Well, it is a card where we can deposit our money into the card and tend to use it when we need it. The concept lies within this was just as the same as our mobile phone card, when we top-up then only we can use the phone to make calls.... the same theory applied here, we need to deposit money to gain usage of this card too... One of the best selling point of this card is that the users don't need to bound to debts problems, because you can only spend how much you have in the card.
There are many types of Pre-paid cash card such as Pre-paid Master card, Pre-paid Visa card and also the Malaysia's Touch'n Go Card and etc.... However, the Malaysia's Touch'n Go Card is the most common card that applied in ours daily life.
Advantages of Pre-paid cash card :
1.Availability - No need to worry about your credit history as the card is availble to everyone, identity check performed upon request.
2.Control - It helps users to control their spending, users can make use of the budget to control their spending with the Pre-paid cash card as spending more will only make them exhausted faster. xD
3.No Debts Risk - Is a Pre-paid cash card, users cannot spend more than the amount inside the card. Thus creating no debts risk.
4.The card for travel - The card can be bring outside to any places especially for young travellers.
What is Touch ‘n Go card ?
Touch ‘n Go card is a prepaid smartcard that uses Mifare contactless technology.Information contain in this card can be read and written via magnetic induction using specified radio frequency and smartcard software.It is an electronic wallet that can be used at all highways in Malaysia, major public transports in Klang Valley, selected parking sites and theme park.
How does this card applied in our daily life ?
1.Toll Fee - The Touch ‘n Go card is being used to paid the tolls fee all over the highways in Malaysia with the TnG SmartTAG sign marked on the road. The speed of payment can also be speeded up by combining the Touch ‘n Go card with the SmartTag or known as " Sistem Membayar Automatic Rangkaian Tol ".
2.Transportation Fees - Refering to the bus ticket fares, LRT fares, KTM fares and so on.. The card can help us to pay the transportation fares and reduces the time to purchase ticket especially when it comes to the crowded time ... with all the people standing there to make ticket purchasing.. .this sometimes really piss us off....
3.Ticketless Parking - This however, only applied in some selected areas such as Century Square Cyberjaya , KLIA , LCCT , Sg. Wang Plaza , 1-Utama Shopping Centre and etc... This is an area that can still be improve more.
4.Admission Fees - This only applied in the Bukit Merah Lake Town Resort where customers need not pay money for the admission fees. In fact, they can pay with TnG card instead of money.
5.Retail Outlets: The card can also be used in some fast foods restaurants such as A&W, Convenience stores(Caltex Star Mart ) and so on...
In Conclusion, the application of Pre-paid cash card for consumers is still not yet perfect at all... The public still rather to hold a credit card than a Pre-paid cash card... maybe the name "Pre-Paid" doesn't sounds so nice...
Related Links :
1.http://www.touchngo.com.my/WhatSTAG.html
2.http://www.touchngo.com.my/WhatTNG.html
3.http://www.startecredit.com/creditpages/prepaid-credit-cards-applications-prerpaid-reloadable-credit-cards.htm
4.http://www.creditcards.com/credit-cards/vision-premier-prepaid-visa-card-free-with-direct-deposit.php
5.http://www.wisegeek.com/what-are-prepaid-credit-cards.htm
6.http://www.moneysupermarket.com/c/prepaid-cards/guide/
Posted by Chee Liat Long