Do Octopus Cards die?

[penguinsix]

So I have an Octopus that is about six years old and lately it's just not 'beeping' as quickly as it used to. Maybe it's just a perception thing, but I seem to have to tap and tap it on some readers to really get it to beep.

Do Octopus cards go bad? Do they wear out in some way? Demagnitized or something like that?

[shri]

They should not go bad, but there is an ongoing replacement exercise which might have affected your card?

But the intermittent success is puzzling - perhaps old cards work on some readers?

Home - Octopus Card Replacement

[Claire ex-ax]

The few I've had that went kaput just stop working. The money is still there so it can be transferred to another card, although sometimes it can't be done at an MTR service counter and it is "sent off" to have the money sorted.

[jmbf]

I just recently replaced mine (it must have been at least 10 years old) as I was getting that high pitched two tone warning sound after every transaction. It was still working perfectly fine though. I've found some octopus readers seem to be a bit dodgy and require a longer time to process the transaction.

[shri]

Ok, I might be completely wrong.

Appears that the old octopus should still work.

We will set out a mandatory phase later requiring the replacement of the remaining First Generation On-loan Octopus which have not been replaced in this phase. During the mandatory phase, these First Generation On-loan Octopus will be subject to a replacement deadline in batches. After the deadline, the First Generation On-loan Octopus cannot be used any more. We will inform customers of such arrangement with sufficient notice period.

[Gatts]

Still have mine I got in 2002, is all bent and the printing on it is almost faded. It still works and use it daily!

[Claire ex-ax]

Ok, I might be completely wrong.

Appears that the old octopus should still work.

My First Gen one (yellow/orange) gave up the ghost some years back.

[penguinsix]

My 2005 card pinged and said it had to be replaced. My 2010 card is the one giving me problems at the moment.

[pin]

Wish they would integrate Octopus payments with Android / Apple Pay.

[Char Siu King]

Wish they would integrate Octopus payments with Android / Apple Pay.

In Hong Kong? Get real!

This place is stuck in about 1998. OK, unfair. 2004 then.