High value Oyster card ?

[Paoleng]

Dear all
I did not know until this morning about what a high value Oyster card is. I believe it’s a card with some sort of discount and which carries a photo .
I tapped in and out at the London Underground with my Visa card . While tapping out the system apparently flagged me as being a passenger carrying a high value Oyster card . They stopped me and asked me to show the travel card I “used”.
I could not as I never had a London travel card . I’m a Tourist and I’ve been using my visa in and out , over the last few days .
Had something similar to this happened to anyone else ?
Thank you
Paola

 

[methecooldude]

I believe it’s a card with some sort of discount and which carries a photo .

A 'high value' card would be one that gives free travel, an example being a staff Oyster or those for older London residents. Just FYI

 

[spag23]

What was the outcome of this challenge? In particular, did they take your details? Or just accept it was a mis-read?

 

[matt_world2004]

Try and preserve your contqxtless oyster history by registering on contactless.tfl.gov.uk so if they do ask for your version of events you have proof you made a contactless journey

 

[Snow1964]

What was the outcome of this challenge? In particular, did they take your details? Or just accept it was a mis-read?

They might have let Op go on basis of mis-read, but a good Inspector would have notified the gateline manager about getting the reader checked to ensure it wasn't faulty. Then switched that gate out until the person with his laptop had checked it.

If it was misreading could also have been missing people with invalid tickets, or not debiting a contactless transaction, so taking no follow up would be bad practice.

 

[AlterEgo]

sounds like a malfunctioning reader when presented with an unusual foreign card.

 

[matt_world2004]

My understanding is The concession light can be programmed to flag up any card type , not just high value passes , I wonder if it was inadvertently programmed to flag up contactless card on the gateline

 

[spag23]

Or maybe, at a fast throughput gate, the alert was actually flagging the person in front or behind, and the staff simply collared the wrong person.