EZ-Link Payment & Top-Up Services in all 7-Eleven Outlets Suspended Due to Ceasing of Wirecard in S’pore

The EZ-Link card is one of the most versatile forms of payment in Singapore. More than just transport, it’s also been used for retail purchases and can be topped up at places like 7-Eleven.

But if you’ve tried to top up your card at the said outlet, you may have found yourself unable to do so.

This is because EZ-Link services have ceased at all 7-Eleven outlets.

Temporarily, that is.

Suspension of EZ-Link Services

This is due to an outside factor.

As you’d know by now, German payments firm Wirecard has recently ceased payment services in Singapore.

This in turn affected EZ-Link payment and top-up services, and Wirecard was the one providing this service.

At the very least, it’s mostly the 7-Eleven’s that are affected. There are many other outlets that also accept EZ-Link transaction without being affected.

Other forms of e-payment will still be available. These include NETS, PayNow and Singapore Quick Response Code (SGQR) will continue to be available.

The author has calmed down knowing that PayNow is safe.

A spokesperson for the Dairy Farm Group, which owns 7-Eleven, said that they were working closely with EZ-Link to restore services in 7-Eleven stores “as soon as possible”.

But why and when exactly did the service stop?

Collapse of Wirecard

CNA reported that the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) ordered Wirecard to cease its payment services in Singapore and to return customer funds by 14 October.

Their primary business activities in Singapore were to process payments for merchants and help companies issue pre-paid cards.

The company collapsed in June this year after its auditor EY refused to sign off on its 2019 accounts.

They supposedly could not verify S$3 billion held abroad in escrow by third-party partners. It was officially declared as missing.

MAS stated that ceasing Wirecard services was in the best interest of the public. They also advised those without an alternative payment option to make one quickly.

“When Wirecard filed for insolvency in June, we started to actively communicate and reach out to our partner merchants, including 7-Eleven, to help ease their transition to other payment processors,” an EZ-Link spokesperson said.

However, customers can still do EZ-Link top-ups through their app.

The Dairy Farm has also put up in-store notifications to advise customers to adopt other forms of payment.

Until then, they will be working with EZ-Link to restore services ASAP.

I seriously hope I won’t need to list down the places that you can top up your EZ-Link card.