Ministry of Construction explains why it does not deduct directly from bank accounts when collecting road fees

From 1-10, people will have to switch to a transport account. Many people wonder why it is not deducted directly from the bank account?

Explaining this issue on the sidelines of the workshop "Why do drivers need to have a traffic account from October 1?", Mr. To Nam Toan, Head of the Department of Science, Technology, Environment and International Cooperation (Vietnam Road Administration) said: The condition for linking with a traffic account is to have a non-cash payment account such as an electronic wallet, credit card, payment authorization, collection authorization...

Non-cash payment means are means issued by payment service providers, financial companies licensed to issue credit cards, or payment intermediary service providers providing e-wallet services and used by customers to make payment transactions. Including: Checks, payment orders, payment authorizations, collections, collection authorizations, bank cards (debit cards, credit cards, prepaid cards), e-wallets and other payment means as prescribed by the State Bank.

Mr. To Nam Toan, Head of the Department of Science, Technology, Environment and International Cooperation, Vietnam Road Administration. Photo: Ta Hai

Meanwhile, Article 3 of Decree 52/2024/ND-CP stipulates: Non-cash payment services include payment services via customer payment accounts and payment services not via customer payment accounts.

In which, payment service through customer's payment account is the provision of payment means; implementation of payment services of checks, payment orders, payment authorizations, collection, collection authorizations, bank cards, money transfer, collection, payment and other payment services for customers through payment accounts.

Payment service without going through customer payment account is the provision of payment services, making payment transactions without going through payment account.

Pursuant to these regulations, a personal bank account is not a non-cash means of payment.

"Therefore, road tolls cannot be deducted directly from bank accounts, but must be passed through traffic accounts," said Mr. Nam Toan.

According to Mr. Nam Toan, the fastest and safest way to convert to a traffic account is for vehicle owners to use the payment method of the toll service provider. Vehicle owners only need to go to the toll application to open the e-wallet of the service provider, for example, if using the VETC application, open the VETC wallet.

Regarding the infrastructure of the traffic account wallet, Mr. Nguyen Le Thang - General Director of VETC Automatic Toll Collection Company Limited - said: Currently, the VETC service provider has directly connected with 12 major banks in Vietnam to serve payments for vehicles using the service.

Customers can rest assured that any bank can connect to their VETC account, ensuring the connection between the traffic account and the payment account.

On the other hand, VETC is still continuing to solve technical problems so that the connection is smooth and uninterrupted.

Discussing further on this issue, Ms. Nguyen Thi Ngoc Trang - Deputy General Director of Vietnam Digital Traffic Joint Stock Company ePass - informed that the connection of traffic accounts - wallets - banks is currently being implemented smoothly by this unit. However, this unit wishes to be able to connect directly from traffic accounts - banks without going through wallets, to ensure convenience for people and vehicle owners.

Speaking at the workshop, Deputy Minister of Construction Le Anh Tuan said that after nearly 10 years of implementation, the electronic toll collection system (ETC) has covered 100% of toll stations nationwide, with more than 6.3 million vehicles having tags and opening toll collection accounts.

The application of ETC has brought many benefits: Shortening the time to pass through the station, reducing congestion, making revenue sources transparent, and creating civilized habits when participating in traffic. However, in order to move towards a synchronous electronic traffic payment ecosystem, the Road Law and Decree 119/2024/ND-CP stipulate the conversion from toll collection accounts to traffic accounts connected to non-cash payment means. This opens up the possibility of paying for multiple services - from road fees, parking fees, airport fees, seaport fees, to registration fees - with just one account.

Source: https://hanoimoi.vn/bo-xay-dung-ly-giai-nguyen-nhan-khong-tru-thang-tai-khoan-ngan-hang-khi-thu-phi-duong-bo-712679.html