On Jul 18, 11:34*pm, :

(Mizter T) wrote:

On Jul 18, 10:11*pm, wrote:
[snip]
What deposits? How will the enforce the excess charges?

Card pre-authorisation.

Makes sense. Another detail not (yet) on the web site, though.

The scheme hasn't launched yet, so the webpages don't cover all the
details and I don't think that's unreasonable either.

The requirement for a deposit of sorts, via card pre-authorisation,
can be inferred by the "Other charges" that feature on the website -
£300 for a non-return charge, "up to £300" for damage. And some sort
of deposit is needed (others can feel free to argue against this but
it's the only way such a scheme will work) - AIUI this is how most
other similar schemes operate in other cities.

What's not clear is whether or not a potential user will need £300 (or
£150 or whatever) in available funds in their account (via their
credit/debit card) to be able to rent a bike - i.e. those at the edge
of their overdraft or credit card credit limit, or those without an
overdraft and only a small bit of money in their account, will they be
able to access the scheme?

Also it's not clear how it'll work for those with annual membership -
will there be a card pre-authorisation requirement for them, or will
they provide adequate proof of their identity so that TfL (well,
actually Serco, the operators of the scheme) can track them down if
there's an issue such as a missing or damaged bike?

The answers to the above will of course become clear shortly.

Incidentally, FWIW I can imagine that one might only be able to apply
for membership from the date the scheme actually launches, or possibly
even later than that if the membership back-office infrastructure is
not yet fully sorted out - if there's a priority then it'll be
launching the scheme on the prescribed day (30 July) - getting the
bikes out there, making sure they pay stations work etc - and other
things might have to wait. Should this occur I can imagine the write
ups decrying the scheme as being an instant and dismal failure!