"Graham J" wrote in message
...
Yesterday morning I used Pre-Pay on the tubes for the first time during
the
week (previously I've only used it at the weekends). Much to my
disappointment it seems to have charged me an incorrect fare. OK so it
was
in my favour but I'd much rather it got it right.

I travelled from Blackfriars to Stepney Green at about 8:30am. As a Zone
1
to Zone 2 journey I expected to be charged £2.10 and I was. At 10:30am I
travelled from Stepney Green to Liverpool Street. As a Zone 2 to Zone 1
journey I expected to be charged £2.10 again. Instead I was charged £1.70
which is the single fare for a Zone 1 journey. My only other usage of the
card was an earlier tram journey so there doesn't seem any scope for
capping
to kick in. Oyster help desk seemed as baffled as I was, though
unconcerned.

Something I've overlooked or just a flaw in the system somewhere?

ISTR Liverpool Street to Stepney Green is one of those "short inter-zone"
journeys where the fare charged is just for the higher priced zone. Bethnal
Green to Bank is another that springs to mind.

I am surpised and rather saddened that the Oystercard helpdesk did not know
this and respond appropiately. Could you contact me via email if you have a
reference number as there may be a training need with somebody at the
Oystercard helpdesk.

ISTR Liverpool Street to Stepney Green is one of those "short inter-zone"
journeys where the fare charged is just for the higher priced zone.
Bethnal
Green to Bank is another that springs to mind.

Long after writing the message I suddenly wondered about that. I hadn't
thought about it at the time as I don't consider a journey taking the best
part of ten minutes to be short. Also there is not any mention of any such
thing in the Fares and Tickets guide (except for Season Tickets) or on the
TfL website as far as I can see so to the best of my knowledge such things
didn't exist.

Good job I have Pre-Pay really as if I'd been using ticket machines or even
at the ticket office I'd have just been looking to buy based on the
destination zone not the destination station and wouldn't have been looking
out for a cheaper fare.

I am surpised and rather saddened that the Oystercard helpdesk did not
know
this and respond appropiately. Could you contact me via email if you have
a
reference number as there may be a training need with somebody at the
Oystercard helpdesk.

No reference number. The thing that surprised me was just how long it
seemed to take to find the journeys on their system given that they were the
last two I'd made.

G.