Ministry clarifies fees for e-wallets linked to transport accounts

Ministry clarifies fees for e-wallets linked to transport accounts

The Ministry of Construction determined that the planned fee is a charge for using a payment instrument under banking regulations, not a road-use fee or a transport-account maintenance fee.

Customers can cancel their current payment link and choose another without affecting their transport account. Photo 24hmoney.vn

Fees for e-wallets linked to transport accounts are not transport account maintenance fees, and users can choose another payment method, the Ministry of Construction said.

The conclusion was made under a ministry’s report on inspecting fees for using e-wallets linked to transport payment accounts submitted to Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Gia Túc.

The move was made after e-wallet providers VETC and Viettel Money announced plans to introduce a monthly fee of VNĐ6,600 for individual users and VNĐ66,000 for corporate or institutional clients. The policy was scheduled to take effect on August 1, 2026, but has since been put on hold following public pushback.

After public complaints, the ministry instructed the Vietnam Road Administration to clarify the fee policy, the basis for setting the fee and the groups covered.

The ministry determined that the planned fee is a charge for using a payment instrument under banking regulations, not a road-use fee or a transport-account maintenance fee.

Customers can cancel their current payment link and choose another without affecting their transport account.

At the time of inspection, VETC and Viettel Money had already suspended the implementation of their fee-charging policies in order to study more appropriate alternatives. As no fees have been collected, no actual financial loss has been incurred by customers.

To safeguard the interests of users, the ministry has recommended that the businesses develop flexible pricing policies tailored to different customer segments.

Proposed options include charging per transaction, calculating fees based on a percentage of the transaction value, or offering exemptions for accounts associated with vehicles that are used infrequently.

The ministry has also mandated that the businesses fully disclose their pricing policies, ensuring that users are well-informed and have the right to make an informed choice before any such policies are implemented.

The ministry has also proposed the continued expansion of links between transport-related accounts and various banks or payment intermediaries, with the aim of providing users with more options, fostering competition, and enhancing the quality of service. 

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