Originally Posted by
FindingFoodFluency_
Was in HK two weeks ago. Planned to use my Octopus card at a 7-11. The card showed a balance, yet couldn't be used.
Tried again at a bakery. No dice.
Finally, an MTR employee sorted it all out ... the card was inactive after a bunch of years (over those particular years, my route was invariably Luo Hu to Sheung Shui, then cash on the airport bus).
I think about 35 or 40 HKD had been subtracted to reactivate the card.
I had three cards, two of which would have had negative balances after assessing their fees so they offered to recycle it for free.
I left with one intact that I could use.