Last Friday, Touch ‘n Go officially launched its Enhanced Touch ‘n Go Card in Malaysia, offering it for sale on its TnG eWallet app and selected retailers. It was clear the new product would be popular from the get-go – having been quietly available at TnG’s own outlet in Nu Sentral the previous week, it was immediately scalped at nearly double the price.
So it proved – the card was sold out on the app within three hours of the announcement. It was quickly back on sale, however, and we managed to score our own in relatively short order. Given that TnG cards are primarily used for toll payments, we thought it would be a good idea to put the new technology through its paces and see how easy (or otherwise) it is to use.
What’s different about it, and how much does it cost?
The headlining feature of the Enhanced card is the built-in near-field communication (NFC) technology, enabling the much-vaunted smartphone reloads and cutting out the physical counter (and any associated reload charges, as NFC reloads are free) entirely. No, you still can’t top-up the card remotely and the card balance is still separate from your eWallet, just so you know.
What the new card does allow you to do is reload the card using the eWallet, simply by holding it to the back of your phone. To do so, you’ll need an Android smartphone or an iPhone equipped with an NFC chip, which is most of them these days (including the iPhone 7 and newer). Touch ‘n Go also says the new card has better encryption, enhancing the security of your balance.
The Enhanced card is priced the same as its predecessor at RM10 (some LRT and MRT stations are selling the old cards at RM15, inclusive of RM10 preloaded), with orders through the eWallet app tacking on a RM5 shipping fee. It’s sold out on the app as of today, and the cards are still being scalped online – The Star is reporting prices as high as RM90 on an e-commerce platform (i.e. either Lazada or Shopee), which is ridiculous to say the least. Just wait for new stock to arrive, OK?
You can tell the Enhanced card apart from older versions through the pleasing minimalist blue-and-pink gradient on the front and back, although new designs will probably be offered in the future as part of marketing tie-ins, as was the case with the previous cards.
There’s also a wave icon indicating the NFC functionality, along with the TnG and eWallet logos, all of which are imprinted in chrome. On the reverse side is a QR code for the eWallet app, the serial number and the expiry date (seven-year validity for Enhanced). No terms and conditions here, just a simple “terms apply.”
How does the reload function work?
To use the Enhanced card as it’s intended, you’ll first need to update the eWallet app. Once you do that, you’ll notice a new TNG Card shortcut on the main page – previously, you needed to tap on the Toll icon to get to it. The first time you access the menu, you’ll get an introduction of the new card and a prompt to add your card to the app using NFC (you can still do it the old-fashioned way by inputting the serial number).
You’ll then be asked to get your Enhanced card ready, after which your phone will prompt you to place the card on the back for five seconds. Once the card is read, the serial number is automatically inserted in the dialogue box; you will then have to input the six-digit PIN number registered with the eWallet before the card is added to your catalogue. With the latest app, you can now link up to five TnG cards (including Enhanced ones), up from a limit of just three previously.
Reloading the card is relatively straightforward. In the TnG Cards menu, you’ll only need to tap the Reload button on the specific card, after which you’ll again be asked to hold the card to the back of your phone to verify it. Select the desired value and you’ll be prompted to tap your card yet again; for first-time reloads (there’s no preloaded value, by the way), you’ll also need to provide your PIN number. That’s it.
Couple of things to mention – firstly, the location of your phone’s NFC chip differs depending on the model, so you can’t just place the card willy-nilly on the back and expect it to be detected. On an iPhone (like the 12 Pro shown here), you’ll need to tap the card on the top edge, next to the camera bump.
The process is also a little finicky – more than once did the phone report an error while reading the card, which for reloads means you’ll have to start the whole process over again. It seems you can’t rush the tapping of the card; keep it away from the phone before you’re prompted to and the errors will decrease. Once you get the hang of it, you can breeze through reloads in no time.
Anything else I need to keep in mind?
As mentioned earlier, the value in the Enhanced card remains separate from the eWallet – you can’t just pay for things with the card via your eWallet balance (unless you’re using the PayDirect function). Reloads automatically deduct from your eWallet; there’s no option to top-up directly using a credit or debit card. If you have an insufficient eWallet balance, you’ll first be asked to reload the eWallet.
Unlike older cards, the Enhanced version has no dormancy period, meaning you can use the card as sparingly (or often) as you want over the next seven years. Previously, you had to use the card at least once a year to keep it active, although this only applied to cards not linked to the eWallet app.
Want to transfer any balance from your old cards? You’ll have to make a refund request via Touch ‘n Go’s eRefund service, which will credit the remaining value to either your bank account or your eWallet (refunds from a dormant card require a RM5 fee). Once the money is in your eWallet, you can use it to reload the Enhanced card, as usual. Bear in mind that the old card will be deactivated in the process.
Outside of the NFC reloads, the Enhanced card functions just like any other TnG card and can be used for tolls, parking, bus and train fares and some retail purchases. PayDirect also allows you to use your eWallet balance for payments, although it is only supported at certain toll plazas and a handful of mall parking lots.
Infuriatingly, the North-South Highway still doesn’t support PayDirect, despite RFID lanes having now been added at its toll plazas. At least the Enhanced card means you don’t have to park your car and walk to the reload counter, helping to eliminate congestion at tolls. As before, using your card at a PayDirect-supported toll or parking lot deducts from your eWallet first, unless there is insufficient balance.
So there you have it, the new Enhanced Touch ‘n Go Card that allows you to say goodbye to physical reload counters. What do you think of the new NFC functionality and do you think it will make a difference in how you use your card? Sound off in the comments after the jump.
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Might as well expand “pay direct” functionality. The issue is technical so there should be technical solutions to enable “pay direct” to other non-compliant payment terminals.
I personally think, this shift to NFC card financially benefits touch n go. People need to buy new cards – that’s RM10 and touch n go (n participating merchants) will not need to spend money to “upgrade” existing terminals to support “pay direct”.
Very much agree, it is pointless to still have a card to scan whereby we can use phone to pay as what ApplePay, SamsungPay and etc.
Noted, 33milions population, just made 1000pcs card and sold out in 3 hours. Then when RFID price will reduce to rm5 or rm10…?
How come stupid people can do big bussiness like this.
Pointless card for those who love to be scalped. We should be moving away from card payment and move onto contactless RFID payment system.
The whole Intentionis to scam consumers when This country is very lenient with such ways to rake Rakyats money. The Rakyat is already been scraped alive, now companies like T&Go & AirAsia & its Bigpay Join in to Further Skin Rakyats alive. Not Helping but Dancing on the Rakyats Body
Got my card yesterday, the glue on the card is too strong leaving a dirty marking on the card which is hard to clean.
With iPhone 12/13, need to tap the card on the camera bump else the phone wont be able to detect the card.
Haha..lousy iphone
like your android’s any better
I thought they want to phase out the TNG toll, only use rfid. Therefore why launch this card? This doesnt really helps consumer in the long run, make a system that will lasts please.
The card is not only made for toll usage. It is for parking as well, while waiting for the RFID-parking concept to roll out.
Wouldn’t it be better if we can use our phone NFC’s capability to directly tap for payment vie e-wallet instead of need to transfer data or topup to Enhanced card before using touch n go facilities? Just adding another card to your wallet and redundant technology.
Plus only capable for NFC phone user, non NFC might still need to go to counter to topup just like old tng card.
It’s a great idea but that would require every merchants to upgrade their payment terminals i.e. tolls to be able to read nfc.
This enhanced card is only using nfc for reloading and not for payment to the terminals. So it’s impossible to use phone’s nfc for payment unless they upgrade all terminals.
Actually, also push for eWallet top-up at physical locations, including the self-service machines. That way, TnG can also save on having to manage the transportation of the cash in transit.
We are trying to encourage the cashless use of TnG eWallet. Why not push to the vendors and agents to accept TnG eWallet? Afterall, they are already using it in the shop!
Why limit to only using the NFC enabled cards? Plenty of people would also still go to agents and outlets to reload. NOt many people can afford NFC enabled smart phones.
Please do consider the points above, Touch n Go!
i felt the transmission between the new Gen3 card and reader felt faster. Didnt even need to physically touch the reader at the parking barrier and it already read and barrier up.
paydirect works well, with the balance not ‘live’ updated in the ewallet isnt really an issue for me.
so far so good. bought from a Petronas station on Friday night. Didnt know i can now sell my extra cards at double the price now :P
So really all those huuhaa blaming TNG, blaming Gomen was just a bunch of hot air from idiots wanting to be first to post online. Bloody nutjobs deserve to be scalped if they cannot simply just shaddup and wait for more available.
Why RFID sticker is more than 3 times more expensive than a NFC card…
RFID has 3 times more security and tamper proof from abusive use.
why no nfc integration via Apple Wallet, Google Pay, Samsung Pay?
Slm ,sejatera saya nak tahu lebih lanjut
Will leave a review of the card in 5 years from today (hopefully) cos I don’t know when I’d be able to get my hands on one of these enhanced cards without having to pay rm 90 for it.
you can get at shoppe for 54
Why is there a need for another new card? Why can’t we pay toll using credit/debit cards? Another way to monopolise method of toll collection?
Card TnG
Hi my exhanced NFC touch N Go card not able link.keep showing me this massage card detail error.
Very nice
Where can get nfc TNG card
Whats the use of the apps in the phone. To make people save some money in it. Scan to pay! bullshit!!.. useless ..even motorcycle park cannot scan to pay. Now they launch new card, bullshit again. fee again. Why not just make it available to topup online? Its got serial no but only agent can do the topup.. bullshit again. Walaweii malu lah ..apps tak ader improvement cover guna kad baru.
What happened to the nfc card actually?
Even today, like need to employ someone standby all the while in order to grasp one!
This is a scam. I wonder how or why the Government allows T&Go to come up with Their New NFC Card. Should the Old T&Go card that have not Expired be Refunded? Bcoz This is a Forced Termination by T&Go
The whole Intentionis to scam consumers when This country is very lenient with such ways to rake Rakyats money. The Rakyat is already been scraped alive, now companies like T&Go & AirAsia & its Bigpay Join in to Further Skin Rakyats alive. Not Helping but Dancing on the Rakyats Body