I am a disabled reduced-fare rider with Miami Dade Transit. With the new EASY Card being implemented, I called a few weeks ago to see if I needed to do anything and if they would still accept my reduced fare ID.

The customer service person told me I only had to show my reduced fare ID at the kiosk downtown and they would register me under the new system.

When I went this last Monday, they told me to get in another line and wait. I waited for half an hour until I got to the front and they handed me a form for my doctor to fill out.

Now, I have no objection to this as it is a new system and such, but my problem is we should have been told last month when we could have had time to contact our doctors and make appointments, if necessary.

I contacted the EASY Card customer service, but their phone number is not good and their e-mail comes back as undeliverable. All I want is an extension of the old IDs until I can talk to my doctor. He wants to see me and I cannot even make an appointment until Monday and who knows when I can go into the office.

Is there anything Action Line can do to help me and others out there with reduced fare IDs? I'm sure I'm not the only one being put out.

-- Name withheld by request, via e-mail

A.We contacted Miami-Dade Transit, and the agency responded that it is extending the deadline to Dec. 1. Here is the response:

``Miami-Dade Transit realizes that some of our customers have not been able to get an appointment with their physicians to provide the required documentation needed to obtain an EASY Card for discount-fare riders.

``To allow customers adequate time to meet with their physicians, MDT is granting an extension, until Dec. 1, 2009, for customers to provide this documentation.

``Customers who currently have a discount-fare permit need to bring their permit to the Transit Service Center, located on the Second Level of the Government Center Metrorail station, 111 NW First St. in downtown Miami, and MDT will issue them a temporary EASY Card until they can provide the required documentation by Dec. 1.''

For more information, customers can call 3-1-1.''

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