The problem with Easytrip RFID

You probably know by now that Easytrip tags used for cashless toll payments on the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) and Subic-Clark-Tarlac Expressway (SCTEX) will no longer be usable come October 1, 2020 (Read: AutoIndustriya.com | EasyTrip Tags will no longer be valid starting October 1). The reason behind the phase-out is because the operator of these two expressways, Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) is replacing them completely with RFID stickers which serve the same purpose.

While they are finding many convenient ways to get motorists to switch to the cashless RFID system as a safety precaution from COVID-19, it’s not exactly the best and if I can say, it’s no good at all. Now this is my own honest opinion. Other people may have had different experiences compared to mine but this article will basically summarize my experience using the Easytrip RFID sticker.

Background

A little background, I drive on both NLEX and SCTEX a lot. If not for the current pandemic, I would be driving at least once or twice a week because I live and study in Metro Manila but am from Pampanga with relatives in Bataan. I pretty much memorize the toll fees and even the locations of the speed cameras along both expressways. So about the RFID, we made the switch as soon as MPTC launched the system to avoid having to swing our Easytrip tag around the air as it doesn’t work with our dark tint. 

The repetitive problems

From regularly driving on these MPTC managed expressways, we noticed at first that the sticker would not work at all when passing through the toll gates so we decided to go back to using the old Easytrip tag. Eventually the sticker finally started working a bit better so we once again stopped using the old tag device. That’s less than half of the problem. Everytime we pass on through toll gates and toll plazas we would always have to go through while moving forward and in reverse to get the sticker to be read by the Easytrip sensors located above the car. We would repeat this at most five times without it working, and do another five at the tollbooth right beside where we make the first try. This does not happen as often on the Bocaue Toll Plaza expansion but it would take a minimum 3-5 seconds for the sticker to be read.

Sticker replacement?

From the stress and frustration, and perhaps embarrassing moments from having to make all cars reverse, which I get when driving through Easytrip (and eventually RFID) exclusive lanes in the toll plazas, I decided to try and send a complaint through the official Easytrip RFID Facebook page. Eventually while having lunch with Iverson our video review host, I received a call which was apparently a representative working for Easytrip. She told me they’ll do an investigation and will contact me. No one ever got back to me but after another long time getting past the barrier at Bocaue toll plaza my mom got a text message from Easytrip which you can see below:

I found the time to bring the car to the NLEX Service Center in San Fernando, Pampanga after a few weeks. Upon getting there, the sensor the staff uses to check if the sticker works fine showed that it was indeed working well which obviously was not the case, not even once. I requested a replacement as we would not have received the text message if there was no problem with the sticker. The response? I have to bring it there after three days of not using the sticker. Well how else will I get to that service center without passing through toll lanes without RFID readers when all the lanes in the multiple entry points of NLEX and SCTEX near our home only have mixed cash and Easytrip lanes. It would take me an hour or two (versus 10 minutes via NLEX) to get to the service center if I wish to avoid the sticker being read by an RFID reader at the toll gate in Angeles, Dau, Clark North and South expressway entrances points. They should have also indicated that in the text message. Great customer service, huh?

That’s not the worst part though, another reason the staff refused to replace the sticker was due to the design of the car’s headlights. How is that supposed to be a problem when most cars are required to place the sticker on headlights. Putting it on the windshield was not an option as we had an a rather expensive kind of tint and it would be ruined if we cut a hole. Basically, visiting the customer service center was a waste of time.

For reference, see the photo of my headlight with the Easytrip RFID sticker installed, below:

Forced Switch

Thanks to the COVID-19 pandemic, many motorists are now installing RFID stickers on their vehicles. It’s really obvious too as whenever you pass through any NLEX toll plaza you’ll definitely see a few cars moving forward and back several times and many switching to other RFID lanes, causing traffic buildup behind. Expect traffic to get heavier too as expansion toll plazas in Balintawak, Mindanao Avenue and Bocaue are now exclusive to RFID equipped vehicles. Knowing the issues, many people with the RFID stickers installed still choose to go through cash only lanes for the convenience of not having to move forward and back multiple times. And with that exclusivity, expect cash lanes to have longer lines.

How should it be?

I don’t have it installed yet as I don’t really pass through where it’s useful but the Autosweep RFID used by SMC Tollways seems to be a lot better than Easytrip. I even have a friend who demonstrated to me how fast he can go through the RFID lane while in Carmona Exit and San Pedro Exit, both along the South Luzon Expressway (SLEX). I believe it was at around 15-25 kph which is not as good as in other countries but hey, compared to Easytrip? That’s hyper speed!

I do (and you should too) appreciate MPTC for trying to improve the RFID readers in their toll gates but it still works the same way for me. I do know other people who don’t have problems and actually are able to pass through a bit quicker. To add, their decision to increase RFID lanes and to force motorists to install RFID stickers is their way of helping prevent the spread of COVID-19 which can be spread through physical contact like during toll payments. For me, the sticker should be designed for any vehicle’s headlights, no matter how complex the headlights are designed especially these days when basically every new vehicle released has swoopy lines and shiny chrome inside their headlight housings. We shouldn’t be the one to adjust by cutting a hole into our expensive windshield tint or by buying a car without complex headlights. Let’s see what happens in the near future and hope that we all have an improved experience when driving on MPTC operated tollways.