On Mon, 19 Apr 2004 16:54:44 +0100, Jon E. wrote:

I'm quite new to this Oystercard stuff having only used mine for a couple of
weeks so far. I usually recharge it with a weekly travelcard a few days
before expiry but last week (as I didn't think I'd need it) I didn't bother.
I heard over the weekend that I'd be working in central London, but couldn't
renew it by phone due to the short notice. This morning I got to Clapham
Junction and found they didn't have the facilities to charge it, but one of
the staff let me through the gates to board my train assuring me I could


On my reading of the regs. you are not liable. The staff at the station had
no right to levy a penalty:-

Circumstances in which a penalty fare is not to be charged where a
person is in a compulsory ticket area

7.--(1) No person present in or leaving a compulsory ticket area, but who is
not leaving a train, shall be charged a penalty fare in the
circumstances to which this regulation applies.

(2) The circumstances to which this regulation applies are that--

[snip]

(d) a person acting or purporting to act on behalf of (i) the operator
of any train departing from that compulsory ticket area, or (ii) the
operator of the relevant station indicated that the person in question was,
or persons in general were, permitted to be present in that compulsory
ticket area without having a ticket or other authority.

You should demand a refund and appology.

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u n d e r a c h i e v e r