Here’s a math problem for you.
You get on the minibus. You “dood” your Octopus on the reader to pay the HKD3.7 fare and to your horror, the ominous low tone indicates that your card is out of money.
As the driver taps his foot impatiently and you feel the glare of your fellow passengers, you fish through your coin purse to find exact change.
As you finally complete the basic arithmetic in your head, the driver barks at you that 10-cent and 20-cent coins are not allowed.
What are you supposed to do now?!
Local magazine 100most shared a photo of a sign in a minibus insisting they did not accept 10-cent and 20-cent coins, with the fare displayed on the Octopus reader: HKD3.7.
The article has been shared on Facebook over 200 times and liked by almost 6,000 people, because we Hongkongers hold public transportation issues near and dear to our hearts.
A clever reader commented that the sign says they don’t accept 10- and 20-cent coins, but it didn’t say that they don’t give change in 10- and 20-cent coins.
100most replied, “NONONO, they just want you to give HKD4!”
So there you have it. There is no solution… you just get scammed.
