Early this year, VIVO Energy and Total launched fuel card services to their individual customers that is the EasyGo and Total B2C cards respectively. Previously fuel cards belonged to government agencies, co-operate companies, SMEs and some few individuals that had bank accounts.
Following the trend of digital transactions in the financial sector that were majorly spear headed through mobile money services, more businesses have had to adjust by creating payment options which offer cashless transactions such as VISA, MasterCard and the recently introduced MoMo pay. It is for the above reasons that we saw the giant energy companies opening up fuel cards to customers.
Ten months down the road Techjaja compares the services the two cards, the requirements for one to own one, the benefits and amazing features these cards have.
EasyGo card
The EasyGo card by Vivo energy Uganda was launched earlier on this year in February in partnership with Barclays bank Uganda and VISA. According to their site (easygo.ug), the EasyGo card an all-round is Visa enabled payment that not only allows you to only pay for fuel and motor related services and products at shell service stations including expenses at Shell supermarkets, cafes and restaurants but also make Visa payments via any outlets where the VISA cards are accepted across the world including online transactions.
Total B2C card
Total E & P too premiered its Business to Customer fuel Card this year in January This microchip card through digital payments digital payments enables Total customers to plan and manage their expenses on fuel, lubricants, gas and other products such as Total customer too enjoy access to TOTAL EXCELLIUM, TOTAL QUARTZ and other quality products and services across the 128 TOTAL Stations country wide including Bonjour stores.
The new TOTAL card is a safe, simple and smart way of managing not only your fuel spends but other personal expenses as well. #TakeControl pic.twitter.com/9QbYSbDatp
— Total in Uganda (@TotalUgandaInfo) January 17, 2018
Benefits
Apart from planned and well monitored fuel and other car related expenses, via the EasyGo card customers enjoy discounts, cashback on purchases at Shell plus other promotions.
For Total customers, bonuses are awarded depending on the amount one has loaded on their card. In addition to this, discounts are offered when the card is used purchase fuel, Lubricants, Gas and other products and Services.
Requirements to join
EasyGo
To get the EasyGo card, one needs to provide any of these identity documents that is National ID, passport or driver’s permit. In addition to these one will add their email and phone number while signing up.
This can be done at any Shell service station or online via their website http://easygo.ug.
A fee of UGX 10,000 is charged for the card purcahse.
READ MORE: How to sign-up for a Shell EasyGo card online.
The EasyGo card is VISA enabled similar to debit/credit cards offered by your bank though, it has an added advantage of not only being acquired in a shorter time but also requires less documents while signing up (only one of the identity documents mentioned above).
However, one cannot withdraw solid cash with the EasyGo card as compared to your debit/credit card bank that does this via any ATM. Like the bank cards, the EasyGo card handles digital but cashless outflow such as VISA transactions and online payments.
The card is valid for about 4 years.
Total Card
Similar to the above requirements, to get a Total Card, a National ID, driving permit or Passport is required during the sign up. The Total B2C cards are two types of cards in two categories that is Prepaid and Postpaid cards.
Total offers their card at a cost of UGX 11,800 (still under the launch offer) which entitles a to customer a preloaded card with credit worth the same amount that is 11,800 (the card is basically free of charge). This card is valid for 2 years.
Scope and Coverage
When it comes to the card coverage, both cards can be used at their respective service stations across the country and beyond Ugandan borders. However, with the VISA enabled feature under EasyGo cards, these can be used at any VISA outlets across the world and online transactions inclusive hence wider coverage.
Charges
Both fuel card services have zero transaction charges.
Top-Up
EasyGo
One can simply top up their EasyGo Card by dialing *233*40# to top up with MTN Mobile money and Airtel Money or by using cash at Shell stations countrywide.
Total
The Total card can be loaded at any TOTAL station country wide.
Fuel Budgeting and Tracking
Total card
This card offers a variety of combinations of fuels and services depending one’s demands that is each card has its own combination of products and services such as car-wash and lubricants, ceiling limits for purchases. At the point of acquisition, one can set their card to a specific package of services to avoid unwanted expenditure.
EasyGo
In addition to proper record tracking of one’s fuel’s expenses, the EasyGo card offers access to a self-service online portal where you could monitor your real-time account balance, transaction statements and reset your PIN. You can also block your lost card via the same portal.
Security
Both card offer PIN services which protect the card from unauthorized transactions.
EasyGo
Apart from being PIN enabled, you get one get instant SMS alerts for every transaction carried out in order to track your usage.
Total
The card allows personalized restrictions such as product type, geographical zone, value limits (daily, weekly or monthly) and time restrictions to be set on the card to ensure controlled usage.
While doing a card payment, station staff are too required to input their (PIN) attendants have to enable both validity, traceability of the transaction that is to answer questions such as Which staff member initiated the transaction?
It also comes with driver code feature which enables one to give different drivers with their respective PINs to use the same card. The overall owner can be able to track their individual expenditures via the card through this tool.
Special features on the Total card users
Total cards owners enjoy a dedicated customer service team and operations support that is each and every customer has a dedicated account manager assigned to manage their card through a dedicated email: totalcard@total.ug.
Smart services such as; Lock Tank Size that allows customers to pre-set tank size per vehicle to prevent fueling above the accommodated volume, mileage check which tracks the consumption rate of the car and identify irregularities incidents where your odometer reading is inaccurately entered.
