EZ-Link top up surcharge now in effect

By Chitra Kumar, Channel NewsAsia, 5 Jul 2014

EZ-Link cardholders now have to pay 20 cents every time they top up their card at all DBS, OCBC ATMs and AXS stations.

According to an advisory posted on EZ-Link website, this came into effect at the start of July.

It is still free if cardholders top up their cards at places like Transit Link sales offices, Add Value Machines and General Ticketing Machines located at MRT stations and selected bus interchanges, as well as EZ-Link Top-up Machines at People's Association Community Centres.

An EZ-Link card user said: "I didn't even know that this new surcharge update was there. So I think it would have been much better if they put up some kind of notice to inform the general public."

Another user said: "If I were in a situation where I really needed to (pay the surcharge), then I wouldn't have a choice. It depends on how desperate I am at that moment."

In response, EZ-Link said the top up fee of 20 cents was waived for an initial one year period but it extended the arrangement for four years to allow sufficient time for consumers to try out the service. Since then EZ-Link has been bearing the cost.

It said it is now timely to implement the fee given that there are other free top up channels available to consumers.

It added that there is a message on the ATM screen which informs customers of the top up fee.

When asked, the Consumer Association of Singapore told Channel NewsAsia that EZ-Link should "enhance transparency by communicating better to consumers by putting posters at permanent locations such as at the walls near ATMs.

EZ-Link to give away more than a million cards
Channel NewsAsia, 4 Jul 2014

If your ez-link card is expiring this year, you may qualify for a free replacement. EZ-Link plans to give away more than a million ez-link cards over six months starting from Friday (July 4).

Specifically, those who qualify would need to have CEPAS-compliant Adult Anonymous ez-link cards that are expiring in 2014. Holders of such cards can collect their free "Colour Your Journey" ez-link card from any TransitLink Ticket Office across the island.

The "Colour Your Journey" cards will only be for replacement, and will not be on sale to public, the company's PR representative said. To check your card's expiry date, you can visit a dedicated site to enter the 16-digit CAN number found on the back of your card.

Various roadshows will be held to publicise the campaign.

The company says the giveaway is to thank loyal customers that have played a part in its progress over the last 12 years, from a transit card issuer, to an "innovative and technology-driven company". It assures customers that remaining funds in their old ez-link cards will be transferred to their new cards.

Separately, EZ-Reload (Auto Top-Up) customers with cards expiring in 2014, will have free cards sent to their mailing addresses directly, before the expiry dates.

EZ-Link will also be launching a special Justice League set of ez-link cards for sale from July 28. Each of these cards will be S$3 with the exchange of an expiring ez-link card.