Which Electronic Toll Payment System are you using?

[B2Bomber]

I wanted to go for the EC Tag but when i was finally ready, they said the Blue version wasn't available anymore and I'd be forced to apply for the Yellow instead. Which means the only place I could top up my "tag" would be in NLEX, compared to the Blue where you can pay OTC in banks.

So I opted for Easytrip, which btw was suggested by the guys at the MNTC Balintawak CSO. Now I don't have to worry about preparing my toll fees before each trip via the NLEX or bother my sleeping "co-pilot". And ofcourse, apart from the occassional inability of the gantry system to talk to my tag unit, I get through the gates faster. i.e. no more long queues.

Furthermore, talking with the EBs (Easytrip Babes - hehehe) they mentioned about plans for implementing the Easytrip for SLEx, and SCTEx in the near future. Well, I guess the only way to find out is through their official site.

Now... if only I could get my hands on SLEx EZ-Pass for the time-being while waiting for Easytrip...

[SIZE=1]PS: I wonder if painting the transceiver unit would affect its efficiency...[/SIZE]

[j_avonni]

Since I'm not a regular user of the Expressways, I still use "E-Abot" system.

Seriously, though not a regular user, I'd like to get the EC. How much is the minimum? And, does it have expiry?


:coffee: [SIZE="1"]3647[/SIZE]

[mazdamazda]

Am using the Blue EC-Tag, haven't gotten around to auto charging it to my credit card though.

But the inconvenience to top it off is a a minor one: a trip to the bank (usually before it closes at around 6:30PM) every 2 weeks or so to deposit 1,000 pesos to my account.

How does they EasyTrip work? Read briefly that you have to pay a monthly rental fee? Is that right?



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[CVT]

I am from the South and I use the SLEX occasionally. In this regard, I am using E-Pass....

6505:Bath:

[CVT]

Oopppssss,- double post na naman.... Walang e-pass equivalent sa Coastal Road,- kaya doon na lang ako pumipila sa exact toll fee/ no change. I also use this occasionally....

6505:Bath:

[wildthing]

I have both EC-Tag for NLEX and E-Pass SLEX. Whenever I pass the long queue sa toll exits (lalo na sa palabas ng manila via C-5) napapa ngiti na lang ako.

For both, I registered them to auto-debit sa isa kong credit card na mababa lang ang credit limit...ginawa kong "dedicated" credit card yun para sa dalawang "electronic passes".

I just pay-up my bill when the credit card company bills me (very convenient). Then I verify and reimburse my trips every month (I stop by the NLEX office in Bocaue exit or San Fernando office) after the 5th of the month and sa C-5 or Nicols' exit office naman after the 6th of the month.

Detailed ang prints nila and I just re-check with my daily log sa activity report ko... pati tuloy sa pag-gawa ng ER (expense report) ko ay madali na rin - no more missing or lost receipts.

[B2Bomber]

Am using the Blue EC-Tag, haven't gotten around to auto charging it to my credit card though.

Have you had your Blue for awhile now?

But the inconvenience to top it off is a a minor one: a trip to the bank (usually before it closes at around 6:30PM) every 2 weeks or so to deposit 1,000 pesos to my account.

This isn't much of an inconvenience for me IMO. This is the main reason why I was opting for the Blue but since MNTC couldn't accomodate me anymore I opted for the Easytrip which doesn't have blue/yellow - you can top up at their booths in any of the 4 gas stations in NLEX, OTC/ATM at your favorite MTBC/Bancnet/affiliate bank or autocharge.
With your blue's OTC, how long before your top up gets reflected as "available balance"? Easytrip takes 24hrs. But one time it wasn't still "available" and was worried that it wouldn't let me pass, it let me pass. it used my "current" balance.

How does they EasyTrip work? Read briefly that you have to pay a monthly rental fee? Is that right?

I didn't bother asking about this option. But I think that's if you don't want to pay upfront, sort of like a lease to own or something. I opted to pay 1080 (I think) upfront, for the unit and the membership + a required initial topup of 500. Activated ASAP.

.hth.

[B2Bomber]

For both, I registered them to auto-debit sa isa kong credit card na mababa lang ang credit limit...ginawa kong "dedicated" credit card yun para sa dalawang "electronic passes".

hmm... THIS is an idea. thanks.

I just pay-up my bill when the credit card company bills me (very convenient). Then I verify and reimburse my trips every month (I stop by the NLEX office in Bocaue exit or San Fernando office) after the 5th of the month and sa C-5 or Nicols' exit office naman after the 6th of the month.

uh, sorry, got confused there, what do you do at these offices again? verify your trips? so are you saying they don't have online account management systems? TIA.

[B2Bomber]

Oopppssss,- double post na naman.... Walang e-pass equivalent sa Coastal Road,- kaya doon na lang ako pumipila sa exact toll fee/ no change. I also use this occasionally....

6505:Bath:

hehe. madali lang ang coastal, I always have coins ready in my OE coin holder anyway so I take the exact toll gates too. hehe.

uh, where does one apply for the e-pass? sorry, though I frequently use the slex from one end to another, I have yet to find where their offices are (unless those container van turned offices at the last gates are THE offices).

[B2Bomber]

Since I'm not a regular user of the Expressways, I still use "E-Abot" system.

ha ha. THAT is creative.

Seriously, though not a regular user, I'd like to get the EC. How much is the minimum? And, does it have expiry?

Ok I know you were asking about the EC but since I've forgotten stuff about them already, here's for Easytrip:
Minimum -- minimum what? balance? for autocharge, I think it autocharges when you go below 300. minimum top up (i think) is 500.
Expiry -- for load/balance: from the "EB" babes, they say, 1 year. e.g. you top up 500 today, this will be valid up to a year. (But then, I doubt if your 500 wouldn't be used up within a year), membership: hmm... I think infinite. unit: depending on unit's life.

hth.

[siacojin]

ha ha. THAT is creative.

Ok I know you were asking about the EC but since I've forgotten stuff about them already, here's for Easytrip:
Minimum -- minimum what? balance? for autocharge, I think it autocharges when you go below 300. minimum top up (i think) is 500.
Expiry -- for load/balance: from the "EB" babes, they say, 1 year. e.g. you top up 500 today, this will be valid up to a year. (But then, I doubt if your 500 wouldn't be used up within a year), membership: hmm... I think infinite. unit: depending on unit's life.

hth.

What are the advantages of the EC-tag over the Easytrip? What are their difference? How much for the Easytrip?

[B2Bomber]

quick Qs:

where do you mount your transceivers? (specially those who are using more than one)

does your car tint seem to have any effect on your transceiver/s' efficiency? (if you have tint)

can the transceivers be painted without its efficiency being affected?

TIA

[IMm29]

I use E-Pass for SLEX, which I pass through virtually every day of the week, and EC-Tag for NLEX, which I pass through occasionally. I load both manually -- the E-Pass through the vending machine, and the EC-Tag by top-ups at NLEX stations, since I don't pass there often anyhow. I initially considered the auto-top up for E-Pass, but I didn't want an extra charge on my card, and I didn't want to have to keep on reviewing my account to check for the accuracy in their charging.

As to the transponders, had a friend before who painted his transponder flat black. It was working well naman. Having V-Kool tints in the front windshield hampered the transponder's signal more than paint. Also, I don't think having both transponders side by side is a good idea. I remember once, at SLEX Nichols, when my E-Pass tag wasn't recognized at all. When the teller at the booth noticed the EC-tag, she then said that was the culprit. So as for not to happen again, when I go from SLEX to NLEX and vice-versa, I wrap the transponder not needed in the metallic wrapper that came part of the packaging.

I wish they'd update the terminals at SLEX, so that they don't just show how much you pay, rather they show how much is left as well.

[B2Bomber]

What are the advantages of the EC-tag over the Easytrip? What are their difference? How much for the Easytrip?

Differences:
EC-Tag - used to have blue/yellow tags. with yellow here are your top-up options, tollgates or CSOs. with blue, yellow's plus bank OTC and auto charge via CC.
Easytrip - nlex gas stations with Easytrip booths, bank OTC/ATM, auto charge via CC. additional info, they've got online account management. they claim that they would be operating in all 3 <name>Exes in the (near) future, thus ridding the consumer of the need to have x number of different transceivers for each <name>Ex. How much, check my previous post or visit their site at Easytrip.Ph.

[B2Bomber]

As to the transponders, had a friend before who painted his transponder flat black. It was working well naman.

ok thanks for the info.

Having V-Kool tints in the front windshield hampered the transponder's signal more than paint.

Hmm... heard about this one too... tsk... is it for all the V-Kool tints or just the clear one?

Also, I don't think having both transponders side by side is a good idea.

Ok, will keep this in mind.

I wish they'd update the terminals ...so that they don't just show how much you pay, rather they show how much is left as well.

Hmm, that's an idea.
[SIZE=1]Or better yet, update the transponders to something similar to those used in say, Singapore, where there's a display screen for your balance and what was charged to you. And use a sort of like a card (similar to SatTV cards) for account maintenance... but then this would be another story for another day. [/SIZE]

[wildthing]

...uh, sorry, got confused there, what do you do at these offices again? verify your trips? so are you saying they don't have online account management systems? TIA.

They (NLEX and SLEX) can give me a print-out of my trips (listed on a day-to-day basis). Ang NLEX can print it out after every 5th ng month and SLEX is every 6th of the month.

So if I want my July trip summary, I just go to their office sa 5th and the 6th of August.

[B2Bomber]

They (NLEX and SLEX) can give me a print-out of my trips (listed on a day-to-day basis). Ang NLEX can print it out after every 5th ng month and SLEX is every 6th of the month.

aah ok. so wala palang online pati ang E-Pass... hmm... medyo inconvenient kung kailangan mo magcheck ng usage summary.
So, sa C5/Nichols exit po ang pag-aaplyan ng E-pass din? TIA.

[_Cathy_]

You could also apply for e-pass at the main office in Bicutan. The only thing I don't like about epass is that they don't automatically send the usage summary. I don't bother to check mine anymore. Hay.

[wildthing]

aah ok. so wala palang online pati ang E-Pass... hmm... medyo inconvenient kung kailangan mo magcheck ng usage summary.
So, sa C5/Nichols exit po ang pag-aaplyan ng E-pass din? TIA.

well i applied at the C5 exit (done in less than 5 mins kasi I have everything with me and the form have been filled out properly na agad) ... and alam ko nichols exit pede rin.

as for the print-out, I use to call-up NLEX (they have a customer service number) and request them to email the summary. They did it (although minsan after a day or two or after following it up pa). Sa SLEX hindi ko pa sinubukan.

[B2Bomber]

TY po C_4_U and Wildthing.

Ano po requirements for E-Pass?