Shopping on line can be easy, simple and save you lots of money. It can also take a lot of your time, frustrate you, and result in unwanted purchases. Now the same can be said for regular high street shopping, but with the vast opportunity presented by the Internet it will pay you to spend a few minutes reading this and understanding how to better optimize your Touch N Go shopping experience:

1. Compare - without doubt the biggest advantage that the Touch N Go offers shoppers today is the ability to compare thousands of Touch N Go at a time. This is a great thing, but not necessarily all the time! Too much can be daunting at times so take advantage of the great comparison sites and where possible let them do the hard work for you.

2. Research - if it has been said it will be on the internet. Ignorance is no longer a justifiable reason for buying the wrong thing. Take the time to research in detail everything that you could possible want to know about

3. Testimonials - don't know anybody that has bought a Touch N Go? Wrong! If the Touch N Go is good the internet will let you know. Use the Internet as a friend and get testimonials before you buy.

4. Questions - Got a question about Touch N Go then search the Forums, FAQ's, Blogs etc. Don't be afraid to ask .....

5. Reputation - Never heard of the company selling Touch N Go? Don't worry, no reason why you should know every company in the world, but you know someone that does! Use the internet to find out what people are saying about Touch N Go and build up a picture of their reputation for sales, returns, customer service, delivery etc.

6. Returns - still worried that even after all of the above your Touch N Go wont be what you want? Check out the returns policy. There is so much competition now that someone, somewhere is bound to offer the terms that you are comfortable with.

7. Feedback - happy with your Touch N Go then let people know, after all you are depending on others people input in your buying decision, so why not give a little back.

8. Security - check for the yellow padlock on the Touch N Go site before you buy, and the s after http:/ /i.e. https:// = a secure site

9. Contact - got a question about Touch N Go, or want to leave a comment then check out the sites contact page. Reputable companies have them and respond.

10. Payment - ready to pay for your Touch N Go, then use your credit card or PayPal! Be aware of companies that don't accept them, there may be genuine reasons but given the huge amount of choice you have when buying online there is no reason at all not to buy via credit card or PayPal.

The Touch 'n Go or smart card is used by Malaysian Malaysian expressway system operators as the sole electronic payment system (EPS). The credit card sized smartcard made of plastic with Philips' MIFARE microchip technology embedded in it. It is the same technology used as electronic payment of Transport for London which is known as Oyster card.

The Touch 'n Go systems are designed to process up to 800 vehicles per hour to ease the queue congestion at toll plazas and if use together with SmartTAG (a non-stop electronic toll collection system), will be able to process up to 1,200 vehicles per hour.

Card categories The cards can be categorize into 4 types:

Prepaid card A standard Touch 'n Go cards fare structure currently available for adult fare for CTS and standard class vehicles with 2 axles and 3 or 4 wheels (Class 1) excluding taxis for toll fare.

Postpaid cards It mainly purposed for toll fare payment. The details of company name, vehicle registration number and vehicle class was printed on the card. Credit term of 15 days given for post payment and fleet operators are able to monitor toll record/vehicle movement at highways via e-statement (itemised statement) after 24 to 48 hours from the time of transaction.

It is the same as standard card mainly purposed for corporate users.

Auto-reload card

The Touch 'n Go Zing is a companion card (works as standard card) that is linked to Visa, MasterCard or American Express issued by participating banks in Malaysia. Each time the card balance falls below RM50, it will trigger the auto-reload mechanism to reload RM100 into the card. The amount will be charged to the credit card plus RM2 as auto-reload fee for each time reload.

Zing card auto-reload facility is currently offered by: *Maybank *Hong Leong Bank *EON Bank *Affin Bank *MBF Cards (A wholly owned subsidiary of MBf Holdings Berhad)

Multi-purpose card Main article: MyKad

A value added application for Malaysian identity card as e-purse.

Purchase and reload A standard card can be purchase at the price of RM20. It consist of RM10 deposit value and RM10 usage amount. The cards may be reloaded from 10 denominations ranging from RM10, RM20, RM50, RM100, RM150, RM200, RM250, RM300, RM400 and RM500. Minimum reload value for credit card issued in Malaysia is RM100.

Cash counters

Cash drive-through counters {|class="wikitable"|-|style="width:600px" colspan="6" style="text-align:center" bgcolor="blue"|TAMBAH NILAI & |}

Credit card counters

Auto Teller Machines

Card usage Touch 'n Go card is not only for toll fare but also parking services, theme park, and common ticketing system (CTS) for rail transit systems.

{|class="wikitable"|-|style="width:600px" colspan="6" style="text-align:center" bgcolor="yellow"|SENTUHKAN
KAD

DI SINI|}Touch 'n Go reader touch signs



Toll fare Main article: Malaysian Expressway System#List of expressways in Malaysia

Touch 'n Go can be used in entire highways stretches in Malaysia with the familiar & Smart sign marked on the road. Two systems were introduced on toll fare collection instead of manual ticket. Due to highways with numerous junctions or intersections serving short distance trips, most of Malaysian highways using open system toll collection.

Toll fare collection on open system Card users only have to touch at the reader at lanes counter or drive thru lanes at certain toll plazas. Toll fares charged are fixed regardless the distance travelled.The highways that using open system on toll collection are * Shah Alam Expressway (SAE/KESAS) * New Pantai Expressway (NPE) * Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE)

Toll fare collection on closed system Card users "touch in" before entering the expressway at respective toll plazas and "touch out" at the exit toll plaza. Vehicle with card have to drive thru lanes and lanes for SmartTAG users. Toll fares are charged based on the distance between the entry plaza and the exit plaza. Card users have to make sure the amount balance should more than RM2 before "touch in", otherwise the system will not function. If card balance less than the amount of toll fare, exit payment balance after deducted card balance should be pay by cash at the "LORONG TUNAI" lanes. Highways for closed system as such * North-South Expressway (NSE/PLUS) * North-South Expressway Central Link (NSECL/ELITE)

SmartTAG Main article: SmartTAG

An extension of Touch 'n Go is SmartTAG or on board unit, which allows users to insert the card into a reader device installed in the vehicle for fully automatic/non-stop payment at toll plazas. Payment is made automatically as the toll charge is deducted from the value stored in the Touch 'n Go card.

Common Ticketing System The cards can be used as an integrated ticket in Kuala Lumpur bus & rail transit system:









Ticketless parkings Touch 'n Go can also be used in selected parkings:

Kuala Lumpur area: * Bangsar Shopping Centre * Sg. Wang Plaza * Pantai Medical Centre * KL Sentral * Pusat Bandar Damansara * Hospital Pakar Damansara * Dataran Palma, Ampang * Megan Phileo Avenue

Petaling Jaya area: * 1-Utama Shopping Centre * Jaya Shopping Complex * Atria Shopping Centre * Kelana Square * Kelana Parkview * Armada Hotel * Megan Phileo Damansara * Damansara Intan

Subang Jaya area: * The Summit, USJ * Sunway Pyramid * Subang Parade

Others * Century Square, Cyberjaya

Admission fees Currently only one theme park has Touch 'n Go facility as an alternative in paying its admission fees:

History Touch 'n Go was developed by Teras Teknologi Sdn Bhd and owned by Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd. The first Touch 'n Go system was installed and use at Jalan Pahang Toll Plaza on 18 March 1997. It was then immediately extended to Jalan Cheras toll plaza and the Lebuhraya Timur-Barat/Salak Expressway toll plaza on 15 April 1997. Touch 'N Go toll payment system fully implemented throughout the 848km North-South Expressway (NSE/PLUS) on 15 November 1998. This was made possible when the service was extended to the northern sections of the highway from Jelapang to Jitra. As such the smart card can be used to pay toll from Kempas in Johor right up to Jitra in Kedah, making it one of the world's longest single stretch of expressway electronic toll payment systems. The official launch was done at the Sungai Dua toll plaza and officiated by Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd then chairman, Datuk Dr Ramli Mohamad.

The Touch 'n Go system was implemented in Buses in Kuala Lumpur#Cityliner Sdn Bhd, one of stage bus service in Klang Valley somewhere in 2000*. Touch 'n Go card users enjoyed discount fare of 10% when its was first introduced. Due to needs to further consolidate company operations and meeting current customer demands at that time as well as operational restructuring exercise, card users have to pay full fare after new announcement made on 13th November 2003. However Touch 'n Go card reader system in the stage bus was not well maintained by the bus operator. Card reader often malfunction and no further updated information to replace/upgrading afterward were requested. Another subsidiaries of Park May Berhad, City Profile Sdn Bhd, a feeder bus service (service known as Putraline) served for Kelana Jaya Line was also introduced and the system successful implemented until Rapid KL bus revamp program took place.

Touch 'n Go facility was also embeded in Buy N Fly loyalty card rewards program for of Malaysia Airlines retail arm, Golden Boutiques Sdn Bhd's which was launched in December 1999. The hybrid cards has a multi functions on rewards airpoint, Malaysian Electronic Payment System Cash & Touch 'n Go. However on July 16, 2002, Malaysia Airlines announced that “Buy N Fly” Programme had ceased operations and consolidates its loyalty rewards into one entity; Malaysia Airlines Enrich Loyalty Programme#Enrich Frequent Flyer Programme. Buy N Fly cards was no longer issued but until today an active hybrid card users still able to used it to perform transaction.

Future implementation The fare-card readers remain idle because the Express Rail Link (ERL) and Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd are still in dispute over the commission rate. Sources said Rangkaian Segar wants 2.5%, while the ERL were prepared to pay less than 2%. This disagreement, they added, had resulted in the operators holding back implementation of the system. The rail under this operator is based on two systems: *KLIA Ekspres *KLIA Transit

Criticisms Free reload only available from manual transaction over the counter of Touch 'n Go Hub, Highway Operation Office & "Lorong Tambah Nilai" lanes, major stations of Rapid KL & KTM Komuter. Reload over the ATM Machine and reload agents will incur an additional fee of RM0.50 and RM1.00 at Cash Deposit machine. RM2.00 will be charged for Zingcard autoreload for every RM100.

Refund for card balance and deposit will be paid by cheque in one month processing and send by post by Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd.

Concessionary users are charged between 2.0 - 2.5 percent of the profit for using the system. No discount is given but instead card users may have to pay the commission fee. Car park operators usually pass on the Touch 'n Go commission fee onto card users, resulting in users paying 10% more.

Although the system was introduced in the last 10 years, with the support of the Government (particularly by incorporation the system into MyKad), card and concessionary users still prefer to use cash.

However to date, Touch 'n Go's 10 years research & development has resulted to 4 millions of card users (from 20 million of population) and use by all 19 toll concession companies in operation in Malaysia.

According to Bank Negara report on Payment System Act 2003; 39% of non-cash transaction in Malaysia is of Touch 'n Go. Non-cash payment via Touch 'n Go (and SmartTAG) accounted to 35% of all toll payments nationwide and 50% at Klang Valley.

All transaction records within 3 days from the date cannot be viewed trough the e-Statement. Fax transactions recorded by phone are however available within 24 hours and mostly depended on data server system.

Fare structure only applicable for adult. The cards is not available for senior citizen, children, school uniform & handicapped.

Trivia

References

External links Company website

Zing card website

ATM reload website

The Touch 'n Go or smart card is used by Malaysian Malaysian expressway system operators as the sole electronic payment system (EPS). The credit card sized smartcard made of plastic with Philips' MIFARE microchip technology embedded in it. It is the same technology used as electronic payment of Transport for London which is known as Oyster card.

The Touch 'n Go systems are designed to process up to 800 vehicles per hour to ease the queue congestion at toll plazas and if use together with SmartTAG (a non-stop electronic toll collection system), will be able to process up to 1,200 vehicles per hour.

Card categories The cards can be categorize into 4 types:

Prepaid card A standard Touch 'n Go cards fare structure currently available for adult fare for CTS and standard class vehicles with 2 axles and 3 or 4 wheels (Class 1) excluding taxis for toll fare.

Postpaid cards It mainly purposed for toll fare payment. The details of company name, vehicle registration number and vehicle class was printed on the card. Credit term of 15 days given for post payment and fleet operators are able to monitor toll record/vehicle movement at highways via e-statement (itemised statement) after 24 to 48 hours from the time of transaction.

It is the same as standard card mainly purposed for corporate users.

Auto-reload card

The Touch 'n Go Zing is a companion card (works as standard card) that is linked to Visa, MasterCard or American Express issued by participating banks in Malaysia. Each time the card balance falls below RM50, it will trigger the auto-reload mechanism to reload RM100 into the card. The amount will be charged to the credit card plus RM2 as auto-reload fee for each time reload.

Zing card auto-reload facility is currently offered by: *Maybank *Hong Leong Bank *EON Bank *Affin Bank *MBF Cards (A wholly owned subsidiary of MBf Holdings Berhad)

Multi-purpose card Main article: MyKad

A value added application for Malaysian identity card as e-purse.

Purchase and reload A standard card can be purchase at the price of RM20. It consist of RM10 deposit value and RM10 usage amount. The cards may be reloaded from 10 denominations ranging from RM10, RM20, RM50, RM100, RM150, RM200, RM250, RM300, RM400 and RM500. Minimum reload value for credit card issued in Malaysia is RM100.

Cash counters

Cash drive-through counters {|class="wikitable"|-|style="width:600px" colspan="6" style="text-align:center" bgcolor="blue"|TAMBAH NILAI & |}

Credit card counters

Auto Teller Machines

Card usage Touch 'n Go card is not only for toll fare but also parking services, theme park, and common ticketing system (CTS) for rail transit systems.

{|class="wikitable"|-|style="width:600px" colspan="6" style="text-align:center" bgcolor="yellow"|SENTUHKAN
KAD

DI SINI|}Touch 'n Go reader touch signs



Toll fare Main article: Malaysian Expressway System#List of expressways in Malaysia

Touch 'n Go can be used in entire highways stretches in Malaysia with the familiar & Smart sign marked on the road. Two systems were introduced on toll fare collection instead of manual ticket. Due to highways with numerous junctions or intersections serving short distance trips, most of Malaysian highways using open system toll collection.

Toll fare collection on open system Card users only have to touch at the reader at lanes counter or drive thru lanes at certain toll plazas. Toll fares charged are fixed regardless the distance travelled.The highways that using open system on toll collection are * Shah Alam Expressway (SAE/KESAS) * New Pantai Expressway (NPE) * Guthrie Corridor Expressway (GCE)

Toll fare collection on closed system Card users "touch in" before entering the expressway at respective toll plazas and "touch out" at the exit toll plaza. Vehicle with card have to drive thru lanes and lanes for SmartTAG users. Toll fares are charged based on the distance between the entry plaza and the exit plaza. Card users have to make sure the amount balance should more than RM2 before "touch in", otherwise the system will not function. If card balance less than the amount of toll fare, exit payment balance after deducted card balance should be pay by cash at the "LORONG TUNAI" lanes. Highways for closed system as such * North-South Expressway (NSE/PLUS) * North-South Expressway Central Link (NSECL/ELITE)

SmartTAG Main article: SmartTAG

An extension of Touch 'n Go is SmartTAG or on board unit, which allows users to insert the card into a reader device installed in the vehicle for fully automatic/non-stop payment at toll plazas. Payment is made automatically as the toll charge is deducted from the value stored in the Touch 'n Go card.

Common Ticketing System The cards can be used as an integrated ticket in Kuala Lumpur bus & rail transit system:









Ticketless parkings Touch 'n Go can also be used in selected parkings:

Kuala Lumpur area: * Bangsar Shopping Centre * Sg. Wang Plaza * Pantai Medical Centre * KL Sentral * Pusat Bandar Damansara * Hospital Pakar Damansara * Dataran Palma, Ampang * Megan Phileo Avenue

Petaling Jaya area: * 1-Utama Shopping Centre * Jaya Shopping Complex * Atria Shopping Centre * Kelana Square * Kelana Parkview * Armada Hotel * Megan Phileo Damansara * Damansara Intan

Subang Jaya area: * The Summit, USJ * Sunway Pyramid * Subang Parade

Others * Century Square, Cyberjaya

Admission fees Currently only one theme park has Touch 'n Go facility as an alternative in paying its admission fees:

History Touch 'n Go was developed by Teras Teknologi Sdn Bhd and owned by Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd. The first Touch 'n Go system was installed and use at Jalan Pahang Toll Plaza on 18 March 1997. It was then immediately extended to Jalan Cheras toll plaza and the Lebuhraya Timur-Barat/Salak Expressway toll plaza on 15 April 1997. Touch 'N Go toll payment system fully implemented throughout the 848km North-South Expressway (NSE/PLUS) on 15 November 1998. This was made possible when the service was extended to the northern sections of the highway from Jelapang to Jitra. As such the smart card can be used to pay toll from Kempas in Johor right up to Jitra in Kedah, making it one of the world's longest single stretch of expressway electronic toll payment systems. The official launch was done at the Sungai Dua toll plaza and officiated by Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd then chairman, Datuk Dr Ramli Mohamad.

The Touch 'n Go system was implemented in Buses in Kuala Lumpur#Cityliner Sdn Bhd, one of stage bus service in Klang Valley somewhere in 2000*. Touch 'n Go card users enjoyed discount fare of 10% when its was first introduced. Due to needs to further consolidate company operations and meeting current customer demands at that time as well as operational restructuring exercise, card users have to pay full fare after new announcement made on 13th November 2003. However Touch 'n Go card reader system in the stage bus was not well maintained by the bus operator. Card reader often malfunction and no further updated information to replace/upgrading afterward were requested. Another subsidiaries of Park May Berhad, City Profile Sdn Bhd, a feeder bus service (service known as Putraline) served for Kelana Jaya Line was also introduced and the system successful implemented until Rapid KL bus revamp program took place.

Touch 'n Go facility was also embeded in Buy N Fly loyalty card rewards program for of Malaysia Airlines retail arm, Golden Boutiques Sdn Bhd's which was launched in December 1999. The hybrid cards has a multi functions on rewards airpoint, Malaysian Electronic Payment System Cash & Touch 'n Go. However on July 16, 2002, Malaysia Airlines announced that “Buy N Fly” Programme had ceased operations and consolidates its loyalty rewards into one entity; Malaysia Airlines Enrich Loyalty Programme#Enrich Frequent Flyer Programme. Buy N Fly cards was no longer issued but until today an active hybrid card users still able to used it to perform transaction.

Future implementation The fare-card readers remain idle because the Express Rail Link (ERL) and Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd are still in dispute over the commission rate. Sources said Rangkaian Segar wants 2.5%, while the ERL were prepared to pay less than 2%. This disagreement, they added, had resulted in the operators holding back implementation of the system. The rail under this operator is based on two systems: *KLIA Ekspres *KLIA Transit

Criticisms Free reload only available from manual transaction over the counter of Touch 'n Go Hub, Highway Operation Office & "Lorong Tambah Nilai" lanes, major stations of Rapid KL & KTM Komuter. Reload over the ATM Machine and reload agents will incur an additional fee of RM0.50 and RM1.00 at Cash Deposit machine. RM2.00 will be charged for Zingcard autoreload for every RM100.

Refund for card balance and deposit will be paid by cheque in one month processing and send by post by Rangkaian Segar Sdn Bhd.

Concessionary users are charged between 2.0 - 2.5 percent of the profit for using the system. No discount is given but instead card users may have to pay the commission fee. Car park operators usually pass on the Touch 'n Go commission fee onto card users, resulting in users paying 10% more.

Although the system was introduced in the last 10 years, with the support of the Government (particularly by incorporation the system into MyKad), card and concessionary users still prefer to use cash.

However to date, Touch 'n Go's 10 years research & development has resulted to 4 millions of card users (from 20 million of population) and use by all 19 toll concession companies in operation in Malaysia.

According to Bank Negara report on Payment System Act 2003; 39% of non-cash transaction in Malaysia is of Touch 'n Go. Non-cash payment via Touch 'n Go (and SmartTAG) accounted to 35% of all toll payments nationwide and 50% at Klang Valley.

All transaction records within 3 days from the date cannot be viewed trough the e-Statement. Fax transactions recorded by phone are however available within 24 hours and mostly depended on data server system.

Fare structure only applicable for adult. The cards is not available for senior citizen, children, school uniform & handicapped.

Trivia

References

External links Company website

Zing card website

ATM reload website



 

Touch N Go



 
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