London 60+ card to Freedom Pass

Just60

Until the last few weeks, Freedom passes were issued by London boroughs as the 60+ TFL cards were due to expire. There is now a new centralised application process. Applications were closed for 2-3 weeks in September for the new system to be set up.

You can't apply until 2 weeks before you are eligible. For me that fell in the period when applications were closed. Having applied when the portal opened, it now seems that processing currently takes at least two months. Meanwhile my 60+ card has expired, as it had only a three week grace period once eligible for the Freedom pass.

Very frustrating given the assurances from London boroughs that no one would be disadvantaged by the change. It looks as though I will be paying to travel to volunteer roles in London for several weeks.

(I do recognise that within London we are more fortunate than some others to have the 60+ scheme)

flaneurs_lobster

Why on Earth did TfL not simply pause the expiry of 60+ cards falling in September, and then onwards as the inevitable delays to processing occurred?

oldagetraveller1

"(I do recognise that within London we are more fortunate than some others to have the 60+ scheme)"

You are also much more fortunate, than a big percentage of the country, to have a vast public transport system, bus, underground etc..

One disadvantage of choosing to live where I do, is the hourly bus which only operates from 9am to 5pm! That's all. Car ownership is essential.

Skiddaw1

At the risk of sounding like the 'Shoebox in middle of 't road' sketch, for most of the year we have only have two busses per week….

flaneurs_lobster

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82165528#Comment_82165528

The "Four Yorkshiremen" sketch.

lincroft1710

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/82165528#Comment_82165528

Bus? Bus? You were lucky we had to wait for our grandmother to walk into town, then climb on her back!!

ElefantEd

We used to have a bus on alternate Tuesdays but they cancelled it in favour of making us crawl the 10 miles to the nearest shop (which is only open on alternate Wednesdays).