Oyster card maximum fare ripoff

dutchie

Anyone know if there is a way to reclaim maximum fare charges going back longer than 2 months?

I have only just noticed that the Waterloo reader does not always read my card correctly, so have been charged the maximum fare quite a few times in last two months. I have reclaimed this, but they say they cannot go back any further than two months.

Bit of a rip off, they must make millions out of their cards not touching in/out correctly.

Wig

If you have a regular pattern of expenditure that you can show. That in conjunction with the infamous faulty oyster card system, should be enough to sue them for the money. Enforcing the judgement will be another thing entirely. There was a poster here a week ago who was saying he had bailiffs go to transport for London and they failed to get anything from them.

If you do a search for "transport london bailiffs" you will find the post easily.

Lemmy_Caution

You are I think (unfortunately) on to a loser with this one. Were there no clues to your card not being read properly? I'm thinking of things like; gates shutting just as you got through, no bleep sound, or sign saying 'Seek Assistance'

moonrakerz

The Oyster card system is exactly the same as the Congestion Charge system - it only pays it's way because of the penalty charges it imposes on those who don't understand the system, errors in the system or the few that do try and fiddle it !

Lemmy_Caution

I really think that users should take more responsibility here. If you know how much you should be charged for each journey, then it is easy enough for you (in most cases) to avoid being overcharged. You can check your usage at the readers at tube stations, and in most cases it is possible to see how much is taken off your card when you use it. Most penalty charges (I would guess) occur after people forgetting to touch in or our at DLR stations. It is nothing like the Congestion Charge system.

AlanG_3

Wig wrote: »

If you have a regular pattern of expenditure that you can show. That in conjunction with the infamous faulty oyster card system, should be enough to sue them for the money. Enforcing the judgement will be another thing entirely. There was a poster here a week ago who was saying he had bailiffs go to transport for London and they failed to get anything from them.

If you do a search for "transport london bailiffs" you will find the post easily.

Enforcing the judgement: We are awaiting the OP of the below thread to report back. If Tfl cant show Crown Immunity IMHO I cant see them avoiding enforcement. Keep us posted OP.

http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=1096185&highlight=london+transport+bailiffs

Alan

dutchie

Lemmy_Caution wrote: »

You are I think (unfortunately) on to a loser with this one. Were there no clues to your card not being read properly? I'm thinking of things like; gates shutting just as you got through, no bleep sound, or sign saying 'Seek Assistance'

The problem is that if you touch in but the card fails to read correctly it double beeps, but this is impossible to hear at a station like Waterloo going onto the Waterloo & Ciy line, as it is so noisy. Then when you come to go through the gate at Bank, it just lets you out without indicating any problem, but charging the full penalty fare, even though you never touched in.

As you can only have come from the Waterloo & City line at those gates, I dont see why they charge the full penalty fare anyway.

Now that I know this can happen I keep an eye on the left of the gate when exiting, which informs you of the fare being deducted.

Lemmy_Caution

dutchie wrote: »

The problem is that if you touch in but the card fails to read correctly it double beeps, but this is impossible to hear at a station like Waterloo going onto the Waterloo & Ciy line, as it is so noisy. Then when you come to go through the gate at Bank, it just lets you out without indicating any problem, but charging the full penalty fare, even though you never touched in.

As you can only have come from the Waterloo & City line at those gates, I dont see why they charge the full penalty fare anyway.

Now that I know this can happen I keep an eye on the left of the gate when exiting, which informs you of the fare being deducted.

Yes, all good points to make. Sometimes you just end up learning things the hard way. By the way, if you are ever unfortunate enough to be delayed by more 15 minutes on the underground you can claim for one single fare of £4.00

dutchie

Wow didnt realise that, thanks for letting me know. Been delayed a few times.

Lemmy_Caution

dutchie wrote: »

Wow didnt realise that, thanks for letting me know. Been delayed a few times.

You will find the claim forms at tube stations. They are titled 'Customer Charter.' You can also claim online. All you have to do is make a note of the time of the delay, and the length of the delay.