#HearMeOut

20 Mar 2021 (437 Views)

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Land Transport Authority

Transit Link App work poorly
I lost my transit card. I decided to use my credit card to pay for my bus fare. I had used the credit card two years ago, and it worked well then.

I boarded the bus and tapped with my credit card. I got a message - Low balance. I tried another credit card - Low balance. I was confused with this message.

I paid cash.

Later, I searched Google. I found that I have to register my credit card with an app called TL Simply Go. This is the marketing name that Transit Link gave to their app. They think that they are clever. They did not realize that it cause confusion and uncertainty to the public.

I registered my credit card and linked my credit card. It was quite troublesome, but I went through it. I received an email confirming that the credit card can now be used.

I used the credit card for my return journey by bus. I got the message - Low balance.

I searched the app to see if I need to top up the credit card. There was no way to add funds. I had to pay cash again.

I looked at the email again. I saw a message that was not clear to me.

If your card comes with EZ-Link/NETS FlashPay functionality, please proceed to the nearest General Ticketing Machine (GTM) located at any train station to switch the payment mode of your card to contactless payment by placing it on the card reader and following the onscreen prompts. Your card can be used to pay for bus and train rides immediately after switching the payment mode.

How am I supposed to know if my card comes with that functionality? If I have to go to the GTM machine to handle the linkage, why ask me to register the card in the app and give me the impression that it was ready to be used.

The entire process is quite confusing. Why can't they give clear messages to say that my credit card is not registered to be used?

I am sad to say that this kind of complicated and convoluted process is quite common in Singapore with many services.

I suspect that convoluted, troublesome and inconsiderate is a part of our national culture. I do not think that the planners intend it to be like this, but someone they lack the understanding of the problems faced by ordinary people.

I would have preferred that the planners say - go to the transit link office at the MRT station and register your credit card.

Anyway, it would be easier for me to go to a MRT station and get a Transit Link pass. There is no advantage in registering a credit card.

Tan Kin Lian

Vote - do you agree that this process cause unnecessary trouble?

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