This post has been updated, and is accurate as of 28 Jan 08...
- Please also take note that Citibank Tap & Save SMRT Card is a DEBIT CARD
(There are no income requirements and it is a savings account)
http://www.citibank.com.sg/SGGCB/APPS/portal/loadPage.do?tabId=Investments%20And%20Deposits&path=/prod/det/id_tapnsave.htm
Finally, got my auto $50 auto topup letter last Saturday (26 jan 08). Just went to activate my card just now (28 jan 08). You won’t believe the trouble I had to go through to change from $30 to $50 topup.
Citibank CSO will tell you straight up that it cannot be done. But if you tell them you want to do it on your own through Transitlink, they will then understand what you mean. But my advice is to save the trouble, because most of the time I have the feeling that they are pretty much clueless themselves. A lot of times, I felt like they are just leading me on a wild goose chase
So here are the some simple steps that I’ve compiled though my experience.
STEP 1:
For new card holders-
Bring the initial EZlink activation letter, IC, and card to any TransitLink Office. Ask the counter staff to activate, and TERMINATE at the same time. You need to pay $13, $3 for card deposit, and $10 for initial value.
For existing card holders-
Bring card to TransitLink Office. Ask the counter staff to TERMINATE your auto topup.
In both cases, make sure you get a receipt that looks like this:
STEP 2:
Wait 1 week (5 working days) for the system at both Ezlink and Citibank to ”capture” your card’s termination.
Meanwhile, you can still make manual topups (no rebates, but no charges also) to your card at any Transitlink office or topup machines that look like this:
Go to Ezlink’s website www.ezlink.com.sg to download "Manual Auto Credit card top-up form" (direct link: http://www.ezlink.com.sg/CrditCardTopUpApplicationForm.pdf.)Fill it up and send it through snail mail, after 1 week from termination. It should take 2 weeks to process.Take note that the card is a DEBIT CARD, so you cannot apply for auto topup online, regardless of what citibank cso tells you.
STEP 3:
You should receive the $50 activation letter in 2 weeks or less. Bring the activation letter, IC, and card to Transitlink office to activate your $50 topup. DONE!
If you don't receive your new activation letter in 2 weeks, call Ezlink (1800-2255-663) to enquire your application status. Ezlink might tell you that citibank has blocked your application. If so, call citibank to check if the $30 topup is still active on your card. If it still is, tell them to cancel it for you.
Useful numbers:
Ezlink : 1800-2255-663
citibank : 6225-5225
TransitLink website:
http://www.transitlink.com.sg/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More on my experience:
I started this thread for all those who are interested the topup value from $30 to $50, to share experience, and hopefully also get some useful info for myself. But it seems not many people are doing that. But I will update this thread anyway, since I started it.
First, I went to TransitLink office to activate as well as terminate my autp topup. For some reason, the transitlink staff did not terminate my auto topup, even after I repeatedly ask her to do so. I was given some receipts, and when I checked through, noticed that none said "termination", so I thought maybe there was no receipt for termination.
After many failed attempts to apply for $50 auto topup online (and many calls), I went down to citibank branch office for help. I was quite surprised the cso there was even more clueless than those on the hotline. But eventually, the cso called me, telling me that the $30 auto topup was still active on my card. Frustrated, I went back to Transitlink office to get the $30 topup terminated again. This time I got a receipt.
So I waited 1 week and tried applying online again. Failed. Called ezlink, they said my application was again rejected by citibank. So I called citibank, and the cso told me that my card was a debit card and have to download the form to apply manually. I did that, and after 2 weeks, found out from ezlink that my application was still being rejected by citibank.
I called citibank again, this time the cso found out that my $30 auto topup was still active on my card! I told him that I have already terminated it and even got the receipt for it. He said maybe it was a freak incident, and offered to do the termination for me. He also told me that I can apply for $50 topup online, even though it is a debit card. Two different citibank hotline cso with conflicting answers!
So I tried applying for $50 topup online, again, and failed as usual. Called ezlink to enquire, and they told me its due to some technical glithes on their side. ok, and so it was solved, and I tried applying online again but still can't.
I gave up and just submit the manual application through snail mail again. Got my activation letter in 1 week even though it was stated that he processing time will take 2 weeks.
This is the email I got from citibank in nov, which convinced me that it can be done:
"We wish to clarify that on application of the Tap & Save account, we
would have already applied for the Auto Top-Up facility automatically on
your behalf. As such, re-application would not be possible because the
for successful application, an activation code would already be tagged
to the EZ-Link. And you will receive the activation code via email or
mailed to your billing address within 14 business days. Thereafter, you
will need to activate the Auto-Top facility by visiting TransitLink
office personally with your card and the email/ mailer.
Please confirm if you have activated your Auto Top-Up facility (with the
email notification and physical card at TransitLink office). If you
have already done so, you will need to visit a TransitLink office
physically to deactivate this $30 top-up (not via website). Thereafter,
please wait for about 3 - 5 business days before going to EZ-Link
website to apply for preferred $50 top-up value.
Should you have any queries, please call our 24-Hour CitiPhone Banking
at 6225-5225.
Thank you for banking with Citibank.
Yours sincerely
Marilynn Wong
Customer Correspondence & Services"
This is the message I get from ezlink website everytime I try to apply for $50 topup. According to them, it is a standard error message, and could mean anything (not necessary network problems):
"Due to network problems, we are unable to continue with the purchase. Please try again.
If you are still having problems with the transaction, please call the following :
Singapore Hotline : +65 68989090
Malaysia Hotline : +6603 89965655
or email help@telemoney.com.sg.
Message reference #9210"
- Please also take note that Citibank Tap & Save SMRT Card is a DEBIT CARD
(There are no income requirements and it is a savings account)
http://www.citibank.com.sg/SGGCB/APPS/portal/loadPage.do?tabId=Investments%20And%20Deposits&path=/prod/det/id_tapnsave.htm
Finally, got my auto $50 auto topup letter last Saturday (26 jan 08). Just went to activate my card just now (28 jan 08). You won’t believe the trouble I had to go through to change from $30 to $50 topup.
Citibank CSO will tell you straight up that it cannot be done. But if you tell them you want to do it on your own through Transitlink, they will then understand what you mean. But my advice is to save the trouble, because most of the time I have the feeling that they are pretty much clueless themselves. A lot of times, I felt like they are just leading me on a wild goose chase
So here are the some simple steps that I’ve compiled though my experience.
STEP 1:
For new card holders-
Bring the initial EZlink activation letter, IC, and card to any TransitLink Office. Ask the counter staff to activate, and TERMINATE at the same time. You need to pay $13, $3 for card deposit, and $10 for initial value.
For existing card holders-
Bring card to TransitLink Office. Ask the counter staff to TERMINATE your auto topup.
In both cases, make sure you get a receipt that looks like this:
STEP 2:
Wait 1 week (5 working days) for the system at both Ezlink and Citibank to ”capture” your card’s termination.
Meanwhile, you can still make manual topups (no rebates, but no charges also) to your card at any Transitlink office or topup machines that look like this:
Go to Ezlink’s website www.ezlink.com.sg to download "Manual Auto Credit card top-up form" (direct link: http://www.ezlink.com.sg/CrditCardTopUpApplicationForm.pdf.)Fill it up and send it through snail mail, after 1 week from termination. It should take 2 weeks to process.Take note that the card is a DEBIT CARD, so you cannot apply for auto topup online, regardless of what citibank cso tells you.
STEP 3:
You should receive the $50 activation letter in 2 weeks or less. Bring the activation letter, IC, and card to Transitlink office to activate your $50 topup. DONE!
If you don't receive your new activation letter in 2 weeks, call Ezlink (1800-2255-663) to enquire your application status. Ezlink might tell you that citibank has blocked your application. If so, call citibank to check if the $30 topup is still active on your card. If it still is, tell them to cancel it for you.
Useful numbers:
Ezlink : 1800-2255-663
citibank : 6225-5225
TransitLink website:
http://www.transitlink.com.sg/
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
More on my experience:
I started this thread for all those who are interested the topup value from $30 to $50, to share experience, and hopefully also get some useful info for myself. But it seems not many people are doing that. But I will update this thread anyway, since I started it.
First, I went to TransitLink office to activate as well as terminate my autp topup. For some reason, the transitlink staff did not terminate my auto topup, even after I repeatedly ask her to do so. I was given some receipts, and when I checked through, noticed that none said "termination", so I thought maybe there was no receipt for termination.
After many failed attempts to apply for $50 auto topup online (and many calls), I went down to citibank branch office for help. I was quite surprised the cso there was even more clueless than those on the hotline. But eventually, the cso called me, telling me that the $30 auto topup was still active on my card. Frustrated, I went back to Transitlink office to get the $30 topup terminated again. This time I got a receipt.
So I waited 1 week and tried applying online again. Failed. Called ezlink, they said my application was again rejected by citibank. So I called citibank, and the cso told me that my card was a debit card and have to download the form to apply manually. I did that, and after 2 weeks, found out from ezlink that my application was still being rejected by citibank.
I called citibank again, this time the cso found out that my $30 auto topup was still active on my card! I told him that I have already terminated it and even got the receipt for it. He said maybe it was a freak incident, and offered to do the termination for me. He also told me that I can apply for $50 topup online, even though it is a debit card. Two different citibank hotline cso with conflicting answers!
So I tried applying for $50 topup online, again, and failed as usual. Called ezlink to enquire, and they told me its due to some technical glithes on their side. ok, and so it was solved, and I tried applying online again but still can't.
I gave up and just submit the manual application through snail mail again. Got my activation letter in 1 week even though it was stated that he processing time will take 2 weeks.
This is the email I got from citibank in nov, which convinced me that it can be done:
"We wish to clarify that on application of the Tap & Save account, we
would have already applied for the Auto Top-Up facility automatically on
your behalf. As such, re-application would not be possible because the
for successful application, an activation code would already be tagged
to the EZ-Link. And you will receive the activation code via email or
mailed to your billing address within 14 business days. Thereafter, you
will need to activate the Auto-Top facility by visiting TransitLink
office personally with your card and the email/ mailer.
Please confirm if you have activated your Auto Top-Up facility (with the
email notification and physical card at TransitLink office). If you
have already done so, you will need to visit a TransitLink office
physically to deactivate this $30 top-up (not via website). Thereafter,
please wait for about 3 - 5 business days before going to EZ-Link
website to apply for preferred $50 top-up value.
Should you have any queries, please call our 24-Hour CitiPhone Banking
at 6225-5225.
Thank you for banking with Citibank.
Yours sincerely
Marilynn Wong
Customer Correspondence & Services"
This is the message I get from ezlink website everytime I try to apply for $50 topup. According to them, it is a standard error message, and could mean anything (not necessary network problems):
"Due to network problems, we are unable to continue with the purchase. Please try again.
If you are still having problems with the transaction, please call the following :
Singapore Hotline : +65 68989090
Malaysia Hotline : +6603 89965655
or email help@telemoney.com.sg.
Message reference #9210"
Last edited: