London Liverpool Street contactless

Good after noon, I’ve recently been in a situation I’ve never encountered and I’m quite stressed. I was travelling back home and a lot of my usual lines were cancelled or delayed to the point they were unreasonable. I was forced to take a different route to my destination and ended up buying a ticket from London Liverpool Street to Chelmsford (my destination) apon arriving at the station I was very lost, I followed signs and directions until I found gates leading to my platform. I asked the gentleman at the gate for help and he told me tap with your contactless and go through to board the train. I’ve never been in this situation therefore I didn’t know what to think and ended up tapping. As I went through the barrier I came across another barrier but this time I was asked for my ticket which I originally had in the first place. I scanned my ticket and went through the gates and sat in my train. I arrived home but have now thinking about it, what did I tap with my card, why did I need to, what do I do, I never tapped out.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Did you buy a ticket from London Terminals to Chelmsford before going through the barrier? Also I’m a bit confused as the usual station for trains to Chelmsford is Liverpool Street.

I often use Stratford, I had my ticket before any barriers, I purchased it via greater Angelia. But was told to tap first barrier but then asked for my ticket on the second barrier. At Stratford I scan my ticket and I’m all done.

I’m not sure how you went through two barriers before starting your journey, but regardless if you had a valid ticket for your journey it doesn’t matter.

You can apply for a refund for the contactless tap with TfL by following these instructions:

If you paid with a contactless card​

You need to register your contactless card online to apply for a refund. Register your card by creating an online account.

If you already have an account

1. Sign in to your online account
2. Select 'Journey and payment history'
3. Then 'Apply for incomplete journey refund'

If you need help applying online

1. Create an online account if you can
2. Register your contactless card online
3. Contact us on 0343 222 1234 (charges may apply)

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If you only tapped once it will appear as in the instructions, otherwise go into your journey history and select the journey you had a ticket for and an option to apply for a refund will appear.

Just explain what happened and be clear you already had a ticket. TfL are very proactive with these kind of things, if it’s the first time this has happened it may not even require approval. Make sure to keep your ticket incase they do ask for proof you held one.

This has happened earlier tonight, I haven’t been charged for anything yet. Should I wait before continuing?

Can you describe your FULL journey? where were you travelling from? how did you get to liverpool street? did you tap your card at any stations before ariving to liverpool street.

I can't see any scenario where the OP would have a reason to go through 2 sets of barriers. Three possibly if they tried to go through the Elizabeth Line or Underground entrances.

PeterC said:

I can't see any scenario where the OP would have a reason to go through 2 sets of barriers. Three possibly if they tried to go through the Elizabeth Line or Underground entrances.

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That's why I asked him how he arrived at Liverpool street...............

Notablly at stratford, everything is behind the same barriers, while at Liverpool street there are seperate barriers for the "tfl" side (inc elizibeth line IIRC) and the "NR" side.

To the OP, you should be able to view your "journey history" on the tfl site, to see what barriers it thinks you touched your card on and what journeys it thinks those touches form part of.

Crithylum said:

Also I’m a bit confused as the usual station for trains to Chelmsford is Liverpool Street.

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Liverpool Street and London Liverpool Street are the same station. Someone a long time ago decided that all main terminal stations in London should have the word London prepended to their name. Thankfully they left London Bridge as is. The Underground left their stations without London because by then you know where you are.

It would be helpful if you did list your full journey routing because at a glance I'm confused because Stratford > Chelmsford is exactly the same route as Liverpool Street > Chelmsford. There is no alternative route to Chelmsford.

The only thing I can see the OP doing is a convulted circle of Stratford to Liverpool Street (via Elizabeth line or Central line) > [barrier 1] > London Liverpool Street concourse > [barrier 2] > train Liverpool Street to Chelmsford. But that train would almost certainly have stopped at Stratford anyway.

The OP probably tapped for the tube/EL journey Stratford to Liverpool St. But I am unsure why they even decided to do this.

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PeterC said:

I can't see any scenario where the OP would have a reason to go through 2 sets of barriers. Three possibly if they tried to go through the Elizabeth Line or Underground entrances.

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I'm presuming they were already on the platform at Stratford and decided to then take an alternative route and you're already through the gateline at that stage.

MikeWh said:

Liverpool Street and London Liverpool Street are the same station. Someone a long time ago decided that all main terminal stations in London should have the word London prepended to their name. Thankfully they left London Bridge as is. The Underground left their stations without London because by then you know where you are.

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I know they are the same station. I was confused as it was mentioned as a "different route", when that is (typically) the default route.