Washington Metro. Area Transit Authority

Review: On Sunday, Sept 15 @ 3:41 PM I entered the metro station to take the subway. The WMATA app was not reporting the time of the next train. The upcoming train monitor outside of the train turnstiles also did not display this information. I entered the turnstiles to get to the location where the trains depart in the event there was a train about to take off, or because the monitor downstairs had accurate information. Neither was the case, so I checked the WMATA app to identify the time of the next bus, which indicated about 5 minutes. I spoke to the WMATA customer service representative to ask for the next train time, and she told me 20 minutes, then corrected herself to tell me 14 minutes. Because the bus was arriving sooner, I decided to leave the station. I asked the representative how to leave the station in order to not get charged because I did not go anywhere. She indicated that I would still get charged no matter what. I asked for clarification why, and was not given a reason. To not miss the bus, I left the station, and decided to sort the issue later. I left the station @ 3:43. I caught the bus @ 3:45. These times are tracked, and can be validated on my StarTrip card usage history. These times also show it was not possible for me to have gone anywhere and come back to the same station. When I called SmartTrip the first representative I spoke with told me it was a "Valid transaction", but did not have any basis. He simply kept repeating that statement. He gave me a number and email to file a complaint. The number he gave me (###-###-####) was a Houston Metro Authority. So I called the customer service # on the wmata.com website (###-###-####). The representative told me I was charged a fare for using the service. The 'service' that I asked for clarification for was 'entering the system', and that I chose not to take the train is not of concern to WMATA. She, and the first two reps kept using the example that I could have gone somewhere and come back to the same station. Despite my explanation that the time stamps of my entry and exit show this was not possible, they stood on this 'policy'.

My complaint is that there was no service rendered, so I should not be charged a fee.Desired Settlement: I would like a refund of $1.75, and for WMATA to change this 'policy', or lack thereof.