Octopus for Tourists

It worked the first time I started the card but would not allow me to top up so I tried adding a new card and it just took my money and didn’t give me a card it’s an absolute scam just grab a physical card

Downloaded the original app was not able to top up the virtual card, however found out they had a tourist version that forces you to pay with your local currency with hidden charges added on top very disappointing won’t be using this app again

I suddenly couldn’t top up and then when I requested a refund, it was only HK bank accounts. Avoid and use the physical card!

Why force me to use any currency other than HK$. I know. So you charge ripoff conversion rates. I should be able to top this up via Apple Wallet app. Ripoff

Get the app fixed, it’s not complex just uses the same interface as the original and add the feature to pay with different currency to the old model. This one charges a percentage to put it on the card and sometimes it doesn’t even show up on the card when you pay. AWFUL AWFUL AWFUL

Absolute rip off with extra charges. Tourists treated for absolute mugs. AVOID if you can

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.

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.

The app doesn’t allow you to top up the Octopus card in HKD (Hong Kong Dollars). You have to choose another currency and pay the app’s FX fee. It’s usually 5-6% above market rate. I have a credit card with no FX fees that I’d like to use to top-up but the app doesn’t let me top up in HKD.

Agree with other reviews. They charge a foreign exchange fee for topping up each time and when you refund the card there is a 11 hkd admin charge on top too. Better off with physical card and topping up with a credit card without foreign exchange fees.