"Dave Arquati" wrote in message
...
TKD wrote:
So, what happens if the Bus card-reader is broken, and the driver
waves you on - happens a couple of times per month on the routes that
I use (308, 678). Take it I should insist on paying cash?

You can add the 8, 277 & 15 to that list and countless more probably.

The official TfL position is that you should pay the cash fare and
request
a refund of the price difference from them...

Unless you were capped that day in which case you would be entitled to
a full refund.

Or if that journey was the last one that day and took you past a cap then
you would get a refund of any extra you paid in total beyond the cap.

Not a very elegant solution.

Surely since they advertise that Oyster Prepay is an accepted form of
payment, and given that you have enough credit to pay, it's totally their
problem...?

I was having a discussion along these lines with a friend yesterday, who
said that he was on a bus recently where someone got on and tried to pay
for a cash fare - with a £50 note. Unsurprisingly the driver wouldn't
accept it. Apparently the whole bus had to wait for a few minutes whilst
they wrangled about it (and I think the driver just gave up after a
while).

Do TfL advertise appropriate means to pay? (e.g. not £50?)

The legal tender rules apply (as you acquire the debt when
you insist on making the journey).

As do the rules about giving change, which are that they don't
have to.

Insist on paying with a 50 pound note or get a free ride
and you are (legally) not going to win. Technically, by insisting
on change, you have not offered to pay.

A broken Oyster machine is a completely different (untested)
problem.

tim