Switching from Oyster to Freedom Pass

[bazink]

I hope this is in the right place. I recently turned 60. I live in the London Borough of Croydon and currently have an Oyster card. The card does not include a photo of me. Now I want to apply for a Freedom Pass. For now, I just want to travel within Greater London.

I am confused about one or two things. Do I hang onto the Oyster card, in case I ever want to travel during peak times, when I must pay? Or can the Freedom Pass handle all situations, by checking the time when I sign in or out?

Also, I've read on this forum about one member who sometimes presents his Freedom Pass to a member of staff at the ticket office, rather than using a TVM. I doubt the differences he mentioned (different routes to a particular destination) would ever be of concern to me, though. So, can a Freedom Pass be used in a TVM, and will it provide tickets, if applicable, and not require any money? Can money in fact be withdrawn from a Freedom Pass? With my Oyster card, I just tap in or out and never use a TVM or a ticket office.

Finally, if I do not need an Oyster card after receiving a Freedom Pass, what do I do with the card, and can I easily return any Oyster deposit to my bank account?

 

[Kieron Kirk]

I am confused about one or two things. Do I hang onto the Oyster card, in case I ever want to travel during peak times, when I must pay?

Having had a Freedom pass since I passed 60, the answer is yes. A Freedom pass cannot be used before 09.30 Monday to Friday, but can be used weekends and Bank Holidays.

So, can a Freedom Pass be used in a TVM, and will it provide tickets, if applicable, and not require any money? Can money in fact be withdrawn from a Freedom Pass? With my Oyster card, I just tap in or out and never use a TVM or a ticket office.

No ticket is issued or needed when using a Freedom Pass, just "tap in or out" as you do with an Oyster Card. My last train journey several days ago, I failed to "tap in" at Chessington South but I was able to "tap out" at Waterloo going through the barrier that was not marked "exit".

Kieron.

 

[causton]

The Freedom Pass is almost entirely separate from the Oyster system, in the way that you cannot top it up or add credit, so you do not need to take it to a TVM. You just touch in and out* and it is not worth any money, so not sure about the bit about withdrawing money from it.
If you travel outside of London you may be able to get a cheaper ticket from the edge of the London Zones so that might be what your friend means. For example if you travelled from London to Woking you would only need to pay from the edge of London.
However if you are travelling in London only, and at the permitted times, you do not need to go anywhere near a TVM or ticket office - just touch in at the barriers or validator exactly as you have been doing with your Oyster card and go!

If you need to travel at peak times when the Freedom Pass is not valid you may want to keep the Oyster card. If not, if you have less than £10 credit you can instantly get a cash refund at any Underground station at the ticket machine. Just touch your Oyster card on the machine and there will be an option to refund the card.

*You do not strictly need to touch in and out as it is treated like a season ticket, for example if you went from Waterloo to Woking you would not be able to touch out at Woking after touching in at Waterloo. The system will not penalise you for this.

 

[plcd1]

I hope this is in the right place. I recently turned 60. I live in the London Borough of Croydon and currently have an Oyster card. The card does not include a photo of me. Now I want to apply for a Freedom Pass. For now, I just want to travel within Greater London.

I am confused about one or two things. Do I hang onto the Oyster card, in case I ever want to travel during peak times, when I must pay? Or can the Freedom Pass handle all situations, by checking the time when I sign in or out?

Also, I've read on this forum about one member who sometimes presents his Freedom Pass to a member of staff at the ticket office, rather than using a TVM. I doubt the differences he mentioned (different routes to a particular destination) would ever be of concern to me, though. So, can a Freedom Pass be used in a TVM, and will it provide tickets, if applicable, and not require any money? Can money in fact be withdrawn from a Freedom Pass? With my Oyster card, I just tap in or out and never use a TVM or a ticket office.

Finally, if I do not need an Oyster card after receiving a Freedom Pass, what do I do with the card, and can I easily return any Oyster deposit to my bank account?

Firstly you're applying for a 60+ Pass. Although similar to a Freedom Pass it does NOT have validity on English local bus services outside London which a Freedom Pass does. You'll need to apply for a Freedom Pass at whatever age you can entitlement to one.

Secondly a 60+ Pass is defined as a separate ticket type within the ticketing system. Although you touch in and out as with a normal Oyster Card a 60+ Pass (or Freedom Pass and TfL staff passes) do NOT have the ability to hold any form of cash balance nor can you add a ticket like a Travelcard. Therefore you can't PAYG with it. As you live in South London you do not have AM peak validity on National Rail services run by Southern / Thameslink / South Eastern. Therefore it would make sense for you to keep your Oyster Card to use in these circumstances. It is worth checking the detail on the 60+ Pass on the TfL website https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/adult-discounts-and-concessions/60-london-oyster?intcmp=1763 as it explains the detail of what rail services the pass is valid on and when. The pass is valid on TfL run services 24 hours a day.

There is no point in trying use the 60+ Pass at a TVM expect perhaps to check journey history. You can add tickets to it and, as I said above, there's no cash held on it so you cannot use it to buy tickets. If you want to travel beyond Greater London's boundary then you will need an extension ticket for this. You may need to show the pass at a ticket office if buying your extension ticket there.

Hope that helps. I have a form of TfL staff pass so I have a similar issue to you with it working on most services but not all. I have a separate Oyster card to cater for those services not covered by my pass.

 

[JBuchananGB]

The eligibility date for a Freedom Pass is the state pension eligibility date for a woman with the applicant's date of birth. For example, DoB June 1954, Freedom Pass in 2020. If the OP has just turned 60, e.g DoB 30 11 1957, Freedom Pass eligibility 30 11 2023.

 

[IanD]

The eligibility date for a Freedom Pass is the state pension eligibility date for a woman with the applicant's date of birth. For example, DoB June 1954, Freedom Pass in 2020. If the OP has just turned 60, e.g DoB 30 11 1957, Freedom Pass eligibility 30 11 2023.

Although as plcd1 stated, the op should be applying for the 60+ card which (as the name suggests) is available for use from the day you turn 60 regardless of the current state pension age criteria.

 

[Samuel88]

Having had a Freedom pass since I passed 60, the answer is yes. A Freedom pass cannot be used before 09.30 Monday to Friday, but can be used weekends and Bank Holidays.



No ticket is issued or needed when using a Freedom Pass, just "tap in or out" as you do with an Oyster Card. My last train journey several days ago, I failed to "tap in" at Chessington South but I was able to "tap out" at Waterloo going through the barrier that was not marked "exit".

Kieron.

Actually you can use a freedom pass at all times on all TfL services, it's just national rail services where you're restricted to after 9:30 Mon-Fri.

 

[bazink]

First off, thank you for all your responses.

Secondly, you are right, plcd1:

Firstly you're applying for a 60+ Pass.

Thank you! My next door neighbour told me I was eligible for a Freedom Pass, but he evidently was not quite right. He is a 62-year-old builder and always drives. However, if he hadn't mentioned it, I wouldn't have found out about the 60+ Oyster card. For now I'll look again at your comments and post any remarks in a while.