Parents Linked To Card Fraud

A-G says some have been found to be using their children’s e-Transport cards

Some parents have be en found using their children’s e-Transport cards, it was revealed in Suva yesterday.

They were trying to defraud the e-Transport system, Acting Prime Minister and AttorneyGeneral Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum told a press conference.

While launching the toll free number of 151, through which people can lodge e-Transportrelated complaints, Mr SayedKhaiyum said a number of parents had been found using their children’s cards.

“The problem here is that cards of school students are either subsidised by Government or are fully loaded to be read student bus fares, which are less than half of what adults pay,” Mr Sayed-Khaiyum said.

He said subsidised e-Transport cards from the Fijian Government were for students who came from low income earning families, not their parents. He said it was unfortunate that parents were using these as a means of getting on buses to travel.

“We have some parents who are using the student cards to get on as adults, we urge them to stop it and we have spoken to Vodafone about this matter the bus association and bus drivers,” he said. Mr Sayed-Khaiyum highlighted that a huge reduction in complaints had been recorded over the last two days. Only 20 complaints were received countrywide compared to Wednesday. He said this showed that the system was working and the issues raised by the public were being addressed. Vodafone Fiji has agreed to have all their outlets assist with any issues in regards to overcharging of fare and reimbursement. However, receipts must be produced when addressing any issue.

He added that a committee of people that included the Fiji Commerce Commission, Consumer Council of Fiji and the Fiji Bus Operators Association would review the bus fare rates. This will be announced soon.