Most common payment methods in Mauritius

Funny that this topic came up — I was actually about to start a new thread about bank transactions myself.

I think I’ve been spoiled by the Hong Kong banking system. The Octopus card lets you tap to pay for meals, shopping, and transportation not only in Hong Kong but also in some other Asian countries, without needing to exchange currencies. Credit cards are interest‑free and annual‑fee‑free. FPS (Fast Payment System) allows instant transfers between banks with no fees. Global Money offers instant international transfers with very low charges.

In China, it’s even more convenient with Alipay or WeChat Pay. Once, my mouse ran out of battery in the middle of the night, and I simply used the app to order snacks and batteries. Within 15 minutes, a courier delivered everything right to my hotel room door.

After COVID, avoiding cash has become a habit.

This June, I found an online pet shop (Honey Mauritius) that finally had the items I’d been searching for. Their website stated that customers must pay before delivery. However, their invoice didn’t include any bank account details. Through MCB Juice, I found their name (Honey Mauritius) matched the phone number listed in the merchant list. So I made the payment in the morning, saved the transaction record, and sent it to the shop. I received the merchandise that afternoon.

But the next morning, Honey Mauritius asked me again about the payment and claimed they were not registered with MCB. When I checked the transaction in the app, the merchant name had changed to PET HOSPITAL LTD. I called MCB, but they brushed me off and told me to visit a branch to fill out a “Juice Payment Dispute Form.” I did that, but up to today, I still haven’t received a refund. Every time I ask for an update, the reply is always: “We apologize and have escalated your request to the branch.”

I don’t understand how a business can appear in MCB’s merchant list with their name and phone number if they never registered. And I don’t understand why Honey Mauritius is still listed three months after I filed the complaint. I believe the merchant has also reported the issue.

I was happy to learn that Mauritius has a system similar to FPS when I moved here. But clearly there are loopholes that the bank needs to fix — and it seems no one cares.

@Cheryl

Mobile Money has not reached its full potential in Mauritius.  My.t is available but only if you have an account with MCB.  That said, most shops, petrol stations and grocery stores accept credit cards(just make sure your issuer allows foreign transactions.) Smaller shops like street vendors, beach vendors, etc only accept cash.  So it's a good idea to have both forms of payment with you.