of companies must now fork out $9 for the privilege of using it.

Mr. James Gibbons, managing director of Gibbons Financial Services, wrote to all Go Card users informing them that, as from last month, they would have to pay $9 per card upon renewal.

The fee was due to "increased costs'' and was equivalent to the cost of replacing a Go Card, wrote Mr. Gibbons.

"We regret the need to pass on this charge, however due to rising costs we must do so,'' he said.