2004 I was working on an online payment portal for a well known company.
One of the design decisions was to favour a prepay virtual wallet over instant payment via credit, or payment gateway service for the following reasons:
1.- Speedier transaction at checkout when the virtual wallet was in credit (took ages when it wasn't).
2.- Wallet top ups would always favour us.
Example the product cost $21, but you can only top up in multiples of $10. Actual cost = $30.
3.- Balances would remain with us and possibly go unclaimed.
4.- Better handling of fraudulent transactions... I thought this was BS.
The opal card just like all virtual wallets, gift cards, any prepay system (toll roads) are designed to disadvantage you, and the only reason why companies and governments do it is because nobody starts rioting and burning cars in the street... or boycotts their rip off service.
Just letting you know.
Another weird thing with the opal card... I didn't register mine bcos I don't like the government double/triple tracking all my movements, and I would frequently get ripped off (charged $5.90 instead of $4.30 bcos I have to catch an f'bus and f'train). Registered the card to get all the money back, never got ripped off again. Coincidence? Maybe, but it went from 1-4 a week, to 0.
I was in London a couple months ago, and I just waved my PayWave Visa... got charged exact amount each f'time. Didn't have to go find a f'top up machine or register a f'account or ask them to given me back my money.
