01-08-2025
Delivery rider and customer argue after she wants to pay entirely in coins
Delivery rider and customer argue after she wants to pay entirely in coins
Teo Yan Ting
TNP
July 31, 2025
A delivery rider's refusal to accept coins as payment has stirred debate, after a customer recorded their exchange and shared it online.
In a video circulating on Instagram, a woman who had opted for cash-on-delivery claimed she had enough money to pay, but only in coins.
The GrabFood rider, however, declined to accept them, and asked her to message the platform saying she could not pay due to a lack of cash.
"According to the Currency Act, we cannot use more than 10 coins of the same denomination in a single transaction. I do not accept coins," said the rider.
The customer replied that there was no such restriction stated in the app, and said she would check the law and report the matter to Grab.
In a caption accompanying the video, the woman said she later looked up the law and found that while the Currency Act allows merchants to refuse more than 20 coins of the same denomination, she had offered coins of mixed denominations.
Be more considerate to delivery riders, say netizens
The incident sparked discussion online, with many commentors urging customers to be more considerate, noting that counting coins could delay delivery riders and burden them with extra weight.
Ng Gan Poh, 34, president of the National Delivery Champions Association, told Shin Min Daily News that he sees such cases once or twice a year. The most extreme case he encountered involved a customer who paid $60 entirely in coins, weighing up to three kilograms.
"I had to count it quickly and later find ways to spend it myself, because depositing coins in the bank comes with a fee," he said.
He added that small amounts in coins are manageable, but anything over $20 can be burdensome.
"If a rider has physical limitations, counting and carrying heavy coins can be especially tough. But if the customer has a genuine reason, we understand," said Mr Ng.
"We hope customers and delivery riders can be understanding and avoid causing unnecessary inconvenience to one another."
Another rider, Zeng Guoshun, 52, said he also prefers not to accept coins to avoid delays between orders.
"Most people mix coins and notes. It's rare to see someone pay entirely in coins."
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