VETC and ePass, two major players in Vietnam's electronic toll collection system, have recently introduced a monthly fee of 6,600 VND for individual customers and 66,000 VND for corporate clients. This fee, termed as 'transaction processing fee' and 'account management fee', has sparked reactions from many drivers.

According to representatives from VETC, the fee is necessary to cover various operational costs including banking fees, wallet funding, and transaction reconciliation. Customers who prefer not to pay this fee can opt to switch their payment method to Visa or MasterCard.

Initially, VETC did not impose any fees for electronic wallet management to encourage users to adopt the new system. However, starting August 1, the company will implement these fees to maintain operational infrastructure and ensure security and connectivity for customer accounts at toll booths.

ePass, part of the Viettel Group, echoed similar sentiments, stating that the fees are essential for maintaining secure connections and managing customer accounts efficiently. The revenue generated will also be used for system upgrades, data protection, and customer support.

In response to the concerns raised by vehicle owners regarding the new fees, VETC has committed to transparently communicating the scope of application, fee structure, and payment methods through their app, website, and service points. They also maintain a channel for inquiries and complaints, promising refunds if incorrect charges occur.

Customers can cancel their electronic wallet subscriptions and switch to other payment methods such as bank accounts or credit cards if they disagree with the fees imposed by VETC or ePass. The system will automatically stop calculating fees once the wallet is disconnected.

Currently, around 6.3 million vehicles in Vietnam are equipped with electronic toll collection devices. However, under Decree 119, the traffic accounts will not retain funds but will utilize linked funds for toll payments.

VETC assures that the funds flowing through traffic accounts are not held within the accounts themselves but are managed through banking systems linked to the electronic wallets. The central bank regulations stipulate that the balance in the VETC electronic wallet cannot accrue interest, and the management fee is independent of the customer's balance.