In an effort to protect passenger rights, the Taipei Smart Card Corporation (TSCC) yesterday announced it would deposit the more than NT$1.3 billion (US$40 million) it has collected in advance fees from EasyCards into a trust fund.
The multi-purpose EasyCard, used to pay transit fees on Taipei MRT lines and buses, is extremely popular, with 10 million cards in circulation as of last October following its launch on June 12, 2002.
The number of cards is expected to reach 15 million in the near future, the TSCC said.
PHOTO: CNA
Besides the advance fees collected from the EasyCards, the TSCC added about NT$100 million and deposited the money into a Cathay United Bank account.
TSCC general manager Jason Lin (林志盈) said the company added an extra 5 percent to highlight the company's efforts to protect its customers.
"I am very confident about the sale of smart cards, but I think putting the advance fees into the trust fund offers more protection for our customers," he told a press conference yesterday at Taipei City Hall.
Addressing the ceremony, Taipei Mayor Hau Lung-bin (郝龍斌) approved of TSCC's move, and promised to oversee the fund and protect the rights of all cardholders.
"I applaud TSCC's innovative measure and its sincerity. It is not only 100 percent sincere about protecting customers, it is 105 percent," Hau said.
Besides MRT fees and buses, the cards can also be used to pay parking fees and for tickets to Taipei's Maokong gondola system.
The TSCC has already expanded the card's use to Taipei County, Keelung City and Taoyuan County and hopes to keep expanding the use of the card to other areas around the country.
The Japan-Taiwan Exchange Association has cautioned Japanese travelers to be vigilant against pickpockets at several popular tourist spots in Taiwan, including Taipei’s night markets, the Yongkang Street area, Zhongshan MRT Station, and Jiufen (九份) in New Taipei City. The advisory, titled “Recent Development of Concerns,” was posted on the association’s Web site under its safety and emergency report section. It urges travelers to keep backpacks fully zipped and carried in front, with valuables placed at the bottom of the bag. Visitors are advised to be especially mindful of their belongings when taking photos or speaking on the phone, avoid storing wallets and
ENDORSING TAIWAN: Honduran presidential candidate Nasry Afura said that Honduras was ‘100 times better off’ when it was allied with Taipei The Ministry of Foreign Affairs yesterday said it would explore the possibility of restoring diplomatic relations with Honduras based on the principle of maintaining national interests and dignity. The ministry made the remarks in response to reporters’ questions regarding an article titled: “Will Taiwan Regain a Diplomatic Ally?” published in The Diplomat on Saturday. The article said Honduras’ presidential election in November could offer Taiwan the chance to regain an ally, as multiple candidates have promoted re-establishing diplomatic relations with Taiwan. Honduras severed diplomatic ties with Taiwan in March 2023 in favor of Beijing, but since switching its diplomatic recognition,
A fourth public debate was held today about restarting the recently decommissioned Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant, ahead of a referendum on the controversial issue to be held in less than two weeks. A referendum on Aug. 23 is to ask voters if they agree that “the Ma-anshan Nuclear Power Plant should continue operations upon approval by the competent authority and confirmation that there are no safety concerns.” Anyone over 18 years of age can vote in the referendum. The vote comes just three months after its final reactor shut down, officially making Taiwan nuclear-free. Taiwan People’s Party Chairman Huang Kuo-chang (黃國昌) represented
Scoot announced yesterday that starting in October, it would increase flights between Taipei and Japan’s Narita airport and Hokkaido, and between Singapore and Taipei. The low-cost airline, a subsidiary of Singapore Airlines, also said it would launch flights to Chiang Rai in Thailand, Okinawa and Tokyo’s Haneda airport between December and March next year. Flights between Singapore and Chiang Rai would begin on Jan. 1, with five flights per week operated by an Embraer E190-E2 aircraft, Scoot said. Flights between Singapore and Okinawa would begin on Dec. 15, with three flights per week operated by Airbus A320 aircraft, the airline said. Services between Singapore
RSS