Could somebody else sell a competitively priced 'Touch ‘n Go'-compatible cards?
While it didn't surprised me that people are paying extras for using TnG services, as reflected by this article, Why you pay more to park with Touch ‘n Go, it never stopped me from wondering if any other companies besides Rangkaian Segar should be given the permission to sell a compatible card to avoid monopoly!
Will there be a political will here?
I reckoned the politically-connected Rangkaian Segar will never allow it!
===============
The Star Online > Nation
Saturday September 3, 2005
Why you pay more to park with Touch ‘n Go
BY FLORENCE A. SAMY
PETALING JAYA: Using Touch 'n Go cards when parking at shopping malls or office buildings is a breeze as users get to avoid long queues.
But some are unhappy that they are charged an extra 10% of the parking amount for the convenience.
For example, if the parking amount is RM3, they pay RM3.30.
However, parking operators said they were not getting anything from the 10% service charge as the money goes to Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd, which operates the electronic cash card, and the appointed agents who installed the equipment.
“It’s just an additional facility for our patrons,” said Systematic Corporate Parking Sdn Bhd operations general manager Thomas Ng.
“We don’t even own the equipment as the owners will take it back in the end.
“We already have to spend a lot to repair and maintain existing parking and auto-pay machines,” Ng said.
“If we absorb the surcharge, not only will we be losing money but we will also have extra costs to bear.”
“Plus, we will be paying for something that not everyone wants. The Touch 'n Go system is sometimes requested by building owners and not by operators,” he said, adding that they deal directly with the agents.
1 Utama Shopping complex operations manager Edmund Fong said the Touch ‘n Go system was put up to provide customers with an alternative to the ticketing system.
“It’s up to them. It’s just an alternative for those who want to enjoy faster and better service without the queues,” he said.
He said they had no choice but to pass on the cost to customers as they could not afford to bear the service charge.
It costs the shopping complex a few hundred thousand ringgit to put up the system for their 21 Touch ‘n Go readers.
An official of Metro Parking (M) Sdn Bhd, which operates parking facilities at KL Sentral, Pusat Bandar Damansara and several hotels, agreed that it was up to building owners to install the electronic card system.
“Building owners have to agree to certain terms if they want to absorb the cost. If not, the 10% surcharge goes to the customer.
“It’s eating into our income, and we’re already absorbing the 5% government service tax,” he said.
M. KRISHNAMOORTHY reports that Rangkaian Segar claims it gets only 1.5% of the service charge, and the agents 8.5% for putting up the system, and maintaining and managing it.
“We have had several discussions with parking lot management companies and building complex owners on this issue,” said Rangkaian Segar chief operating officer Swinder Grewal.
“They are not willing to absorb the cost although it helps them save on labour,” she added.
Swinder said it was not fair to pass the cost to the customers.
© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
Will there be a political will here?
I reckoned the politically-connected Rangkaian Segar will never allow it!
===============
The Star Online > Nation
Saturday September 3, 2005
Why you pay more to park with Touch ‘n Go
BY FLORENCE A. SAMY
PETALING JAYA: Using Touch 'n Go cards when parking at shopping malls or office buildings is a breeze as users get to avoid long queues.
But some are unhappy that they are charged an extra 10% of the parking amount for the convenience.
For example, if the parking amount is RM3, they pay RM3.30.
However, parking operators said they were not getting anything from the 10% service charge as the money goes to Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd, which operates the electronic cash card, and the appointed agents who installed the equipment.
“It’s just an additional facility for our patrons,” said Systematic Corporate Parking Sdn Bhd operations general manager Thomas Ng.
“We don’t even own the equipment as the owners will take it back in the end.
“We already have to spend a lot to repair and maintain existing parking and auto-pay machines,” Ng said.
“If we absorb the surcharge, not only will we be losing money but we will also have extra costs to bear.”
“Plus, we will be paying for something that not everyone wants. The Touch 'n Go system is sometimes requested by building owners and not by operators,” he said, adding that they deal directly with the agents.
1 Utama Shopping complex operations manager Edmund Fong said the Touch ‘n Go system was put up to provide customers with an alternative to the ticketing system.
“It’s up to them. It’s just an alternative for those who want to enjoy faster and better service without the queues,” he said.
He said they had no choice but to pass on the cost to customers as they could not afford to bear the service charge.
It costs the shopping complex a few hundred thousand ringgit to put up the system for their 21 Touch ‘n Go readers.
An official of Metro Parking (M) Sdn Bhd, which operates parking facilities at KL Sentral, Pusat Bandar Damansara and several hotels, agreed that it was up to building owners to install the electronic card system.
“Building owners have to agree to certain terms if they want to absorb the cost. If not, the 10% surcharge goes to the customer.
“It’s eating into our income, and we’re already absorbing the 5% government service tax,” he said.
M. KRISHNAMOORTHY reports that Rangkaian Segar claims it gets only 1.5% of the service charge, and the agents 8.5% for putting up the system, and maintaining and managing it.
“We have had several discussions with parking lot management companies and building complex owners on this issue,” said Rangkaian Segar chief operating officer Swinder Grewal.
“They are not willing to absorb the cost although it helps them save on labour,” she added.
Swinder said it was not fair to pass the cost to the customers.
© 1995-2005 Star Publications (Malaysia) Bhd (Co No 10894-D)
posted by mamat at 9:44 AM
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