaster

Amuses me how they look to cut back this card usage but never seem to cut back on all the MP perks.

Come on Government put our money where your mouth is and give some back - LEAD by example and take some perk cuts or even a pay cut.

Aaaargh, you must spread more rep around before.....blah blah blah. Excellent point! Many of the "oldies" in our society today have paid mega in taxes through their lives and if they can't have some "perks" now (even if they don't get much opportunity to use them, sorry John!) then it's a bit pathetic. When I watched the article on the news the other night (the ferry one) the first thing that came to mind was "ffs, the ferries would still be sailing and making the crossings with or without these passengers on board"; well, that was my understanding given that buses and trains are meant to do the same....What are they losing by having some passengers on board who haven't had to pay?
We hear all the time about the elderly freezing in their own homes because they can't afford to pay for power, the cost of living and groceries just keeps increasing cutting even further what money they have to go round. Surely the opportunity to get out and about, keeping active in society rather than stuck at home because they can't afford to go out (and having young ones complain about them being a menace on the road!) is something they should have every right to enjoy as much as the next person.

Oh and I did so enjoy watching Winnie's interview with walrus whiskers.

**FJRider** · 14th March 2010, 08:35

Originally Posted by oldrider

So who is oversubscribing the budgeted figure and where? I must be subsidising them too!

I guess the "city kids" get all the perk's ... maybe a move to Christchurch ... ???

**oldrider** · 14th March 2010, 21:11

Originally Posted by FJRider

I guess the "city kids" get all the perk's ... maybe a move to Christchurch ... ???

I'm not moaning about it, there is a lot of talk about it being over subscribed but everyone I know who has it, including me, has never used it!

Must be a small band of people giving it heaps!

**FJRider** · 14th March 2010, 21:13

Originally Posted by oldrider

Must be a small band of people giving it heaps!

ALWAYS IS ....

**DougB** · 14th March 2010, 22:39

The free bus rides are good. My sister in law goes from Hamilton to Raglan stays a night and comes back and the Gold Card makes it free. (At the right time of day)
I have used it for free bus travel in Hamilton. It does have some uses.

**Mully** · 15th March 2010, 09:40

My Grandparents didn't even bother getting the things.

As I understand it, the issue is more use than they budgetted for. Oldies get the bus and the Gummint pays the fare, correct?

When they showed it on the news, oldies were just jumping on the bus and showing the cards - there was no swiping or electronic monitoring of the card.

Any possibiity the transport companies are just rorting the system?
And any reason why the Gummint couldn't hammer out better reimbursement rates from the transporters before launching the card?