Split journey on an Oyster card

macman

The deposit for an Oystercard is £5 and is refundable on return. There are no set up fees other than this.

dzug1

macman wrote: »

The deposit for an Oystercard is £5 and is refundable on return. There are no set up fees other than this.

There are setup fees for kids oystercards (where needed - they are often not). £10 non-refundable

blahblahdoh

Jeff_Bridges_hair wrote: »

Whilst it can be confusing if you want to know everything abotu the complexities of the oyster but basically just make sure you touch in and out at the start and end of every journey and you will be fine. Its actually really quite simple and if people like yourself are going to be visiting then its capped at the cost of a travelcard for the day anyway so just make sure you have enough on the card to cover this and you will be fine.

While that is true, be aware that there is a £6.50 penalty fare if your card fails to scan for ANY reason. It this happens they will assume you are fare dodging and it is up to you to check and claim the credit back. I hit this last time I was in London and it stopped me from getting home by tube (had to switch to a Boris Bike). It disregards the daily cap so can easily put you out of credit. The helpline is too slow and expensive to get you going again quickly.

I did claim it back the next day, but was made to feel they were doing me a favour (they actually said that). I made three journeys inside zone 2 and it took a total of £10.30 (1.90+1.90+6.50). Each time the barriers opened and I went through. They refused to accept this and gave me a lecture implying that I was lying, for some unexplained reason, about the third journey. Peculiar, unintelligent and needlessly hostile. No apology for not providing the service despite being paid in advance.

Lots of occasional users must have credit stolen this way without realising it, especially foreigners or users of the DLR. Even if they do realise, it's not particularly easy to check or claim back.

On the DLR there are no barriers and the swiping machines are in eccentric locations: it seems designed to entrap infrequent users. If you carry an Oyster card then you MUST search out the machines and swipe at the start and end of each journey, yet if you carry a paper ticket such as a travel card then there is no check whatsoever. Genius.

barbiedoll

I've had to call Oyster several times because of overcharging. To be fair, I've never had anyone be rude to me on the phone but I am a heavy user and the times that I have been overcharged, I have been able to provide more or less exact times of the incidents.

The most recent was on a journey which was via the overground and national rail. The barriers at each station were closed so I could only exit by swiping. But my journey history showed that I had been charged the "penalty" fare for not swiping in the middle part of the trip (at an overground station), had I not swiped, I would have had to leap over the barrier! I was refunded with no questions asked.

The daily cap is good even if you're using several modes of transport, I've often had my journey home (by train) almost for free (10p) because I've used my Oyster so much during my working day!

yorkie2

barbiedoll wrote: »

The most recent was on a journey which was via the overground and national rail. The barriers at each station were closed so I could only exit by swiping. But my journey history showed that I had been charged the "penalty" fare for not swiping in the middle part of the trip (at an overground station), had I not swiped, I would have had to leap over the barrier! I was refunded with no questions asked.

A penalty fare cannot be charged by the Oyster system. You mean a maximum fare. Also minor point but Overground is a part of National Rail.

yorkie2

blahblahdoh wrote: »

While that is true, be aware that there is a £6.50 penalty fare if your card fails to scan for ANY reason.

No, a penalty fare is £20 or twice the single fare (whichever is the greater). On LU it's £50.

blahblahdoh wrote: »

It this happens they will assume you are fare dodging...

If you are reasonably suspected of fare dodging, you are liable to be prosecuted.

yorkie2

Simon11 wrote: »

Between exiting B and Entering C you have 15minutes to make that journey, for it to be counted as a full complete journey.

If your travelling time is over 2 hours, it will assume that you haven't tapped out/in and therefore be charged at the full daily rate. To claim back, just call up the Oyster Helpline.

For what journey does the above advice apply? It's certainly not general advice applicable to any journey. And for the second part of your post, can I also ask what day and what time this advice applies?