SINGAPORE — The recently announced phasing out of Nets FlashPay and Ez-link adult cards not switched to SimplyGo to pay for public transport fares has stirred online debate.

Some confused public transport users are wanting to know more about SimplyGo, while others are wondering what they need to do to continue paying by card.

From June 1 this year, the legacy card-based ticketing system will stop for adult cardholders, where ticketing data is stored on Ez-link and Nets FlashPay cards that are not compatible with SimplyGo.

In its place will be the full adoption of the SimplyGo system for adult non-concession fares.

SimplyGo was introduced in 2019 by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to offer a range of digital ticketing and e-payment options for transit. 

The system allows cardholders to view fare history and top-up card balance on-the-go via a mobile application.

SimplyGo has also enabled commuters to use contactless bank cards for public transport since its roll-out. 

Until the latest flagged move, the older cards have operated in tandem with the SimplyGo system.

TODAY takes a closer look at SimplyGo, what its full adoption for adult fares means for public transport users and what commuters holding older cards should do by June 1.

HOW DOES SIMPLYGO WORK?

From June 1, under SimplyGo, adult commuters can pay for public transport via the following modes:

• SimplyGo Ez-link cards or Ez-link cards upgraded to SimplyGo
• Nets prepaid cards
• Contactless bank cards (Mastercard, Nets, Visa)
• Credit or debit cards added to mobile wallets such as ApplePay, SamsungPay and GooglePay 

In announcing the phase-out on Tuesday (Jan 9), LTA said that a full switch to the SimplyGo platform for adult commuters follows the “growing adoption” of SimplyGo payment methods.

It added that the legacy card-based ticketing system for adult commuters is nearing “the end of its operational lifespan”. 

“Most adult commuters will not be affected by this transition, since they are already using SimplyGo Ez-link or contactless bank cards,” LTA added. 

It also said that about two in three adult fare transactions on public transport are now made using either SimplyGo Ez-link or bank cards. 

WHO WILL BE AFFECTED? 

SimplyGo-compatible cards will be the only accepted mode of payment for public transport adult fares from June 1.

Concession card holders — such as students, persons with disabilities, seniors and Workfare Transport Concession Scheme cardholders — can continue to use their existing cards. 

Members of the public can check if their current Ez-link card is on SimplyGo by looking for the SimplyGo logo or text on ticketing machines, on paired cards in the Ez-link or SimplyGo apps, or the SimplyGo website.

When tapping in and out on a card reader on the bus or at MRT fare gates, “SimplyGo” will appear for those paying by a SimplyGo Ez-link card. 

Commuters who are now using the Ez-link stored-value card for public transport can upgrade their existing card to the SimplyGo system. 

From now until Aug 31 this year, Ez-link adult card users may upgrade their card at any ticket machine, SimplyGo Ticket Office or Ticketing Service Centre at selected bus interchanges or MRT stations. 

From the end of March onwards, Ez-link adult cardholders who have not upgraded to the SimplyGo system will be prompted to do so when topping up their cards at ticketing machines, LTA said. 

Nets FlashPay cards cannot be upgraded to SimplyGo.

People using these cards for public transport may exchange their Nets FlashPay card for a Nets prepaid card for free at SimplyGo Ticket Offices or Ticketing Service Centres from Jan 19 to July 18 this year.

The balance in the Nets FlashPay card will not be transferred to the Nets prepaid card but will be refunded instead. 

Users may also choose to keep their legacy stored-value cards for other non-transit payments such as for retail or motoring-related payments or get their remaining stored value refunded. 

For those preferring to swop to other SimplyGo payment options such as contactless bank cards, a refund can be obtained for their outmoded cards at a SimplyGo Ticket Office or Ticketing Service Centres. 

Ez-link adult cardholders and Nets FlashPay cardholders may continue to get refunds for their cards’ remaining value after June 1 at SimplyGo Ticket Offices or Ticketing Service Centres, in accordance with the providers’ refund policies. 

Nets FlashPay card users may seek a refund at these same above-mentioned places until July, after which they will need to approach the Nets customer service centre for a refund. 

LTA said that service ambassadors will be deployed at MRT, LRT stations and bus interchanges with ticketing machines to help commuters upgrade their cards to SimplyGo and to help them download the SimplyGo app.

WHAT MOTORISTS, SHOPPERS SHOULD NOTE ABOUT SIMPLYGO CARDS

Once an Ez-link card has been upgraded to SimplyGo Ez-link, it cannot be downgraded. 

SimplyGo Ez-link cards cannot be used to pay for Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges and car-park fees, unlike old Ez-link cards that can also be used for motoring payments. 

Ez-link motoring cards cannot be upgraded to the SimplyGo system and can continue to be used for motoring payments.

Motorists should note that Ez-link cards used for ERP and car-park payments should not be upgraded to SimplyGo so that cardholders can continue using them for motoring charges. 

Nets FlashPay cards will continue to be accepted for retail payments, Ez-link cards that are not upgraded to SimplyGo Ez-link will not be accepted by merchants from June 1 onwards.

WHAT ARE CRITICS SAYING?

One key difference between SimplyGo payment methods and traditional card-based ticketing systems has drawn online criticism.

Critics note that SimplyGo payments do not show commuters their stored-value card balance and fare deduction at MRT fare gates and card-readers on buses. 

The lack of fare display is due to SimplyGo transactions being processed on the backend, similar to credit and debit card transactions, LTA said.

Travel transactions and card balance for SimplyGo cards can be checked at ticketing machines. 

LTA also encouraged commuters to download the SimplyGo app after switching to the system.

Public transport users may register for a SimplyGo account and link contactless bank cards and stored-value cards such as concession and Ez-link cards on the app to track travel spending and journey history. 

On the app, account holders may top up their card balance remotely in addition to doing so in person at ticketing machines, if they prefer.

They may also top up more than one SimplyGo EZ-link card when these are added to their account, such as a family member’s card. 

App users may choose to receive notifications on their fares instantly and when the card balance is low, and block further transactions if their card is misplaced.