Car owners have taken to social media to complain about some dodgy individuals buying Easytrip RFIDs (Easytrip Stick-It-Yourself RFID) in bulk and selling them online at much higher prices.
Consumer complaints
Facebook user May Atienza (not her real name) recently took to social media to complain about how some unscrupulous persons are acting as unauthorized retailers and hoarding bulk supplies of RFIDs only to sell them at much higher prices online.
“People are taking advantage. Easytrip RFIDs are out of stock in Shopee because these people are hoarding and selling at a high price,” she lamented on Facebook.
A quick search at Facebook Marketplace shows some individuals selling Easytrip RFIDs for P700 to P850 each. Most sellers only post pictures of the RFIDs and indicate ridiculously low or high prices, from P1 to P1,234,567 and will only inform buyers the true cost of the item in a private message.
Violations of the Consumer Act
Under Republic Act (RA) No. 7394, also known as the Consumer Act, overpricing may be considered as an unfair and unconscionable sales act or practice since it involves taking advantage of consumers in times of need. RA No. 7581 or the Price Act also considers overpricing as an act of profiteering. Individuals found guilty of committing unfair and unconscionable sales act or practice can be fined up to P300,000 and/or jailed for up to one year.
The official supplier and maker of Easytrip RFIDs, Easytrip Services Corporation Philippines, currently sells Easytrip Stick-It-Yourself RFIDs in Shopee and Lazada but only charges for the initial load of P500 plus shipping free.
Easytrip RFIDs are needed to make toll transactions convenient and hassle-free along in North Luzon Expressway (NLEX), Subic Clark Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX), Cavite Expressway (CAVITEX) and C5 Link Flyover.
Nov. 2 deadline
Under Department Order No. 2020-012 dated Aug. 13, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) gives toll operators until Nov. 2 to fully migrate to a cashless toll collection systems in an effort to avoid person-to-person contact via exchange of physical cash at toll plazas.
“It is hereby declared that all vehicles shall enter and use tollway facilities through cashless or contactless transaction, initially as a measure to mitigate the transmission of COVID-19 and subsequently as a means to ensure a more efficient flow of traffic within the expressway,” said the order signed by DOTr Secretary Arthur Tugade.
Easytrip Services Corporation Philippines currently gives free RFIDs to motorists in selected booths and sites. The RFID installation is also done free of charge, motorists will only pay for the initial load.
For more information about where to get free RFIDs at Easytrip reloading sites, check out the Easytrip official Facebook page https://web.facebook.com/easytripPH or visit the website https://www.easytrip.ph/selection.html.