Haven't started my trip and already failing
The app is very glitchy. Was able to load it to start using debit card. 2 credit cards and apple cash not accepted. Then as an experiment attempted to top up and found debit card that worked previously is now rejected, as well as other credit cards and apple cash
App charged me but didn’t actually provide an octopus card
I had an issue with the registration process, and didn’t get a card even though I was charged. Had to contact their support, which was through WhatsApp and the automated menu system was painful to navigate before getting to a person who told me I would be refunded. Honestly, just buy the physical card. It’s less painful.
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Pointless Additional Step
As others have pointed out this is a pointless additional step in topping up your Octopus card for users without an HK registered credit/debit card. It also seems to be a regression as I do not recall this being required in the past. As a visitor you are now unable to simply add an Octopus travel card and seamlessly start using it, but you have to first download and app, a step that doesn’t appear to be well documented and required me to Google it only after the Wallet app mysteriously told me I had no eligible payment methods. I usually try to resist reviewing the services and stick to reviewing the app so I will say that the app does at least do what it’s advertised to without too much trouble.
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Worked perfectly as advertised
It worked perfectly for me during a one-week trip to Hong Kong. Top up worked fine too. No problems at all.
Rip off exchange rate
Octopus is scamming tourist with a really bad exchange rate while deliberately not allowing you to pay in HKD so you can’t use your own card with your exchange rate.
Do not use this app! Keep the physical card.
First of all, after transferring the card from the physical card to Apple Wallet, I did not receive the HKD50 deposit refund at all. Customer service is absolutely useless in providing a solution as well.
Additionally, I have noticed that from time to time, the MTR gate fails to recognize the Octopus express transit payment and instead conflicts with the Visa payment, when it happens, you'll be THAT person clogging up the gate with a long queue behind you giving you the dirty look, I would advise tourist to simply keep to using the physical card to avoid this headache.
Last but not least, you can no longer top up with cash if you use the Apple wallet version, since you can't insert the card into the top up machine. This tourist app charge a higher conversion rate.
Additionally, I have noticed that from time to time, the MTR gate fails to recognize the Octopus express transit payment and instead conflicts with the Visa payment, when it happens, you'll be THAT person clogging up the gate with a long queue behind you giving you the dirty look, I would advise tourist to simply keep to using the physical card to avoid this headache.
Last but not least, you can no longer top up with cash if you use the Apple wallet version, since you can't insert the card into the top up machine. This tourist app charge a higher conversion rate.
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Do not use this app! Keep the physical card.
First of all, after transferring the card from the physical card to Apple Wallet, I did not receive the HKD50 deposit refund at all. Customer service is absolutely useless in providing a solution as well. Additionally, I have noticed that from time to time, the MTR gate fails to recognize the Octopus express transit payment and instead conflicts with the Visa payment, when it happens, you'll be THAT person clogging up the gate with a long queue behind you giving you the dirty look, I would advise tourist to simply keep to using the physical card to avoid this headache.
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Terrible business
It is a sanctioned scam. Not only should this app not exist — by simply allowing other cards in your Wallet app to be used to pay for Octopus; it doesn’t because it requieres without good reason for the cards to be HK cards — but then it charges you FX fees that are both unavoidable by design and of which you are not notified of beforehand.
Unfortunately as a foreigner in HK you can’t avoid making money for Octopus, so their monopoly gives them free reign to build such a sanctioned business scam. They should be ashamed, but alas, they appear not to be.
Unfortunately as a foreigner in HK you can’t avoid making money for Octopus, so their monopoly gives them free reign to build such a sanctioned business scam. They should be ashamed, but alas, they appear not to be.
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Do not use this app! Keep the physical card.
First of all, after transferring the card from the physical card to Apple Wallet, I did not receive the HKD50 deposit refund at all. Customer service is absolutely useless in providing a solution as well.
Additionally, I have noticed that from time to time, the MTR gate fails to recognize the Octopus express transit payment and instead conflicts with the Visa payment, when it happens, you'll be THAT person clogging up the gate with a long queue behind you giving you the dirty look, I would advise tourist to simply keep to using the physical card to avoid this headache.
Additionally, I have noticed that from time to time, the MTR gate fails to recognize the Octopus express transit payment and instead conflicts with the Visa payment, when it happens, you'll be THAT person clogging up the gate with a long queue behind you giving you the dirty look, I would advise tourist to simply keep to using the physical card to avoid this headache.
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It worked for me
I read so many of the recent reviews and was scared to try it, but I did anyways. It was easy to create a new card (I paid with an Apple Card via Apple Pay). Yes, their conversion rate is 6% worse but I’m used to “foreigner taxes” everywhere I go (especially at museums and famous tourist sights) and 6% is MUCH less than the 5-10X markup they charge in India. I found most businesses and restaurants accept international credit cards but there were a few that only accepted cash and Octopus. Paying at those locations was a piece of cake.
On my last day in Hong Kong, I needed to top up. That process was just as straightforward for me using the same payment method.
What I haven’t figured out is how to get the $50 HKD refund. I won’t be worrying about that as I know I’ll be going back later this year.
I only gave the app 4 stars since it is far from being a polished app. But it did its job for the 2 things I asked of it.
I wish you all good luck and hope it works for you too.
On my last day in Hong Kong, I needed to top up. That process was just as straightforward for me using the same payment method.
What I haven’t figured out is how to get the $50 HKD refund. I won’t be worrying about that as I know I’ll be going back later this year.
I only gave the app 4 stars since it is far from being a polished app. But it did its job for the 2 things I asked of it.
I wish you all good luck and hope it works for you too.
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