Letter from Sean Tan
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5VnxWHNqKVDifK8h1qmskoPUY9vlMi7DCn33PnpYMOJSZRIqpawy5CAKyUmj9btpEvTjjmYY4CvE8z9LDoWNs6uhWUrpHTLbG2gcauv68C6XOBZ83L6NKIuU_ShyphenhypheneOFwJA8PykafXG-I/s400/5dafa9cb0a62cbfb53664f50.jpg)
Picture is obtained from http://hi.baidu.com/%CB%AA%D1%A9%D3%F9%CB%F9/blog/item/8511d7cabbcb0944f21fe781.html
Online Only - ez-Reload: Frustrated at every step
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHvone8PUt-Tf95-hFifT-bVbLyWwB-kq1KBfx3qMqo9wnavDKL_i4I_9lykTG_-2H99P8TkXjESZuvYQbvG9fUoD3mX_IsIhxlM0VeIdm5XT33z4irwcP6GPu_AdoE7ZtuKQEN62xA8/s400/b0447460cc5024d98cb10d10.jpg)
Many months ago, when the new ez-link cards were rolled out, I wanted to exchange my old card for the new one, but I was told that my card couldn't be exchanged as it was Giro-linked. If I'd wanted a new card, I'd have to buy a new one. For an exchange, I'd have to wait for a notification letter.
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And so many months later, I received the letter, telling me that I have to exchange for the new card within two months, before my old card expired. That's really quite inconsiderate, I thought - not everyone passes by a ticket office often - people like me only pass by an MRT station during weekends.
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A card can only be exchanged when it hasn't been topped up in the last five days. I didn't remember this being communicated through the media or my notification letter. And seriously, how silly is this system to have such a restriction?
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If I am getting a new card that is the same as the other non-Giro-linked cards and I have to reapply for the Giro link, why did I have to wait for so long?
Feeling really puzzled and grumpy (and not wanting to vent my frustrations on the person at the counter - after all, she's just an employee), I nonetheless applied for the ez-Reload on the spot, filled in the application form and chose the "reload" amount to be $50 - since there is going to be an administrative fee imposed on every reload, I thought I'd select a larger reload amount so that the card didn't need to be "reloaded" so often.
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Another two weeks passed and I received a letter to tell me that my application was successful, and I have to go to a counter to "activate" the card before the ez-Reload starts to work. I was already quite perplexed by then.
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Picture is obtained from http://blog.163.com/lijinyan_320@126/
In any case, I'd decided to stomach all that since I seemed to be just one step away from getting my ez-Reload card. I noticed an error, however, on the letter - I had chosen the reload amount to be $50, but the letter stated it to be $30. So I went to the ticket office to "activate" my card and to tell them that there was a mistake.
Then I was told that the first Reload application would always be $30 (then why did I have to make an option on the application form?) and if I wanted the Reload amount to be $50, I'd have to cancel this application and reapply.
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This was it. Spent the next five minutes lashing out on the person at the counter on the ridiculously silly ez-Reload system which is not easy at all. Then when I finally calmed myself down (realising the queue that I was holding up behind me), I told the lady that I was not reapplying and she should just activate my card at the reload amount of $30.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhVCCvW9St2BbvOaF-cqjke4S8HHZGUTvLObGAA4ir3GROMPtipVZsW8RkmRF-44qAL9PU3itTWSYDB3al2zCxRta-6a4seFg5VnR6xgNHx0iIhWAASjM3S91DIwyn-tk7qI3uz5uGda0/s400/123969190617178.gif)
The ez-Link card number on the activation letter did not tally with my card, so she couldn't activate my card. The lady then asked if I possessed more than one EZ-Link card - I said I didn't, and she said there's nothing she could do. I'd have to call up the company if I want to get my ez-Reload.
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I give up. I shall just top up my card manually.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZYF2JlPb2RPFHdDtDW2_bGNr6byk5G_3WFgnPdWRKOABxhDoLWIB4nu1xaGQWvProtDhdsinuLW4E7yHW_T-fOOUabi3-LbxQ8uYeSQ14_3pDnpNBwwkoMzctjwUfygXw6HbhA0zIkj0/s400/b574629096d9088ba877a432.jpg)
Picture is obtained from http://hi.baidu.com/%CB%AA%D1%A9%D3%F9%CB%F9/blog/item/8511d7cabbcb0944f21fe781.html
Reference
- http://www.todayonline.com/Voices/VOICES/EDC091004-0000108/Online-Only---ez-Reload--Frustrated-at-every-step
- http://classpic25.chinaren.com/album/pic/355/767/2917034545014767355/123969190617178.gif
- http://upload-img.bokewu.com/original/51793.jpg
- http://hi.baidu.com/%CB%AA%D1%A9%D3%F9%CB%F9/blog/item/8511d7cabbcb0944f21fe781.html
- http://blog.163.com/lijinyan_320@126/