On 7 Jan 2004, umpston wrote:

Tom Anderson wrote in message ...

On 7 Jan 2004, Steph Davies wrote:

an oyster which tracks your usage [...] you just travel, and get
charged a monthly (or whatever) direct debit.

Also, you might find the problem was quite computationally complex

Phone and utility companies have always billed their customers in this
way,

But they have much simpler ways of charging - standing charge plus x pence
per unit, perhaps with the rate falling if you use more. Travel tickets
are much more complicated. I suppose the right thing to do would be to
reform the fare structure to make it all work (eg a single is 2 pounds or
whatever, but if you buy lots in a month, it's cheaper; you'd have to work
it out so current travelcard holders didn't get charged huge amounts).

often with built-in discounts or price caps calculated at the end of the
charging period. Some also offer a discount on the NEXT bill if you pay
promptly.

All true, but still all much simpler than fares.

I would prefer a 'post-pay' credit account system of this type although
I think it might well have to be direct-debit only.

Really? Could it not be done like utility bills (ie you can pay by cheque
or at the post office if you like)?

Maybe one day (reliable vehicle detection technology permitting) you
could pay your congestion charges and Oyster charges on the same TfL
monthly 'travel' bill.

I like it! They could even just bung it on your council tax and have one
big London bill.

Anyone failing to pay their direct debit would simply have their card
cancelled until they cleared the debt - and lose any accrued discounts.

Ah, but what's to stop them getting another card? You'd need a new bank
account (else TfL could tell it was the same person), but you could still
do it. At least the utility companies have a wire or pipe going into your
house that they can actually turn off.

Tom

--
Destroy - kill all hippies.