Oyster: Railcard Reduction Getting Removed

[phil1960]

In this case not strictly a National Railcard, but Safeguarded Rail Staff "Priv" reduction loaded on by a member of staff at an Underground Station. The principle is basically the same with the card details loaded on with an expiry date and number after renewing.

14 June: Reduction put on by LUL staff at a station for the Priv card valid until 30 June 2026. Witnessed it as correct and the 75% reduction carried on for each journey until..
21 June: Not spotted at the time, but the reduction failed get applied to an Underground journey and was charged full adult fare
30 June: As used a few times since 21 June, the Oyster ran out of credit sooner than expected. Did a journey history on the TVM at a station and spotted all journeys on display on the screen now charged at full fare. Staff member called over. Couldn't figure out why, but upon logging in to the screen to update reduction cards, the field saying "All Rail" was blank and the card number had been changed. Was advised to call TfL.

Called TfL and during the call, agent could see on 21 June the reduction had been removed at a station where a journey was started. And at no point until 30 June had a member of staff handled the card. TfL are going to credit back the difference for the overcharges between 21 and 30 June.

However I'm curious to know if this has ever happened to say someone using a National Railcard in date and suddenly the reduction is removed?

Phil

 

[bb21]

I understand that TfL are actively checking Priv entitlements and removing them remotely if the Photocard number is in the wrong format, so the next time the card is touched the change is remotely applied.

Perhaps when staff put the discount on originally they didn't update the Oyster with the correct Photocard number? The number you need is the one printed on your Staff Travel Card and obviously changes every year.

 

[phil1960]

I understand that TfL are actively checking Priv entitlements and removing them remotely if the Photocard number is in the wrong format, so the next time the card is touched the change is remotely applied.

Perhaps when staff put the discount on originally they didn't update the Oyster with the correct Photocard number? The number you need is the one printed on your Staff Travel Card and obviously changes every year.

The STC number in the format of LLNNNNNN was correctly applied. Nowadays retired staff like myself (and any spouse/partner as in this case) don't need to carry a photocard on them.

I'm all in favour of spot checks being made for reductions like Priv etc. However I'd rather the gate rejected it with "Seek assistance" and it then be checked by a member of staff at a gateline showing the supporting documentation. Just remotely removing the reduction, charging full price and going through what I've detailed in my original post really isn't the right way to go about it IMO.

 

[Adam Williams]

I understand that TfL are actively checking Priv entitlements and removing them remotely

Oh, so they can remove discount entitlements remotely?

Are we supposed to believe that they couldn't be added remotely, either, to do away with the current ridiculous system of getting discounts set on Oyster?

 

[bb21]

Oh, so they can remove discount entitlements remotely?

Are we supposed to believe that they couldn't be added remotely, either, to do away with the current ridiculous system of getting discounts set on Oyster?

Pass.

I definitely read a couple of years ago now in a TRU that they now have the ability to remove discounts remotely.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 1 Jul 2025 ==

The STC number in the format of LLNNNNNN was correctly applied. Nowadays retired staff like myself (and any spouse/partner as in this case) don't need to carry a photocard on them.

I'm all in favour of spot checks being made for reductions like Priv etc. However I'd rather the gate rejected it with "Seek assistance" and it then be checked by a member of staff at a gateline showing the supporting documentation. Just remotely removing the reduction, charging full price and going through what I've detailed in my original post really isn't the right way to go about it IMO.

Yes that is what I meant by the Photocard (which don't actually have a photo on them). If we had moved on with times, everything would have been done electronically now rather than in person at the ticket machine, which is a bit antiquated.