http://www.straitstimes.com/Breaking...ry_409052.html
Kinks in new ez-link cards
By Irene Tham
PROBLEMS PAYING AT THE LIBRARY: A National Library Board spokesman said card readers for paying fines still cannot recognise concession cards, but can accept the new adult cards. -- ST FILE PHOTOS
View more photos
SINCE the call went out for commuters to swop their ez-link cards for the souped-up one which can be used to pay for many more things, 2.5 million of these smart cards have been changed.
But it appears retailers have been less than on the ball about changing their card readers that work with these new cards.
Students and senior citizens, in particular, have had problems paying for items at 7-Eleven convenience stores and for fines at the National Library with their concession cards.
7-Eleven said it expects the problem to be resolved by Monday, when a software upgrade kicks in for its card readers.
Over at McDonald's 100-plus outlets, the situation is different: The fast food giant has decided to drop its ez-link payment option this month after having offered its customers the option since 2004.
Student Lau Siaw Ee, 16, who is in Secondary 4 in Tanjong Katong Girls' School, has had problems paying for food and drinks at 7-Eleven and McDonald's after school. Her student concession card is the new version, obtained in a mass replacement exercise in school.
Her schoolmate Bernadette Loh, also 16, could not pay the fine for her overdue library books at the Marine Parade Public Library with her new card. The library's self-service e-kiosks and the library's manned counter rejected it - and this, despite the manned counter having had new ez-link card readers since April.
She could not borrow a fresh lot of books either, since the fines were still outstanding.
A National Library Board spokesman, putting the problem down to 'initial roll-out kinks', said the card readers still cannot recognise concession cards, but can accept the new adult cards.
Library counters are expected to be able to accept concession cards from this week; the self-service kiosks will be upgraded by end-September.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times
Kinks in new ez-link cards
By Irene Tham
PROBLEMS PAYING AT THE LIBRARY: A National Library Board spokesman said card readers for paying fines still cannot recognise concession cards, but can accept the new adult cards. -- ST FILE PHOTOS
View more photos
SINCE the call went out for commuters to swop their ez-link cards for the souped-up one which can be used to pay for many more things, 2.5 million of these smart cards have been changed.
But it appears retailers have been less than on the ball about changing their card readers that work with these new cards.
Students and senior citizens, in particular, have had problems paying for items at 7-Eleven convenience stores and for fines at the National Library with their concession cards.
7-Eleven said it expects the problem to be resolved by Monday, when a software upgrade kicks in for its card readers.
Over at McDonald's 100-plus outlets, the situation is different: The fast food giant has decided to drop its ez-link payment option this month after having offered its customers the option since 2004.
Student Lau Siaw Ee, 16, who is in Secondary 4 in Tanjong Katong Girls' School, has had problems paying for food and drinks at 7-Eleven and McDonald's after school. Her student concession card is the new version, obtained in a mass replacement exercise in school.
Her schoolmate Bernadette Loh, also 16, could not pay the fine for her overdue library books at the Marine Parade Public Library with her new card. The library's self-service e-kiosks and the library's manned counter rejected it - and this, despite the manned counter having had new ez-link card readers since April.
She could not borrow a fresh lot of books either, since the fines were still outstanding.
A National Library Board spokesman, putting the problem down to 'initial roll-out kinks', said the card readers still cannot recognise concession cards, but can accept the new adult cards.
Library counters are expected to be able to accept concession cards from this week; the self-service kiosks will be upgraded by end-September.
Read the full story in Tuesday's edition of The Straits Times
