RFID vs Smart Prepayment System Pros and Cons

Posted on by Vinny Chalk

RFID CARD SYSTEM

Pros:

  • Easy to use ✔
  • Cards can be recharged ✔
  • Service card facility for caravan cleaning ✔
  • Refund cards available ✔
  • Cards for clearing credit available ✔
  • Refund cards available ✔
  • Time and kWh functions ✔
  • Cards can be encoded with a unique code ✔
  • Emergency Credit Feature ✔
  • Can be set as a 2 rate/day and night rate/ Economy 7 meter ✔

Cons:

  • Tariffs have to be updated manually.
  • Park owners have to handle cash and reconcile transactions.
  • The potential for fraud (clients can say a card hasn’t worked when it really has, for example)
  • The inconvenience of checking meters for kWh usage
  • The inconvenience of supplying cards, recharging cards (if you chose to do so) and buying replacement cards.
  • No indication of foul play (meter being bypassed, electricity being stolen, for example)

Smart Prepayment System

Pros:

  • Easy to use ✔
  • Payments made online or by phone ✔
  • 24/7, 365 day self-sufficient operation ✔
  • Change tariffs from anywhere ✔
  • Remotely clear credit from the meters ✔
  • Remotely add credit on the client’s behalf ✔
  • Foul play email notifications ✔
  • Can identify clients with excessive use ✔
  • Helpful customer service team ✔
  • Friendly Hours function ✔
  • Money is delivered straight into the park owner’s bank account on a monthly basis ✔
  • Dual Fuel product- water, gas, heat, oil and LPG can all be billed for, as well as electricity ✔
  • Emergency Credit Feature ✔
  • Can be set as a 2 rate/day and night rate/ Economy 7 meter ✔
  • Manage multiple sites/locations in one place ✔
  • Automated Transaction reports ✔

Cons:

  • Only operates in kWh, so can’t be used in laundry rooms or shower rooms (we have a PT-POS cashless timer for this)
  • Phone payments can only be made Monday-Friday, 9am-5pm
  • Ongoing management fees and transaction charges (although this is recovered via pre-configured service charges which you set up)