Hopper fare - my tfl mistake

[Dragon321]

Hi

I recently took a bus in the Croydon area and paid using my contactless card. I was aware of the Hopper Fare and, very shortly after I got off the bus, got on a tram (well within an hour of getting on the bus). However, I did not tap in on the tram as I thought that, because the tram journey was free, I didn't need to do so.

There was a ticket inspector on the tram and (not thinking about it at the time), I presented my contactless card and he "scanned" it. I believe I saw "card processed" and a green tick and the inspector didn't say anything to me.

I'm a natural worrier and, when I got home, I read the tfl website and now understand that I should have tapped in at the start of the tram journey (but not the end). Clearly I had no intention of trying to dodge a fare (as it was free!!) and presumably the times of the journey would show that it was within the hour.

My concern is that, because I used my contactless card, tfl may well have my name and address and may send me a letter prosecuting me. Does anyone know if they can / will / are likely to do this in these circumstances? Alternatively, does the fact that the inspector didn't say anything to me evidence that it was acknowledged that I was utilising the hopper fare? In order to take action, would they have had to have said something to me and/or issued paperwork at the time or could they just use my contactless card details to persue me?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[greatkingrat]

Even if you hadn't touched in at all, you wouldn't be prosecuted, you would just be charged the maximum fare of around £8 to your contactless card.

So that is the worst that will happen. I'm not sure if the system will give you the benefit of the doubt if you have touched in on a bus and then are checked on a different mode of transport?

 

[najaB]

There was a ticket inspector on the tram and (not thinking about it at the time), I presented my contactless card and he "scanned" it. I believe I saw "card processed" and a green tick and the inspector didn't say anything to me.

The inspectors machine cannot tell if you have tapped in or not when you are using contactless, only that the card is valid and *could* have been used. As greatkingrat said, the worst that will happen is you'll get charged a maximum fare.

If this happens several (three?) times, you card will be blacklisted and you won't be able to use it any more on TfL services.

 

[AlterEgo]

The inspectors machine cannot tell if you have tapped in or not when you are using contactless, only that the card is valid and *could* have been used. As greatkingrat said, the worst that will happen is you'll get charged a maximum fare.

If this happens several (three?) times, you card will be blacklisted and you won't be able to use it any more on TfL services.

They also can't find your name and address from your bank card. To reassure the OP.

 

[gray1404]

And even if you get charged the maximum fare you could always phone TfL customer services and there is a chance they will correct it. They are very helpful with genuine mistakes I have found.

If they had have been using an Oyster card would they have been in trouble and reported /issued a PF by the RPI?

 

[MikeWh]

If a contactless card is checked on a train or tram then all the inspector will see is whether the card is a working CPC which is not blacklisted. They have no way of finding out whether you have touched in or not. There will be a revenue check recorded against that card which is used to decide what action, if any, to take later. Note that it IS different on a bus - the inspector gets a list of all cards touched into the physical bus when they board and if you haven't touched in you will get a penalty.

Now, with trains if you are found to be not touched in when the revenue check is analysed at the end of the day then you are issued with a rail maximum fare. You can dispute this if there is a good reason (eg reader faulty or not switched on), but usually it will remain. As mentioned above, if you get three failed revenue checks then the card is blacklisted and can't be used on Oyster services again.

I'm not quite sure what happens with trams. You may get a tram charge as a result of the revenue check or it may be a rail maximum fare. Do you know what has actually been debited from your account for that day? It may be worthwhile registering the card on the TfL system so you can see the journey and payment history. As long as this is the first time you've fallen foul of a revenue check there is absolutely no chance that they'll take any further action, so don't worry.
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If they had have been using an Oyster card would they have been in trouble and reported /issued a PF by the RPI?

Potentially yes. Unless there are agravating factors it would usually be a PF.