Are BCs allowed to retain card.....
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which was not even INTENDED to be used during boarding ?
I'm posting this in the buses section hoping to get more information from you people.
I've replaced my ez-link card couple of times as they always spoilt, i don't know the exact cause but i think it got damaged somewhere in my wallet when it's pressed by other things in my wallet over time.
But i could always get it replaced free at the office.
A day before this incident happened, i boarded a bus and got no response from both card readers at the entrance, so i knew my card died again, and it would mean a lot trouble to me when taking public transport especially digging for coins and getting standard tickets for trains which is at adult price i think ? (I'm using a secondary/pre u card thus i have concession)
I didn't have time to go for card replacement on that day and next (anyway it was already at night when i discovered my card couldn't use anymore)
Meant i have to use cash (coins) when taking buses.
The next day, i paid 55 cents when boarding. The SBS BC requested my card for verification only.
I showed him, he asked me to try tap. As expected, no response, i also told him i knew my card was spoilt already.
He just took the card away from me and printed an inspector ticket along with a white card saying my card got retained and i have to call a hotline AFTER 5 WORKING DAYS!
I had to alight a few stops later i didn't have time to check what the hell he gave me and to argue with him. Here's the start of the problem, i don't see any reason why he had to retain my card?
I would be MORE than happy to pay an adult fare (it isn't much difference for 4 bus stops) if i knew there would be so much trouble and dis-convenience for me.
Look, if he hadn't retain my card, i could actually get my card replace the next following day WITHOUT hassle.
Now because he retained the card ( on 22/5/07 ), i got to wait for SBS Transit to receive the card from the BC and maybe look into it before they mail it to TransitLink HQ, which only then i can get a replacement.
It's a lot trouble finding coins and to get standard ticket each time i want to take train, ESPECIALLY when the train is already arriving and i had no choice but to wait for another one because getting the standard ticket isn't fast!
I'm not whining here. I just like to hear your views, was the BC right?
Just after that incident, i called both SBS Transit and TransitLink. they told me that BCs have the rights to retain card for investigation if it's found to be tampered with, misused, replaced etc..
Well that made sense, BUT it has got nothing to do with my case! Why did the BC bother so much about my card? I paid my fare, i showed him the verification he wanted!
I may write to SBS but i like to know first of all now, was he doing a right thing or more like being a 'kpo'?
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Yes.. the BC got the right to retain ur card. Go find the purple sticker the next time you board a SBS Transit Bus and you'll understand more.
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technically the bus driver can go to every one on the street and confiscate all their ez link cards if they felt like it
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Originally posted by hisoka:technically the bus driver can go to every one on the street and confiscate all their ez link cards if they felt like it
abit extreme...den u mean he can go transitilink office take as many ez-link cards as he wan 
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isn't that what it means when they say the bus driver and other "authorities" from the company are authorised to confiscate the ezlink cards that we paid for?Originally posted by SBS9888Y: abit extreme...den u mean he can go transitilink office take as many ez-link cards as he wan
not transitlink office, the pple on the streets. -
this is getting on the nerves of many people....
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What does the purple sticker say?
My card spoilt a few times before, i had no problems with the drivers.
They just wanted to check my card and would let me pass through with the concession fare.
But this BC retained my card and said in chinese 'Call the number on the card and you can find out more' .. etc etc 'collect your card from them or get replacement' I said it's spoilt all i need to do is to get a replacement, he said 'yes yes i know, just call them blablabla' what the **
Why the hell did he have to do that?
I could just bring my card to the replacement office, i'm particularly unhappy with the confiscation.
I called SBS the next day, the person knew i was not happy with it, she suggested to call me once they have receive my card and send it to TransitLink.
2 days later, they called.
I called TransitLink and told them i've been informed by SBS my card has been sent to them, they did not receive my card. And told me to call back on Wednesday as they usually receive each batch of cards from SBS on that day!
There's a lot trouble without my ez-link card. -
There's an reply from Transitlink in today TNP.
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Forgive me for being blunt, but you knew your card was having problem, and you mentioned you have no issues with paying adult fare, so why don't you just pay adult fare just for that one day before you bring it for replacement the next day?Originally posted by smartboy4:What does the purple sticker say?
My card spoilt a few times before, i had no problems with the drivers.
They just wanted to check my card and would let me pass through with the concession fare.
But this BC retained my card and said in chinese 'Call the number on the card and you can find out more' .. etc etc 'collect your card from them or get replacement' I said it's spoilt all i need to do is to get a replacement, he said 'yes yes i know, just call them blablabla' what the **
Why the hell did he have to do that?
I could just bring my card to the replacement office, i'm particularly unhappy with the confiscation.
I called SBS the next day, the person knew i was not happy with it, she suggested to call me once they have receive my card and send it to TransitLink.
2 days later, they called.
I called TransitLink and told them i've been informed by SBS my card has been sent to them, they did not receive my card. And told me to call back on Wednesday as they usually receive each batch of cards from SBS on that day!
There's a lot trouble without my ez-link card.
There are always T&C behind each concession card I believe, but somehow it remains "transparent" to alot of users. BCs also have rules to follow, some strictly, some leniently. You get lucky with BCs previously, but don't always expect the same. Don't blame your luck, don't blame the BC. Just treat this as an inconvenient lesson. -
t&c which no one reads cos theres no real choice. they can do what they want and all you can do is suck it upOriginally posted by off_service:Forgive me for being blunt, but you knew your card was having problem, and you mentioned you have no issues with paying adult fare, so why don't you just pay adult fare just for that one day before you bring it for replacement the next day?
There are always T&C behind each concession card I believe, but somehow it remains "transparent" to alot of users. BCs also have rules to follow, some strictly, some leniently. You get lucky with BCs previously, but don't always expect the same. Don't blame your luck, don't blame the BC. Just treat this as an inconvenient lesson. -
At least they will get to know BCs have the authority to confiscate any card. The BC has a valid point to confiscate the TS' card as the card might be an invalid one (e.g. expired card).Originally posted by hisoka:t&c which no one reads cos theres no real choice. they can do what they want and all you can do is suck it up -
Yes, like i said, if i knew he was going to retain my card, i would even be glad to pay double of the adult fare, just to save from the troubles.Originally posted by off_service:Forgive me for being blunt, but you knew your card was having problem, and you mentioned you have no issues with paying adult fare, so why don't you just pay adult fare just for that one day before you bring it for replacement the next day?
There are always T&C behind each concession card I believe, but somehow it remains "transparent" to alot of users. BCs also have rules to follow, some strictly, some leniently. You get lucky with BCs previously, but don't always expect the same. Don't blame your luck, don't blame the BC. Just treat this as an inconvenient lesson.
But what happened had happened, he already asked for verification how could i say no, i like to pay the adult fare instead?
Next time if my card spoils again, i would just pay the damn adult fare. -
and that's beneficial to them? like say no card when the bus driver asks for it if theres weird beeping?Originally posted by off_service:At least they will get to know BCs have the authority to confiscate any card. The BC has a valid point to confiscate the TS' card as the card might be an invalid one (e.g. expired card).
not gonna help man. anyway yeah they will kow that the bus drivers can just confiscate the cards of every person on the street for no reason if they feel like it -
u dun give loh.....
but dun punch the bus driver...........
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If you think is unfair for BCs to retain card , let me tell you this , this rule is not set by the bus companies or the drivers , this rule is by transitlink , if you're unhgappy with it , you go and create chaos or even punch the whole transitlink company or write in a letter to argue with transitlink.
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i dun think its Transitlink..its either PTC or LTAOriginally posted by swee_heng:If you think is unfair for BCs to retain card , let me tell you this , this rule is not set by the bus companies or the drivers , this rule is by transitlink , if you're unhgappy with it , you go and create chaos or even punch the whole transitlink company or write in a letter to argue with transitlink. -
whoever is the organisation that set this rule , if anyone is unhappy with BC retaining their cards , u may choose to strike at PTC or LTA , pls don't strike at the bus drivers as they are just helping out with this rule , in other words they are either helping transitlink or PTC or LTA.Originally posted by SBS9888Y:i dun think its Transitlink..its either PTC or LTA -
are you sure its by transitlink?Originally posted by swee_heng:If you think is unfair for BCs to retain card , let me tell you this , this rule is not set by the bus companies or the drivers , this rule is by transitlink , if you're unhgappy with it , you go and create chaos or even punch the whole transitlink company or write in a letter to argue with transitlink.
any way note that the bus companies forced the card together with the t&c, etc down the consumers' throats.
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I'm quite fed up with this stupid rule that BCs are allowed to retain cards. It's getting ridiculous at times. Most of the people who are normally affected are those using concession passes. And the reply given by the relevant authorities in The Straits Times today isn't at all pleasing. They are KING, like it or not. If they want to do something, they can always explain that it's some term or conditions blah blah blah. They are the ones setting the rules, not us.
Next time you encounter this problem, and you know there's a problem with your card, just pay cash. If the driver ask you to tap your card, you do not need to. Just say you don't have money in the card. Or just say you prefer paying cash. The bus driver has the right to retain your card, but he doesn't have the right to insist that you tap your card. So if you know have problems with your card, do not tap it. Pay cash. If they want to see your card, let them see, but do not tap it. As long as you paid cash and fare, even if it ends up with the police coming down, you are not at the losing end as you did not commit any crime.
And if you want to piss the bus driver off, take your time to put one coin in at a time. If he cannot wait and moves off, pretend to fall down. That will scare him quite a bit. -
you shud treasure the experience of being able to get the special tix and familiarising yourself with the procedures. I think it would be very very rare or impossible that an adult ezlink would be confiscated. Something that you could do is to thank the BC after he confiscates your card He may think u r mad or get a shock which i think you will be satisfied with
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If u punch the BC maybe u dun haf to surrender ur card but go to jail instead
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It was crowded on the bus, was on service 197. Cannot punch if not create a scene
If only this happened at night with nobody on board ..
Yeah thanks for your tip, the next time my card spoils (i know it's gonna happen it's not the first time, come on), im not going to let them touch my card unless they can reason me properly. -
Things to note when using ez-link card
2 June 2007
WE refer to the letters by Mr Paul Teh Seng Toon, ' Review procedures on retaining ez-link cards ' (The New Paper, 16 May) and Madam Telma Gomez, ' Driver could have checked photo on card ' (The New Paper, 18 May).
We would like to take the opportunity to share that when a concession ez-link card is tapped at the bus card-reader, commuters will hear two beeps and see a green light if the card is successfully read.
However, if no beep tone is heard or a red light and a series of five beeps are produced by the card-reader, this indicates a problem with the card where the transaction cannot be successfully conducted.
The bus operator reserves the right to retain the card for investigation and verification.
This is for the protection of ez-link card users in general, as the card may be tampered with, misused, replaced or refunded.
Concurrently when this happens, a message will be shown on the bus captain's fare console to guide him on what he should do.
Bus captains are authorised to check, verify and retain if necessary, all cards and passes for investigation purposes.
This includes cards that have been reported lost, stolen or have expired and are no longer valid, as well as those that are misused by persons who are not entitled to concessionary travel.
The use of ez-link cards is governed by the regulations and published conditions as indicated on the back of the card.
For details, commuters may also visit www.transitlink.com.sg.
Bus captains are trained on the proper procedures of retaining cards and he or she will issue a retention slip to the cardholder.
After investigation by the bus operator, the card will be sent to TransitLink for cardholders' collection.
Cardholders may call TransitLink Hotline 1800-2255 663 after five working days to check the status of the cards.
In Mr Paul Teh's son case, we are pleased to note that he had since obtained a replacement card.
For the case cited by the writers following the report in The New Paper of 13 May (of a bus driver who was allegedly attacked after he retained a student's ez-link card), we wish to explain that the student had earlier reported it as lost/stolen and a replacement card was then issued to her.
To avoid misuse of the card, it was blacklisted on the system, so the bus captain proceeded to retain it.
Misuse of concession cards, if not addressed, will indirectly affect other fare-paying passengers as they may then have to bear a larger burden of the cost of public transport.
We thank the writers for their feedback.
- Kathryn Lau
Assistant corporate communications manager
TransitLink Pte Ltd
- Tammy Tan
Director
Corporate communications
SBS Transit Ltd -
i have been involved in a similar incident when i took SBS9819Y on 143. That bloody BC. He had an attitude problem. I got a replacement card for like 1 mth. and say i ADULT (i got sec skool/pre-u card, thus got concession) He force me to pay 90cent and also ez link card. (Cos i wanted to collect SBS9819Y's ticket) I complained to SBST, but response came like 5 weeks later. i suppose the BC that detained your card is a brbp/amdep/bndep/slbp one (These buggers from these depots love to irritate pple). I suppose the BC who got punched comes under one of these bus depots lah. Thats why if you noticed the complaints on SBSTs website are those mostly on amdep/brbp services. (Like 8, 138,143 [Mine,wouldnt really count]....)Originally posted by smartboy4:which was not even INTENDED to be used during boarding ?
I'm posting this in the buses section hoping to get more information from you people.
I've replaced my ez-link card couple of times as they always spoilt, i don't know the exact cause but i think it got damaged somewhere in my wallet when it's pressed by other things in my wallet over time.
But i could always get it replaced free at the office.
A day before this incident happened, i boarded a bus and got no response from both card readers at the entrance, so i knew my card died again, and it would mean a lot trouble to me when taking public transport especially digging for coins and getting standard tickets for trains which is at adult price i think ? (I'm using a secondary/pre u card thus i have concession)
I didn't have time to go for card replacement on that day and next (anyway it was already at night when i discovered my card couldn't use anymore)
Meant i have to use cash (coins) when taking buses.
The next day, i paid 55 cents when boarding. The SBS BC requested my card for verification only.
I showed him, he asked me to try tap. As expected, no response, i also told him i knew my card was spoilt already.
He just took the card away from me and printed an inspector ticket along with a white card saying my card got retained and i have to call a hotline AFTER 5 WORKING DAYS!
I had to alight a few stops later i didn't have time to check what the hell he gave me and to argue with him. Here's the start of the problem, i don't see any reason why he had to retain my card?
I would be MORE than happy to pay an adult fare (it isn't much difference for 4 bus stops) if i knew there would be so much trouble and dis-convenience for me.
Look, if he hadn't retain my card, i could actually get my card replace the next following day WITHOUT hassle.
Now because he retained the card ( on 22/5/07 ), i got to wait for SBS Transit to receive the card from the BC and maybe look into it before they mail it to TransitLink HQ, which only then i can get a replacement.
It's a lot trouble finding coins and to get standard ticket each time i want to take train, ESPECIALLY when the train is already arriving and i had no choice but to wait for another one because getting the standard ticket isn't fast!
I'm not whining here. I just like to hear your views, was the BC right?
Just after that incident, i called both SBS Transit and TransitLink. they told me that BCs have the rights to retain card for investigation if it's found to be tampered with, misused, replaced etc..
Well that made sense, BUT it has got nothing to do with my case! Why did the BC bother so much about my card? I paid my fare, i showed him the verification he wanted!
I may write to SBS but i like to know first of all now, was he doing a right thing or more like being a 'kpo'?
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I remember some old post saying that one of the SGForum members got card confiscated by a Service 65 BC. Pardon me from being biased, i find most of the BCs on 65 alright except for 1 guy (i wouldnt describe) from the arbp side (the SBS9441C regular) and 1 from the bndep side (the SBS9448J regular [Last time]).
I may be a huge arbp fan. but i DO NOT support arbp 14.
These (mostly) arbp 14 BCs check passes all the time. so be prepared to have an unpleasant journey with any BC from 14 (esp with VO3x batch 1 and MK2s [took SBS1704Y on 14] . The BC drive like crazy. SO SO SO many arbp 14 drivers checked my pass. Screw them....