Update: 1:44PM FIJI’S consumer watchdog says it is recording a growing number of complaints on the new electronic ticketing system that went live nationwide yesterday.
The Consumer Council of Fiji firstly called on bus companies to ensure drivers well trained to successfully undertake the e-ticketing process.
Council CEO Premila Kumar in a statement issued today said their National Consumer Helpline were receiving complaints such as drivers denying students from boarding the bus because they did not have their eTransport card despite continuous awareness on the issue.
“It has been made clear in a Government statement and verified by the Fiji Bus Operators Association that school students can board the buses irrespective of whether they have their school eTransport cards or not,” Mrs Kumar said.
“This shall be the case till Vodafone Fiji and the Ministry of Education complete their distribution of school eTransport cards within the next few days.”
The Council had also received complaints from consumers who were charged more than the fare to their destination.
Mrs Kumar advised consumers to ensure the correct fare was displayed on the machine before tapping their cards.
Fiji’s Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum was scheduled to hold a press conference on the issue today.
