GCash charges 2% fee to buy Smart load

GCash has recently added a 2% convenience fee to users when they buy load for Smart users.

UPDATE: December 6, 2022 – GCash sent a statement explaining the 2% convenience fee when you buy load for Smart users. We’ve attached the full statement at the end of the article.

GCash has not made any official announcement regarding this but reports of users indicate the 2% charge started around November 23, 2022.

We tried loading up our Smart number with load via GCash and the 2% is indeed added to the actual amount. This happens when you buy regular load. If it’s for bundles and promotes, the charges vary but it could go a low as Php1.00USD 0.02INR 1EUR 0.02CNY 0.12.

We also tried loading our DITO SIM but there are no charges for that one. Looks like only loading for Smart accounts are levied the additional charges.

As shown in this screenshot, we selected DTIO as the telco but still inputted our Smart number and there are no additional charges.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM GCASH

In light of new costs imposed by Smart and Talk ‘N Text, a minimal convenience fee will be applied by GCash to recover costs, when providing the Buy Load service to Smart and Talk ‘N Text subscribers.

GCash will continue to provide safe, seamless, and convenient ways for users to access various financial services in our platform.

Thank you very much!

Abe Olandres

Abe is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of YugaTech with over 20 years of experience in the technology industry. He is one of the pioneers of blogging in the country and considered by many as the Father of Tech Blogging in the Philippines. He is also a technology consultant, a tech columnist with several national publications, resource speaker and mentor/advisor to several start-up companies.

https://www.yugatech.com

10 Comments

joberta says:

2 years ago

Gcash starting to get greedy tsk tsk.
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Hannah Lim says:

2 years ago

I doubt GCash ‘to. Most likely sa Smart-side ito since they also started charging 7 pesos convenience fee (previously zero) sa bills payment for most online billing platforms a few months ago

rc cola says:

2 years ago

so sad, more charge more will move. Maya is the key. Kaso wala free cash in sa maya.
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Jane says:

2 years ago

Hi po. Free padin po ang cash-in sa maya as along as hindi ka nakalagpas sa limit mo na 8k same as gcash pag lagpas 8k na cash-in mo may charge kana 2%. Sa maya po kase every cash-in may fee agad bawas agad pero binabalik nya din po automatically like seconds lang kapag nadetect na hindi kapa nkaabot sa 8k limit.Hindi po sya automatically mapupunta sa wallet mo you need to claim it in voucher sa may profile mo then makukuha mo yung fee na binalik sayo ni maya.

Bill says:

2 years ago

Aren’t the billers the ones setting a fee? So it’s smart charging a fee?
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LoloyD says:

2 years ago

“As shown in this screenshot, we selected DTIO (sic) as the telco but still inputted dour (sic) Smart number and there are no additional charges.”

But did the prepaid load successfully went through though?
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Van says:

2 years ago

Is this work? Like selecting different telcos except from smart but loading your smart number? Did the load successfully went through?

Fix Misleading says:

2 years ago

Please clarify in your post that loading Smart numbers by selecting other telcos to avoid charge will NOT work. You’ve no idea how stupid people can be, misunderstanding your statement that you chose DITO but entered Smart number to mean they can do so in a bid to avoid the extra charge.
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Mccoy says:

2 years ago

Ano ba tung ginagawa ng GCASH.. BAT KAYO NAGDAGDAG NG 2 % PARA SA MGA SMART USER.. MAGLOAD LANG KAMI MAY DAGDAG PA … 1K 20 PESOS KAAGAD.. MAGPA CASH OUT KAPA 25 PESOS NA KAAGAD ANG BAWAS SA MKKUHA MO…
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Lens says:

2 years ago

Masyadong gahaman na si globe.. hopefully may papalit na sa gcash. Grabeh kung maka kaltas.😤
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