Singapore
LTA mandates replacement of old transit cards with SimplyGo from 1 June 2024
Starting 1st June 2024, Singapore’s LTA transitions to SimplyGo EZ-Link and contactless payments, phasing out older EZ-Link and Nets FlashPay cards for a streamlined commuting experience.
SINGAPORE – The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced that the older EZ-Link cards that lack the SimplyGo logo, along with Nets FlashPay cards, will no longer be accepted as valid payment methods on public buses and trains. This is set to take effect from 1 June 2024.
Passengers are now required to switch to either the SimplyGo EZ-Link card, contactless bank cards, or payment cards linked to their mobile wallets for their daily commute. However, this change does not impact those using concession cards, such as seniors and students.
Post 1st June, the older EZ-Link cards will be restricted to motoring-related payments like Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) and parking charges. They will no longer be accepted for retail payments, including supermarket purchases. In contrast, Nets FlashPay cards will continue to be valid for both motoring and retail payments beyond the deadline.
LTA’s decision comes as the popularity of the SimplyGo system, introduced in 2019, grows. This system, supporting contactless bank cards such as MasterCard, Visa, and Nets, along with the SimplyGo EZ-Link card, represents two-thirds of adult fare transactions in public transport today. It offers benefits like viewing fare history, mobile top-ups, and security features like blocking lost cards.
“With the growing adoption of SimplyGo payment methods, and the legacy card-based ticketing system for adult commuters nearing the end of its operational lifespan, we are therefore transitioning all adult commuters to the SimplyGo platform by 1 June 2024,” said LTA.
From 19 January to 18 July, commuters can exchange their Nets FlashPay cards for free Nets Prepaid Cards at SimplyGo Ticket Offices across MRT stations and bus interchanges. Nets stated that refunds for the old cards are available at local bank ATMs or their customer service centre in Braddell within a year of the card’s expiry.
The deadline for exchanging older EZ-Link cards without the SimplyGo logo is set for 31 August 2024. These can be exchanged at SimplyGo ticket offices, ticketing service centres, and ticketing machines at rail stations and bus interchanges. From the end of March, EZ-Link will start reminding adult cardholders to switch to SimplyGo during card top-ups.
To facilitate this transition, service ambassadors will be deployed at various stations and interchanges. They will assist commuters in exchanging old cards and in using the SimplyGo app, which allows users to top up cards, receive fare and balance notifications, and block transactions if cards are lost.
Refunds for the remaining value in the two older card systems can be processed at SimplyGo ticket offices and service centres. Post-July 2024, Nets FlashPay cardholders must approach the Nets customer service centre for refunds. Both SimplyGo EZ-Link and Nets Prepaid cards, similar to contactless bank cards, cannot be used for motoring-related payments.
In an effort to encourage the exchange of older EZ-Link cards, EZ-Link has initiated a lucky draw that runs until 31st May 2024. Commuters participating in the exchange are automatically entered into the draw.
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Mandates with no other options? Are you serving the Public or do you think we have to serve you? What is your solution for those who do not want to use your mandated option? Walk? This is army style governance not of free will.
Is there a chip in the simply go card to trace the movement of citizens?
Why is there a need to waste tax money to fund this sort of nonsense?
my concession card expires in April leh. and the buggers never sent me a replacement. not that i want SimplyGo. no one wants it. everyone i asked about it including 7-11 and phone shops hate it. it’s not popular at all. if popular, why need mandate?
Another possibility of bank account hacks? Is the govt. working towards helping hackers clean out our bank accounts?
And worse is the NETS App for SimplyGo card only show your transport usage after a few days and they lumped together the whole day’s usage into 1 figure so all commuters will not be able know the per trip charge and if any transfer discount.
Wrong deduction and over deduction will not be known if using SimplyGo card
And how much carbon footprint is created as a result of plastic wastage, changing all to often within just 4 years?!? And wanna pretend to reduce wastage …
All they know how to do is just mandate this , mandate that, and everyone is forced to follow.
Wait till june 1st 2024 and lets see the fun begin..
There are some glitches that need to be fine tuned first..
2 commenters already pointed out 2 important ones.
Right now many people already switched …i wonder if any bothered to give feedback…
SimplyGo cards don’t protect and provide crucial rider’s fare information. Commuters have the right to know how much is deducted for each ride and whether getting any discount and what’s the balance in the card. NETS Flashpay show these information but SimplyGo only showing SimplyGo logo
Tested all the cards but looking at Simplygo cards, there’s a big fault in this payment card.
When one use the card, the MRT gantry or bus card readers doesn’t show what one is paying for the journey, whether it’s a transfer and how much discount on that transfer and the balance amount inside the card.
The SimplyGo card just flash SimplyGo logo without vthe above crucial information that commuters wanted to know.