On Jul 27, 3:18*pm, David Walters wrote:
I'm going to be travelling back from Balham late tonight when the
Northern Line station will be shut (for refurbishment?). If I get the
bus to Clapham South will I be able to claim back the bus fare that
will be charged to my Oyster?

Yes and no. I emailed the Oyster helpline about this a few months back
when Wood Green station was closed, and I took a bus from Turnpike
Lane. The reply was that they're unable to process refunds if the
closure "was planned, and advertised, prior to its commencement", but
were happy to give me my quid back anyway.

I queried why paper tickets were valid on buses on reasonable routes,
but PAYG isn't, and got this reply:

As mentioned in your email, the London Underground tube tickets that cover a
journey from Turnpike Lane to Wood green station, would allow customers to
board the bus without being charged. The reason for this is that the tickets
would validate the journey in question. Having to board a bus and then
having to pay would incur extra charges for customers who had already bought
tickets for that specific journey.

Customers without a ticket and using pay as you go would have to pay as
though they were making a normal bus journey.

All of which makes limited sense.