I have a rather specific problem, and with my limited Spanish, it's become frustrating to solve. Hopefully someone can tell me what to...

When I acquired my monthly metro abono for Madrid, I got Zone A, thinking it was plenty expensive and why would I travel outside Madrid proper? Well, lo and behold, I now go to Alcobendas by bus twice a week. But I didn't realize that my little orange abono states "A" bright and clear on it, and so when I tried to buy an April abono Zona B1 from the grumpy metro guy behind the glass (not at the tobacconist), I got Zone A, again.

Now I realize what the problem is - I need an abono that says Zone B1 rather than A. Can I go to a tobacco shop and just upgrade and pay the difference? Or am I stuck for another month paying bus fares to Alcobendas? And if I can upgrade, will they take away my Zona A abono? I might need it later when I don't have to shlep all the way up to Alcobendas. And will I need another photo for a new carnet?

And if I can just upgrade, where is there a tobacconist between Plaza Mayor and Opera? (Sounds like a stupid question, but I don't smoke, and I need nothing else from in there, so why would I look for one, until now?)

Oh, and if anyone knows a few helpful Spanish phrases I can use to get said upgrade, please, please, PLEASE post so I can write them down, practice them, and ultimately just show the people what I need. My Spanish classes start next month, so my espanol is a bit limited...

Much appreciated and many, many thanks!

Tanya

quote:

I don't smoke, and I need nothing else from in there, so why would I look for one, until now?

Two words, Pipe Cleaners

Ok, something your not likely to need very often, but I work primarily with children and there are tons of crafts that call for them.

Umm, also you can buy postage stamps there, and they are usually more conviently located than the post offices.

Ok, pipe cleaners (still not sure when I'd need those) and stamps - fair point. Haven't sent anything anywhere yet.

Anybody have any idea about the wrong Abono?

Anybody?

Thanks,

Tanya

Hi Tanya
I use the B1 bono.
All you have to do is on the end or on the beginning of the month (as today..) You need to go to one of those estanco, who sell bus tickets and NOT renew your A bono but ask for new bono B1,
I guess they can use the same photo and maybe you'll have to pay the very small amount of money, they charge for a new bono.
I did mine near plaza Castilla, near the bus station.
If you want, I'll go and check for you the exact address, when i'll be in castilla bus station this evening after work.

Nava

hey Tanya.

i have a feeling the "grumpy metro guy behind the glass" did not even listen to you and just issued you the bono that your bono holder is meant for (A).

they are so used to just replacing the old bono with thenew month that they are like robots, hence he just did not want to bother changing it for B1.

do what Nava said, go and insiste they exchange it for the B1.

saludos,
jer...

quote:

"grumpy metro guy behind the glass

You don't need them this time, because they don't issue a new bono, they just renew/prolog
for a month the same kind of bono you already have. As I told you you need Estanco, the same as you've done the first time.
Nava

Nava, she can either buy the new month's bono in the metro or at an estanco.

she does not wanto to renew the same bono she had, that is the whole problem. she wants to get a zone B1 ticket while she has a zone A bono holder (for loss for a better term). so, if she just goes to an estanco and hands them the holder, they will see her zone "A" abono holder...



...and will issue her a zone A ticket which they have done.

the diff. in price between zone A and B1 is 39 euros for the former and 45.25 for the latter (see http://www.ctm-madrid.es/servlet/RedTransServlet?xh_ACC...=7&MENU=3&SUBMENU=1).

Tanya, i found what you need on the ctm-madrid.es site, it is on their f.a.q. pages at http://www.ctm-madrid.es/servlet/RedTransServlet?xh_ACC...O=7&MENU=4&SUBMENU=3

quote:

QUIERO CAMBIAR DE ZONA

Para realizar un cambio de zona, el usuario deberá asegurarse de acompañar el cupón con la tarjeta válida para la nueva zona seleccionada

Cambio de Tarjeta: Si la tarjeta es mensual tiene que solicitar la tarjeta en cualquier estanco. Si la tarjeta es anual, el cambio de zona se hará en el C.R.T., bien directamente en sus oficinas si se hace a nivel particular, o bien en el departamento de personal del centro de trabajo que el entregue el abono.

· Cambio de Cupón: Si el cambio es a una zona superior se abonará la diferencia de precio y si es a una zona inferior no se producirá compensación por la diferencia. Para poder hacer el canje se han de presentar las dos tarjetas ya confeccionadas y el cupón a canjear. Si se trata de un error en el tipo o en la zona del cupón, pero con el mismo número de abonado, el usuario debe acudir al punto de venta para que se subsane dicho error. Si ya no hubiera cupones para hacerlo, el canje se realizará en el C.R.T. abonando la diferencia de precio en el caso de que exista.

to sum it up, if you want to change "cupón" (ticket) to another zone, you will need to get a new "tarjeta" (what i called the bono or ticket holder above).

since yours is monthly, you can change the "holder" (tarjeta) at any estanco.

then to get the new zone B1 bono ticket you need to present both the new zone B1 holder (tarjeta) and the old zone A one as well as the zone A bono (ticket). pay the diff. and that is that.

Tanya, i think that what happened to you is that you did not understand that the metro employee was trying to tell you that you cannot have a zone B1 ticket (cupón) if you have a zone A holder (tarjeta). the ticket (cupón) needs to match the holder (tarjeta).

saludos,
jer...