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Commuters can buy the new ez-link cards at Transitlink offices in most MRT stations, or they can get trade in their current cards from January for free.
. . .
Currently, cards cost $15 which consists of a $5 fee for the card, $7 in stored value, and a $3 travel deposit which can only be used for travelling - and not to make other purchases in shops.
The new cards cost the same - $15 - but there is no travel deposit so commuters can use the full $10 in stored value for whatever they want.
Yes, we can trade in our current ez-link cards for free. But our current ez-link cards come with a $3 travel deposit (the purpose of which might baffle even the most intelligent minds of the whole world except the money-making minds of decision makers in Singapore). Why didn't any journalist bother to check and report if we are getting a refund for that deposit we make if we trade in our cards?
Oh sorry, I forgot. That deposit we paid was non-refundable. Sorry lah, bimbos are absent-minded and Molly doesn't see the wisdom of such a policy.
I hope we do get that $3 deposit as travel value when we trade in our current cards for the new cards...
That aside, one has to praise local journalists for their aptitude in advertising. They can make a mundane annoucement sound like one saying you've won a ticket to heaven. See below if you are not convinced.
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ST Article: "New ez-link cards out soon"
COMMUTERS can get their hands on [Hah, sounds as if these cards are like the iPhone or something. Except we don't have a choice but to get them sooner or later.] the new ez-link cards which have more features by the end of December.
These cards will allow commuters to pay for Electronic Road Pricing tolls and parking charges [New features or expansion of old function?] on top of the usual MRT and bus fares.
They just need to be slotted in new in-vehicle units which can read the card. [I would have thought that the new in-vehicle units can be made to accept even the old cards if the designers so wish.]
The IUs will be made available in January.
Commuters can buy the new ez-link cards at Transitlink offices in most MRT stations, or they can get trade in their current cards from January for free.
More details on where to exchange the cards will be released closer to the changeover date, said the Land Transport Authority (LTA) in a statement on Tuesday.
The current ez-link cards will be phased out eventually but LTA said that there is more than enough time for commuters to get them change [sic.].
Another feature of the new card is that there will be no travel deposit. [Take away an atrocious old policy and you get a new feature. Very imaginative.]
Currently, cards cost $15 which consists of a $5 fee for the card, $7 in stored value, and a $3 travel deposit which can only be used for travelling - and not to make other purchases in shops. [Erm, how do I use the $3 deposit for traveling? When my card reaches zero value? But I've never been able to get a - $3 value in my card. And even if I do, I would be paying for it when I top up my card. Could someone teach me how to use my travel deposit?]
The new cards cost the same - $15 - but there is no travel deposit so commuters can use the full $10 in stored value for whatever they want. [That's if I buy a new card. Question is, if I do a trade in, do I get my $3 back as part of the stored value?]
