Skimpot flyer
Established Member
- Joined
- 16 Nov 2012
- Messages
- 1,610
Whilst discussing the benefits of buying a Hatton to Lapworth season (to gain a cheap Gold Card), I told a friend they could also gain a 1/3rd discount on off-peak Oyster fares.
My friend said it wouldn’t be cost-effective for them, as one leg of their Zone3 to Zone3 commute (via Zone1) is in peak hours. To my alarm, they then inadvertently let slip that, to avoid paying £42/week, they were purchasing a Zones2-3 Travelcard, presumably unregistered.
I was shocked. I said ‘you’re taking a big risk, you realise?’ to which they replied ‘but £42 a week is too much’.
When I looked at the TfL single fare finder today, I see that the fares for their journey are £3.30 peak and £2.80 off-peak. Using pay-as-you-go Oyster would cost them £30.50 on a 5-day commute. So they’re taking a big risk to save only £3.50 per week !!!
Should I warn them in the strongest possible terms to desist from this risky and bizarre practice?
That recent series on Channel 4 did, I seem to remember, catch people doing a similar thing, even people with unregistered cards.
This person is not a close friend, but a friend of my colleague that I recently asked advice for, on travelling to Heathrow. Adults make their own choices in life, but I feel strongly about fare evasion and I don’t think the person realises the seriousness if they are caught
My friend said it wouldn’t be cost-effective for them, as one leg of their Zone3 to Zone3 commute (via Zone1) is in peak hours. To my alarm, they then inadvertently let slip that, to avoid paying £42/week, they were purchasing a Zones2-3 Travelcard, presumably unregistered.
I was shocked. I said ‘you’re taking a big risk, you realise?’ to which they replied ‘but £42 a week is too much’.
When I looked at the TfL single fare finder today, I see that the fares for their journey are £3.30 peak and £2.80 off-peak. Using pay-as-you-go Oyster would cost them £30.50 on a 5-day commute. So they’re taking a big risk to save only £3.50 per week !!!
Should I warn them in the strongest possible terms to desist from this risky and bizarre practice?
That recent series on Channel 4 did, I seem to remember, catch people doing a similar thing, even people with unregistered cards.
This person is not a close friend, but a friend of my colleague that I recently asked advice for, on travelling to Heathrow. Adults make their own choices in life, but I feel strongly about fare evasion and I don’t think the person realises the seriousness if they are caught