my girlfriend forgot her olyster card

[ken979]

my girlfriend forgot her oyster card. she wanted to leave camden station because thats where she works. i though she was going to pay for a travel card because she genuinely forgot her oyster card. they issued her with a penalty fare of £20.

 

i asked her to pass the phone to the staff at the station, as her english is not that good but they didnt want to know. they just wanted to take money from her.

 

i told her: i will bring her oyster card to her, just wait where you are

 

they wanted her to pay NOW, they wont even let me explain.

 

the police came and i explained it to her on the phone.

 

i said she brought a monthly oyster card and has the receipt for it, she even has the issue number. i can prove she geneuinly left her oyster card at home.

 

they wont even let me bring the card to her

 

the poilce said she doesnt have all day

 

i told them that all they want to do is make money

 

i am so angry because i can prove to them she didnt do it on purpose

 

i wish i told her not to speak to the underground staff. that way i could have brought the oyster card to her

 

I AM REALLY **** OFF!!!!!!

 

HOW DARE THEY TREAT HER LIKE THAT!!!!

 

i feel its so unfair, is there any way i can appeal or do something about it

 

i want to get the money for my girlfriend

[UNDERGROUND]

Hi

 

Firstly, are you talking about Camden Town Underground station?

 

If so can I ask how your girlfriend got on to the network without a ticket / Oyster card?

 

I am assuming she was stopped on the way out of the station?

 

Penalty fares are now £50, reduced to £25 if paid within 21 days.

 

If, as you say, your girlfriend does in fact have a valid Oyster card for that journey you should appeal the penalty fare and you will almost certainly get it overturned.

 

The address is:

 

London Underground

Penalty Fare Appeal Office

Pelham House

63/81 Pelham Street

London

SW7 2NJ

 

These details should be on the penalty fare notice anyway.

 

Regards

UNDERGROUND

[ken979]

yeah camden underground station, today

 

she recently moved in with me to seven kings

 

zone 4 and no barrier

 

she got off at stratford and went on central line

 

got of at bank and went to northern line to camden under ground station

 

she paid for the monthly oyster card from zone 1-4

 

i cool down now but on the phone, it seemed like they were picking on my GF.

 

it seems like the system is set up in a way to make money

 

they made her pay for £20 and on top of that a travel card as well

 

all together £26.30

 

thanks underground, i will keep you informed

 

you seem like a decent guy

[ken979]

hi underground, just wondering how i would stucture my letter to having a better chance at appealing

 

thanks in advanced

[UNDERGROUND]

Hello again,

 

I will just say I do believe the inspector was correct in issuing a penalty fare as it is the customer's responsibility to ensure they have a valid ticket for the entire journey. That said there shouldn't be any air of intimidation or rudeness.

 

It only need be a simple letter explaining that it was an honest mistake and providing proof that she holds a valid Oyster Travelcard for the journey in question. If your girlfriend takes her Oyster card to any London Underground station and asks for a print out they will oblige, this will show the relevant details.

 

Make sure you get your appeal in within 21 days of the PFN issue.

 

Best of luck

UNDERGROUND

[SRPO]

I think Madamfluff summed up this thread nicely.