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Child on adult oyster.

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ATW Alex 101

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Hi all currently on the 19:10 off Euston.

Had a bit of an experience at Walthamstow. I am a child (13 y/o) but I use an adults oyster card.

At Walthamstow, I was at the gates but I forgot how much I had on and there were lines at the machines so I went to the ticket office and politely asked the bloke behind how much I had on and my reply in exact words was "Is it your card because if it is you're not allowed it because it is an adults one" and gave it back. So I said "Yes but i'm paying an adult fare for a child so I a actually paying more than I should and there are no rules saying I am not allowed an adults oyster and asked again if he could check it but he said "NO YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO TRAVEL ON AN ADULTS OYSTER" giving it back again. My dad was proper ****ed off at this point and was about ready to go ballistic so he said "It's my oyster card now and I would like to know the balance on it please", the guy replied "NO IT'S NOT YOURS, IT'S YOUR SONS" and threw it back yet again. My dad was going to lose it with this guy so I changed the subject and asked where I could obtain a childs oyster. He said "The post office, you need to attend school and live in London" which I thought was just a load of lockbolls. I queried this and he said "I will get you escorted off the station if you are threatening towards me". I just laughed and said "Yes ok then" and my dad told this guy repeatedly what a jobsworth he was and how the underground are going to sack him.(I must admit I was kind of laughing at my dad as well :lol:) In the end we waited at the machine and found out I had £2.50 on my card which wasn't enough so I topped up.

My question is, is he right in saying "You're not allowed an adults oyster" and is it true about whether you need a London address and attend school in London to have a childs oyster? Based on my research, what he has said is all false and bull5h!t.
 
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No the LUL staff wasn't right, a standard Oyster card is transferable so long as there is no (discounted) season ticket held on it, so there is nothing wrong with a child using an adult Oyster card! :)

I suppose you could also go as far as to say that it's none of the Ticket Office Clerk's business as to why you are checking the balance on the Oyster card, they should have just checked it for you and advised the balance!
 

yorkie

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Is there a discount loaded onto the card (e.g. 16-25, Senior etc)?
Is there a Travelcard loaded onto the card?

If the answer to both is "no" then the card is transferable and you are perfectly entitled to use it.

Feel free to PM me with a concisely worded letter (that does not go into too much detail about exactly what was said) that must be polite, yet firm, and I will proof read it and send it back to you to send to the Company.

Are there two ticket offices at [stn]WHC[/stn]?

He won't get sacked. A certain amount of bad customer service appears to be tolerated, and it's also incorrect to call him a 'jobsworth' (look up the definition ;)) and if you were ranting then it does not help your case.

I would stick to the facts of the matter and not mention conduct at all.
 

ATW Alex 101

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No the LUL staff wasn't right, a standard Oyster card is transferable so long as there is no (discounted) season ticket held on it, so there is nothing wrong with a child using an adult Oyster card! :)

Thanks for your quick reply. what do you mean by "transferable".
I use the oyster PAYG just like you normally do. Top up, touch in, touch out. It's just a normal blue adult one. I was guessing that the LUL staff member was wrong
 

yorkie

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Most tickets can only be used by the person for whom the ticket was bought, but normal Oyster cards being used for undiscounted PAYG journeys can be transferred between users.
 

ATW Alex 101

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Is there a discount loaded onto the card (e.g. 16-25, Senior etc)?
Is there a Travelcard loaded onto the card?

If the answer to both is "no" then the card is transferable and you are perfectly entitled to use it.

Feel free to PM me with a concisely worded letter (that does not go into too much detail about exactly what was said) that must be polite, yet firm, and I will proof read it and send it back to you to send to the Company.

Are there two ticket offices at [stn]WHC[/stn]?

There is nothing on the card in terms of discounts, just money I have put on. So both answers are no. Thanks for the offer of proof reading a letter for me. I might send a letter to LUL, i'm currently thinking on it.
 

RJ

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Out of interest, why would you use an adult Oyster Card when you can get a child paper Travelcard?

The definitive answer to your question with regards to child Oyster cards can be found here? Essentially, a parent/guardian needs to order you a child Oyster Photocard online which takes 4 weeks to arrive. They are generally not issued anywhere else.
 

ATW Alex 101

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Most tickets can only be used by the person for whom the ticket was bought, but normal Oyster cards being used for undiscounted PAYG journeys can be transferred between users.

Oh right ok. The oyster was bought by myself at Euston about a year ago.
 

MikeWh

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... where I could obtain a childs oyster. He said "The post office, you need to attend school and live in London" which I thought was just a load of lockbolls.

You're right, it is a load of lockbolls!

Any under 16 year old can get a zip Oyster by applying at a post office with a photo and a £10 payment. You then get free travel on London buses and trams and child rates on rail services. If you travel about in London quite a lot it will definitely be more worthwhile than using an adult Oyster (which anyone can use by the way).

The bit about living and/or going to school in London applies to the student 18+ card only.
 

Clip

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Are there two ticket offices at [stn]WHC[/stn]?

.

There are 3 ticket offices in all. One on each GA platform -platform 1 has 3 windows and plat 2 1 window(unsure how often this is open as never use that side really) and also a very small window down in the Underground ticket hall.
 

ATW Alex 101

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Out of interest, why would you use an adult Oyster Card when you can get a child paper Travelcard?

The definitive answer to your question with regards to child Oyster cards can be found here? Essentially, a parent/guardian needs to order you a child Oyster Photocard online which takes 4 weeks to arrive. They are generally not issued anywhere else.

That is a good question you asked. I just thought it would be easier.

I had actually experienced another time when a member of LUL staff had asked why I am using an adults oyster, and that I should be on a paper travelcard.
 

MikeWh

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that I should be on a paper travelcard.

For info, a child travelcard is £3.20 off-peak while the zip Oyster card caps at £1.40. You'll pay for the £10 fee in six travel days.
 

island

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It was better when the £10 fee was loaded as travel credit though :/
 
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