Opal Card Hacks (Sydney)

lakers1222 on 04/02/2015 - 00:36

Hey OzBargainers,

I've increasing noticed that people tapping off at train stations using Opal Cards are getting away with Free Travel using a glitch. Not sure how they do it, but they are fully aware of it.

In the span of 5 minutes watching people tap off, several people are using this hack. When they tap off, the screen displays are Red Error Message and the gates open and they nonchalantly leave. If they are traveling in a group, everyone in their group would have their own hacked opal card.

Is there simple explanation for what is going on, or is this a sophisticated scheme ?

Travel

Related Stores

Opal Card - NSW Government
Opal Card - NSW Government

Comments

  • elusive on 04/02/2015 - 00:58

    You sure it didn't confirm first? I've seen plenty of errors reported after the initial confirmation, when it tries to read the card while you're removing it.

  • TheOtherLeft on 04/02/2015 - 07:40

    That's not a hack. If it fails to read at the end of you journey then you get charged the full fare for the day, which I think is $15. This is unless you've already had 8 journey's that week and the rest are free.

    • sagrules on 04/02/2015 - 11:49

      I dont think its full fare for the day - its full fare of that trip. For example if I catch a bus from Randwick to coogee and forget to tap off it will charge me the trip as if I had travelled all the way to the last stop at coogee beach which may be $3.50 . Also I have noticed that if you forget to tap off it does not add to your 8 journeys for that week and you would have to make 9 instead. Correct me if I am wrong.

  • mskeggs on 04/02/2015 - 10:00

    My commute is $15 a day and my opal often gives a red error. If I am leaving the station, I don't bother to scan it again as there is no penalty for me (unless I am doing more than 8 trips as a penalty fare doesn't register as a trip). Perhaps these people are in a similar boat?

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