ciety are moving towards a cashless society nowadays. Since then, many prepaid cash card are launched and frequently used in many countries and even Malaysia has it's very own prepaid cash card, which is the "Touch n Go" that we've already known since it was officially launched in March 1997. 
How this so-called prepaid cash card works? It is really simple. It works just like any credit card or debit card where you can purchase products and services using your card, which means that no worry if you did not bring your cash. The only difference from credit and debit cards is your card does not linked to any bank account where credit card will left your debt piled up and pay later or debit card where you spend the money available in your saving account.
Prepaid cash card only allow you to spend the credit balance which you "loaded" earlier into the card. Let's say you preload RM100 into your card, you can only spend approximately RM100 and you can't spend much more than that amount. If your card runs out of cash, just reload it from any participating outlets nationwide or reload it at any ATM where it will auto-credit your saving account.
A very good example of prepaid cash card in our country is the Touch n Go card which is launched in March 1997. Touch n Go is the only prepaid cash card that can be used to make payment for all highway tolls in Malaysia and payment for major public transportations fares (such as buses, LRT, KTM, monorail) in Klang Valley. It can be used also to make payments for parking fees in some of the shopping complexes.
(making payment at toll using Touch n Go)
( An Octopus card)
Initially introduced for making payments for public transportation fare, it has then expanded for multiple other purposes. Other than making payment for transportation fare, it can now be used for payments of consumer products in more than 1,000 participating merchants with the more notable such as Watson, Parkson, 7-Eleven, Starbucks and Mc' Donalds in Hong Kong. It is also used for payment of parking meters, car parks, vending machines, and phone booths.
(types of Octopus card;click to enlarge)
Until now I have not mention anything about how to check the balance for the Touch n Go card or the Octopus card. Well, you can check the balance at any usage points where it will display through a panel or indicator.
(just flash your card and after making payment the balance will be shown)
Other prepaid cash cards that are starting to build up their usage in Malaysia is the Ambank NexG Prepaid Mastercard, which is more notable of it usage where it usage is applicable in places such as convenient stores and also major shopping centers for making purchase payments.
For other countries where usage of prepaid cash cards that are rising in popularity are such as the US, where they use the Mastercard Prepaid card and the Sterling Mastercard in the UK.
( Sterling card)
(Mastercard prepaid card)
The usage of prepaid cash card is gaining popularity in the past few years, it certainly does bring more advantages than disadvantages to us. Obviously, by using a prepaid cash card, you cannot spend more than you have and it's so simple to use the card as it does not involve many procedures like credit cards where you have to sign or debit cards where you have to enter your PIN, therefore, even senior citizens can enjoy the usage of this card as they do not have to bring lots of cash when they go out.
If the implementation of payment for retail purchasing by prepaid cash card is successful in Malaysia, it sure do convinient us. Just a simple "beep" sound and your payment is made whenever you are buying something, totally hassle-free!
reference links:
http://www.touchngo.com.my/index.jsp
http://www.octopuscards.com/consumer/en/index.jsp
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Octopus_cardhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electronic_money
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