EZ-Link reminds users holding on to their old ez-link cards to get a full refund of the remaining stored value and any refundable deposits at any TransitLink Ticket Offices.
Issued By: EZ-Link Pte Ltd
SINGAPORE, 01 July 2011 – EZ-Link reminds users holding on to their old ez-link cards to get a full refund of the remaining stored value and any refundable deposits at any TransitLink Ticket Offices
What is an old ez-link card?
To differentiate between an old ez-link card and the new CEPAS ez-link card, cardholders just need to look at the back of the card. The old card carries a 9-digit card number, whereas the NEW CEPAS-enabled ez-link card carries a 16-digit card number (or “CAN”) and bears both a square CEPAS logo as well as a green public transport logo (Please refer to the image below). Cardholders can approach any Ticket Office- for assistance if they are unsure.
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To assist in public awareness, from now till 24 December 2011, a series of print ads and collaterals will be published in the main newspapers and across TransitLink Ticket Offices island-wide to remind card holders to refund their old ez-link cards before the stipulated deadline.
Where do Cardholders go and what should they bring along?
Cardholders are required to bring their old ez-link cards to any TransitLink Ticket Offices during operational hours to obtain the refund before 24th December 2011. If the card is readable, cardholders will be able to get a full refund in cash on the spot. If the card is not readable, investigations are needed to verify the remaining value from records. Cardholders will receive their deferred refunds after investigations are completed via a transfer to another ez-link card or to a DBS/POSB bank account or via cheque.
After 24th December 2011, the refund service at TransitLink Ticket Office will be discontinued. TransitLink will no longer be able to support the refunds as the old ez-link card system is being phased out.
From 5th January 2012, EZ-Link will make available over-the-counter service for refunds of the old ez-link cards at any of the 62 SingPost offices. An administrative fee of $1.00 per month will be deducted from the remaining stored value and refundable deposits of any old ez-link card that remains un-refunded from January 2012 onwards. The administrative fee is to defray the cost of maintaining a new system to support refund of the old ez-link cards after January 2012. Between 25 December 2011 and 4 January 2012, no immediate refunds can be made as the system will be undergoing a switch to facilitate refunds at SingPost outlets.
Background
Since the launch of the Singapore Standard for Contactless e-Purse Application (CEPAS) by the Land Transport Authority of Singapore in December 2008, an island-wide mass replacement exercise was put in place to allow the Adult Anonymous ez-link cardholders a one-for-one replacement of their old ez-link cards, which could not be used for travel on public transit after September 2009. Although the mass replacement exercise has ceased since 7 October 2009, cardholders could, however, still get a refund on any remaining value in their old ez-link cards at TransitLink Ticket Offices. Since then, EZ-Link has been enabling refunds of the old ez-link card without charge. EZ-Link is now allowing cardholders an extension till 24 December 2011 to refund their old ez-link card without any charge, and encourages cardholders to do so before 24 December 2011.
For more information and updates, cardholders can visit www.ezlink.com.sg or call the EZ-Link hotline at 6496 8300 (0800 to 1800 daily, except public holidays)
* Applicable to all old ez-link cards issued by EZ-Link Pte Ltd, including the adult anonymous, student concession and senior citizen concession cards.
About EZ-Link Pte Ltd
EZ-Link Pte Ltd was formed on 8 January 2002. Its core business is the clearing and settlement of all ez-link card transactions generated in transit and non-transit (retail/merchant) environments, as well as the sale, distribution and overall management of ez-link cards. To date, more than 10 million new CEPAS-compliant ez-link cards have been issued. This is in tandem with the government’s plan to promote cashless payments in Singapore. In line with this vision, the new ez-link card is now also accepted as a mode of payment for Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) and at carparks fitted with the Electronic Payment System (EPS) when used in the dual-mode in-vehicle unit.