ez-link machines at McDonald's

^tamago^ SG

many McDonald's outlets have started to offer payment by ez-link card through the eye-drop shaped readers. for such transactions, the GTMs display them as "Non-transit Transaction" while AVMs display them as "QBME".

and i managed to preview the functions of ez-link machine (standalone ones) with a LCD screen, a card reader, a receipt dispenser & (probably) a notes slot. the known menu hireachy is as follows:

> Loyalty & Rewards
> > My Points
> > > ezlink card
> > > hand phone
> > > web nickname
> > > other swipe card
> > Redeem Points
> > > ezlink card
> > > hand phone
> > > web nickname
> > > other swipe card
> > Update Membership
> > > ezlink card
> > > hand phone
> > > web nickname
> > > other swipe card
> > New Membership
> > > Website Pre-registration
> > > > Enter your NICK NAME used registering on the Website
> > > In Store registration
> > > > Host/Hostess Swipe Your Card

> ez-link Functions
> > Cash Balance (works but no transaction history available)
> > Cash Top up (service will be available soon)

no info about registration is available on the website at http://www.mcd.com.sg.

wuming78 SG

is it true tt for retail transactions, the ezlink cards cannot be topped up via giro but can be topped up using the machines at the mrt stns?

^tamago^ SG

Yes. when you do retail transactions on ezlink cards u just need to have sufficient value for ur transaction, which may be just have been topped up before using GIRO at the ticket gates or BEXPs. but i expect retail ezlink card readers NOT to support GIRO top up if you do not have insufficient value at that time to complete the transaction.

gynobcard SG

Originally posted by ^tamago^:

[b]Yes. when you do retail transactions on ezlink cards u just need to have sufficient value for ur transaction, which may be just have been topped up before using GIRO at the ticket gates or BEXPs. but i expect retail ezlink card readers NOT to support GIRO top up if you do not have insufficient value at that time to complete the transaction.[/b]

AFAIK ezlink cards linked to visa credit card accounts can be used at Macs. as for GIRO topups, the automatic topups can only happen @ MRT fare gates and bus readers. auto top up @ terminals in Macs should be ready soon

wuming78 SG

im not quite keen about this using of ezlink cards for normal retail transactions, esp at places like macs, and esp if the cards are linked to giro. wow. how r parents going to control their child’s spending? the spending is going to be invisible to the child, and hence less impactful than peeking into the wallet and pulling out some he can feel and seeing the actual amount in his wallet dwindling. i myself was a victim of my own atm card when i was younger.

sneezelam SG

It is good to see the EZ-link available for non-transportation use. Honestly, last year, when I was visiting SG, I was wonder why the card can only deal with transportation fee but not as HK that can be used everywhere like fast food shop, supermarket, and convenience store.

^tamago^ SG

actually the system was commissioned only around may 2002 and since then, the land transport authority (LTA) has taken quite a long time to evaluate the feasibility & demand for non-transpportation use of ez-link cards. in fact, the facilities are already in place, no one major retailer was willing to invest in the terminals & facilities to offer ez-link as a payment mode. in fact, the decision by McDonald's to implement it is purely a commercial decision of its own - most retail outlets are adopting a wait-and-see approach. thus we now only see McDonald's as one of the major privately-owned retailers offering this. soon, the government pools will also offer payment by ez-link card in august this year. we definitely hope more retailers will jump on this bandwagon to offer it too.

SBS9818A SG

EZ-link payment is a good alternative when one doesn’t have money, but kids might fradulently use it for regular meals at McDonald’s, since the money is “coming from nowhere”, so to speak.

sneezelam SG

Be relax. See how excellent that the same system is running smooth in Hong Kong. It's really not a problem for kids.....as we know the card has a limited values there, their parents can control their usage. Except if the card's value can raise automatically once it goes to zero, that's another case.

P.S. I would like to know, how long the EZ-link will be expired since my last transcation? Here I have 3 cards with me in Hong Kong ~_~

tranquilice SG

Ezlink cards are valid for use up to 5 years. For example, if you buy a card today, the card will expires on 16 June 2009.

No refund will be given to expired Ezlink cards 7 years after the expiry date.

xin1jun2 SG

we just trying to follow hong kong's octopus card.

their card very the useful in HK..can practically do anyhting besides take bus and MTR

ZYX

sneezelam SG

It just acts like a Visa Cash or Mondex...
This might be a reason causing the above 2 cards disappeared in Hong Kong.

sneezelam SG

Thanks 1st.
That means I can still refund my card within 12 years since my date of purchase?

and once the card is invalided after the 5 years time, what can I do at that time? Can I add new values or I can ONLY do with the refund?

tranquilice SG

For your first question, yes.

For your second question, you cannot add new values as the card is invalided for use, you can only do with the refund and buy a new card if you wish.

SBS9818A SG

Yes, there is no equivalent of GIRO in HK. But many parents GIRO-link their children's ez-link cards, so that when value drops below $1, money is topped up for the kids. Most times the money comes from the parent's account, making it seem the money appears from nowhere.

Parka SG

Have rebate?

798 SG

that time i got not enough cash and went mac to eat, so i use ezlink card to pay. but the cashier told me later that the machine was out of order, so i got no choice but to cancel my order. very paiseh. Embarassed

i still think latest technology has its flaw.