TFL have taken my money - but have no record

Jbfox

Hi all,

I attempted to buy a yearly travel ticket with TFL on Sunday night at the princely cost of £1,800, and was greeted with error messages (something about addresses and telephone numbers, which are in fact accurate). After a while I gave up.

It seems, though, that they've taken my money yet have no record of it. My bank (Natwest) claim they can see a pending transaction to an unknown location, but TFL claim they have no transaction to cancel.

They also won't accept Visa authorisation codes because of data protection.

It's possible the money could bounce back within 3-5 days, but if that doesn't happen does anyone know what I should do? At the moment it's in purgatory, and I really need it. Both parties are seemingly blaming each other, which is concerning.

I have no idea who is at fault (assuming TFL), but I'm now having to spend a lot of money I don't have on pay-as-you-go travel.

Thanks very much (and apologies if this is posted in the wrong place).

marliepanda

Its been ringfenced and obviously stalled out. It will come back when the ring fence expires.

Jbfox

marliepanda wrote: »

Its been ringfenced and obviously stalled out. It will come back when the ring fence expires.

Thanks for the reply - but exactly does that mean? Is that usually a short period of time?

marliepanda

I think the 3-5 days quoted should be fine.

Basically they like check you have enough money, so they send a request to Natwest saying 'does JBFox have £1800 to give us' and Natwest says Yes and puts it aside. Clearly something has gone wrong between checking you have it and actually taking it.

Sometimes it happens when systems are down and it can result in multiple 'payments' being taken. (not actually taken but set aside)

As soon as that 'set aside' is cancelled it will come back, and because there is nowhere for it to go it will come back.

Jbfox

Great, thanks. Fingers crossed...

Littlestars_2

It will be a ghost transaction so while the ordrr has went through to your bank it doesnt to the retailer so your bank will authorise it but the retailer wont take it as never received the order. As said it will drop back onto your account.

rustyboy21

You say your card details you filled in were correct with the name , address, tel no's etc? Are you sure? I have issues at times with my business card. If I buy something online and fill my details in as my home address, then the transaction normally declines. If I then do it with my business no and address, then it authorises.


Is easy to forget sometimes, nice to see they are checking up though