Topping up a Leap Card
 

I topped a Leap Card recently in Spar, Parliament Street, I was charged 50c on top of the €10 top up. What is going on here ?, is this an additional charge by Payzone or Spar. I've topped up in Easons at Heuston Station but I've never been charged anything extra.

This is a shop charge, same as they will add 50 cent for phone credit etc.

Just use the TVMs in future. Costs nothing extra.

Assuming there are TVMs handy. While I can use a LEAP card on a bus, the nearest TVM that is LEAP compatible is 250km away!

It should be in the T&Cs for LEAP cards that shops don't charge. They see a benefit through increased other sales anyway. How many people also buy a packet of cigarettes, bottle of coke etc. when they top up their LEAP?

If you paid cash for the top up the agent if forbidden from charging any handing fee.

They may be forbidden but that don't stop them.

Actually I did pay cash and the chap in the shop kept insisting that it was a Payzone charge rather than a shop charge.

NTA have been information. They won't be a payzone outlet for much longer if they carry on with this, we understand for cash transactions no charges can be imposed and this is in writing in the agreement the retailer signed

What shop was that?

Spar in Parliament Street.

Rumour has it they've agreed to stop.

I'm guessing they got a phone call.

Its somewhat complicated but our understanding from the NTA is no fees are allowed for a cash transaction.

We are still awaiting formal confirmation of the exact rules.

Thank you for that - it's convenient for me to top up my Leap Card there, if I'm in town late I would come home by bus. Although I have the Short Hop Rail only Taxsaver Card, I like to have the Leap as well - I got it before the facility was in place to add it on to my Taxsaver ticket. Regards.

Yesterday I went to load my taxsaver pass onto my LEAP card in Centra in Oliver Plunkett St in Cork and they refused to do it saying that the "machine doesn't allow balance checks any more"

At least two colleagues got the same response.

Assuming they do still do LEAP cards (I didn't press this issue, but they are still listed on payzone.ie), are they allowed to refuse to do that?

That is a breach of agreement

They're not. I'd imagine someone will be on to them to sharpen them up if they're refusing a core part of the system.