Oyster for Disabled/Carer

[steadmane]

Good afternoon,

My wife has a Disabled Person's Railcard and recently this has been attached to her Oyster card so she get's the additional discount on these fares. I am aware that as her accompanying carer I can purchase a child fare Travelcard when I travel with her around London.

Do I just purchase the TC as a ticket and then use it as she uses her Oyster card. In other words, there would be no need for me to even own an Oyster?

Thanks.

S.

 

[transportphoto]

do i just purchase the TC as a ticket...

What do you mean by 'TC'?

TP

 

[Qwerty133]

What do you mean by 'TC'?

TP

surely he means a travelcard

 

[wintonian]

Good afternoon,

My wife has a Disabled Person's Railcard and recently this has been attached to her Oyster card so she get's the additional discount on these fares. I am aware that as her accompanying carer I can purchase a child fare Travelcard when I travel with her around London.

Do I just purchase the TC as a ticket and then use it as she uses her Oyster card. In other words, there would be no need for me to even own an Oyster?

Thanks.

S.

Yes in theory, however it seems not all staff are aware of this concession and if it fails to go through the barrier you may have issues, so I advise taking a copy of this page or this one with you.

I would prefer to take one with the TfL logo on, but but the other one prints better IIRC and provides more details.

 

[transportphoto]

surely he means a travelcard

Ah, that's too obvious.... thanks.

TP

 

[Nym]

Yes in theory, however it seems not all staff are aware of this concession and if it fails to go through the barrier you may have issues, so I advise taking a copy of this page or this one with you.

I would prefer to take one with the TfL logo on, but but the other one prints better IIRC and provides more details.

It is in the training but it's not a concession that is frequently used, so can be forgotten, any issues with gateline staff shouldn't be significant.

 

[wintonian]

It is in the training but it's not a concession that is frequently used, so can be forgotten, any issues with gateline staff shouldn't be significant.

Apart from the embarrassment factor when someone in their mid 30's gets loudly asked for ID to prove their age! Me and a friend have experienced exactly this.

 

[Nym]

Apart from the embarrassment factor when someone in their mid 30's gets loudly asked ID prove their age! Me and a friend have experienced exactly this.

That should have been a complaint, the child fare is used for numerous concessions that aren't as a result of age, any aggressive or poor behaviour on the part of a member of station gateline staff should be handled by a complaint, most gateline staff are very pleasant and tactful, being aware of the 'child' rate issues, some are not, and for the amount they get paid (more than me!) they should be being pulled up on it to provide good and correct customer service to the travelling public.

 

[wintonian]

That should have been a complaint, the child fare is used for numerous concessions that aren't as a result of age, any aggressive or poor behaviour on the part of a member of station gateline staff should be handled by a complaint, most gateline staff are very pleasant and tactful, being aware of the 'child' rate issues, some are not, and for the amount they get paid (more than me!) they should be being pulled up on it to provide good and correct customer service to the travelling public.

I didn't consider that It may be used in other ways in addition to the disabled railcard concession.

It seemed fairly reasonable response for someone who wasn't aware that adults may in some circumstances travel on a child ticket. After all without knowing about this, the possibility of fraud would appear to be the only likely and logical explanation.

However as you allude the issue is a more systemic one caused by the thoroughness of training provided or the ability/ willingness to ensure that employees have both read and understood the materials provided to them.

 

[londonbridge]

Apart from the embarrassment factor when someone in their mid 30's gets loudly asked for ID to prove their age! Me and a friend have experienced exactly this.

In which case I would refuse to provide ID and instead explain why I was using a child-rate ticket, and ask for the partner's card to be scanned to show the disabled concession.

 

[transportphoto]

In which case I would refuse to provide ID and instead explain why I was using a child-rate ticket, and ask for the partner's card to be scanned to show the disabled concession.

You do realise that the supporting document (the railcard) has to be carried with the oyster when the concession is in use? It would be easier to produce the railcard.

TP

 

[wintonian]

Just to point out as a reminder that the accompanying person using a child rate travelcard must travel with the railcard holder.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You do realise that the supporting document (the railcard) has to be carried with the oyster when the concession is in use? It would be easier to produce the railcard.

TP

and it would be an offence not to show it when requested to by an authorised person.

I believe the same principle applies here to TfL as it does on the railways.

 

[island]

In which case I would refuse to provide ID and instead explain why I was using a child-rate ticket, and ask for the partner's card to be scanned to show the disabled concession.

The disabled concession would not show on the Oyster card. All it would show is a non-specific railcard held. The Disabled Person's Railcard must be physically shown.

 

[Urban Gateline]

and for the amount they get paid (more than me!) they should be being pulled up on it to provide good and correct customer service to the travelling public.

Erm...can I correct you there...I get paid £7.98 per hour as Gateline staff, no extra for Sundays/Bank Holidays and No overtime, it's one of the worst paid jobs in the industry (or at SWT at least), Line/Train cleaners get paid more!

 

[steadmane]

Thanks for all the help. I am fully prepared to get loads of stops on the UG when I travel in this way. As a man in my 40s with a disabled wife, rest assured this was not a request as to whether I can go out on a jolly alone on a child travelcard - obviously I will be with my wife.

I guess I wanted some support documentaton that was TfL'd rather than the Disabled Railcard leaflet which will no doubt be sneered at by some on the UG.

Yes, when I said TC I meant Travelcard. I assumed that would be pretty obvious.

 

[Nym]

Erm...can I correct you there...I get paid £7.98 per hour as Gateline staff, no extra for Sundays/Bank Holidays and No overtime, it's one of the worst paid jobs in the industry (or at SWT at least), Line/Train cleaners get paid more!

I was on about TfL Gateline Staff, and at the moment, you're still on more than I am if I roll out my salary to be an hourly wage...

Although that could be to do with how hard I work and most people in the same position as me rarely go over their allotted hours..

 

[wintonian]

Thanks for all the help. I am fully prepared to get loads of stops on the UG when I travel in this way. As a man in my 40s with a disabled wife, rest assured this was not a request as to whether I can go out on a jolly alone on a child travelcard - obviously I will be with my wife.

I understand that, however people finding this by the power of search engines might be under the impression that they could go out for the day with their disabled friend and then travel home on their own using the same discounted travelcard.

 

[steadmane]

With respect, I have no issue with gateline staff and in all honesty when I travel with my wife all rail staff under and over are excellent towards her. It's the paranoia of knowing that a day spent with the child alarm going off will put burden-of-proof onto me and give me odd looks by members of the public. I could pay the extra £4 - but we all know that's not the right way to go here!

Good point wintonian. I'm preparing for the paranoia of the day already.

 

[wintonian]

With respect, I have no issue with gateline staff and in all honesty when I travel with my wife all rail staff under and over are excellent towards her. It's the paranoia of knowing that a day spent with the child alarm going off will put burden-of-proof onto me and give me odd looks by members of the public. I could pay the extra £4 - but we all know that's not the right way to go here!

Good point wintonian. I'm preparing for the paranoia of the day already.

As I say a copy of this page(from the TfL website) should solve any issues encountered, or you could write to TfL and again written confirmation of the concession.

 

[londonbridge]

The disabled concession would not show on the Oyster card. All it would show is a non-specific railcard held. The Disabled Person's Railcard must be physically shown.

Right,I understand now,thanks for the clarification.