Pay More Any Way

This morning, I heard over the radio that NETS is going to increase its service charge several-folds with effect from next month, when the GST increases. Although this is not directly levied on consumers, it is almost certain that the increased charges will eventually be borne by consumers.

I think this is ridiculous! The pendulous swing "for" and "against" using cash is confusing simple consumers like me.



First, we were told to go cashless. And so, as we progress from primary school to secondary school and to JC and then to the university and finally now in the "work force", we find ourselves carrying more and more cards and less and less cash. We were told that going "cashless" is the way to go.

In fact, the bias against cash payment became so great that even bus passengers who pay by cash are penalised with a higher fare than those who pay by a "cashless" method.

Then when we go to stores which claim to accept cashless payment methods such as credit cards, we are told that if we use credit cards to pay for our purchases, we will have to be charged several percent more than if we use cash or if we pay by NETS. So, then it must mean "cash" is better, correct?

So, right now, with the NETS charges increased, does it mean:

a) pay by cash = pay more;

b) pay by credit cards = pay more;

c) pay by NETS = also pay more?

Or, maybe we shouldn't pay at all???