On Sat, 25 Nov 2006 11:35:05 +0000, Ken Wheatley wrote:

*Can holders using PAYG on Oyster use other modes during service
disruption?*

NO. If a holder touches in correctly, but before reaching their
destination the train service is terminated short of their intended
destination and they decide, or are advised, to seek an alternative mode
or route, they must touch out on exit and start a new pay as you go
journey. Where, for example, a PAYG customer is using a National Rail
service between two stations that accept PAYG, e.g. Walthamstow Central
and London Liverpool Street, and the train is terminated at Hackney
Downs where PAYG is NOT accepted, the customer will be charged £4 as
they have not touched out. In these circumstances they need to contact
the Oyster Helpline to have the fare for the journey they had wished to
undertake deducted from their balance and the £4 or £5 entry
charged(sic) reinstated.

Whaaaat? It would be bad enough (and if it's not illegal, ought to be)
to charge the Walthamstow Central to Hackney Downs fare. But they
actually charge you the full fare to Liverpool Street, even though
they abandoned you at Hackney Downs? If that's really the case then
it's a disgrace.

Barry can contradict me here, but I don't think the situation
described precludes you from getting your balance adjusted via the
helpline.

Did you read the guide? The Walthamstow Central to Liverpool Street
fare is charged *by the helpline*, retrospectively, in the full
knowledge that the train company had become unable provide you with
that service and had left you at Hackney Downs to arrange onward
travel at your own expense.

If you last topped up by credit card, you could legitimately do a
chargeback to reclaim the fare. Too bad if you paid cash.