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Oyster card trouble

Posted by on

I'm in London currently (Yay!) and I think I've done something wrong.

I have a BritRail pass and an Oyster card. Today I took a journey by train from Victoria to Vauxhall to Windsor, and then made my return from Windsor to Vauxhall, then took a bus back to my hotel.

I couldn't find a way to access the trains at Victoria without tapping in my Oyster card, so I did, even though I was not intending to pay for my journey that way. On my return, I tapped out at Vauxhall (several hours later) for the same reason, I couldn't find a way out without doing so. So even though my entire journey was covered by my BritRail pass, I was charged something like £11-12.

1) how do I get in and out of the train station without tapping in / out? I looked and looked but couldn't find a way around

2) do I have any chance of having this reimbursed?

Posted by
82 posts

It sounds like you've made a legitimate oystercard journey rather than used the card wrongly (even though you had a better ticket to cover the journey). If I were you, I'd find a ticket office tomorrow and explain just what happened and hope for the best. On the couple of occasions I failed to check out properly at the end of a journey, I found the TfL staff helpful and accommodating.

Posted by
18 posts

Hmm. So is there a better way to get to the trains, if I don't want to use my Oyster card? Now I'm effectively paying twice for the same journey, which defeats the point of the rail pass.

Posted by
18 posts

I don't remember seeing one, but I also wasn't really looking. I'll have to look more closely tomorrow.

Posted by
18 posts

Thank you!! I will try that tomorrow. It used up all the credit I had on my card, so I will definitely try (but not count on it) before I reload it.

Posted by
650 posts

I'm thinking all the way back to 2012, but we used a Brit rail pass for four day trips from London. To get to the tracks at at least one station, we had to show our pass to an attendant when leaving London. People using individual tickets or an oyster card just inserted or pressed their tickets or cards and entered the tracks. Coming back there were Oyster machines but not turnstiles so we just boarded. The conductor did check our passes during about two out of three trips.

You may not get your money back but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

Posted by
5467 posts

I suspect you actually have two incomplete journeys on your travel history if you have only touched your Oyster twice. The maximum allowable journey time between two zone 1 stations (Victoria -> Vauxhall) is 70 minutes and it will appear you have taken hours. You will therefore have paid two maximum fares of £5.30 which is just below your guess.

You will have to speak with TfL as to whether they will complete your journeys or some other refund - which you would need to collect onto the Oyster card at a station you nominate.

Posted by
18 posts

I stopped in at the Underground Visitors Center in Victoria today, and the very kind gentleman there was able to refund part of the cost. I did have to pay one maximum fare as described above, but he was able to refund the other.

Thank you for all the help! I'm on board the Caledonian Sleeper right now about to leave for Edinburgh - having a wonderful time so far!

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