16+ Oyster Card not working - TFL not responding to emails/phone calls - HELP

[Sandgroper]

Hi

Sorry for long lost - losing the will to live and hope someone on MN might have any suggestions to help me out!

My DS got a new 16+ Oyster card so he could get the bus to College. We put credit on it and when he got the bus to school it wasn’t working. bus driver let him on as he showed his 11-15 free bus pass which expired on 30 September. So we emailed TFL asking what the problem was and could they fix it. Sent us an email and said it’s all working and next bus journey same issue.

then they send us out a second card, we try to log on and put credit on it. So far they have £48.00 credit of ours floating around god know where. This second card does not work at all.

more emails later and it’s still not working, they have cancelled the first card so at least I know the second is active but they say it has no credit on it.

5 phone calls later today and each call last 3 mins and cuts out. Still no closer to solving the problem.

all I want them to do is transfer my £48.00 and activate the card so we can top it up.

Is email the only way those idiots at TFL will respond? The phone calls don’t work. Any suggestions greatly appreciated as it’s been an issue since 30 SEPTEMBER.

and if you got to the end thanks so much for reading😁

@Sandgroper Hi, I would suggest sending them a DM on Twitter, more likely to receive a speedier solution.

It'd be worthwhile signing up to Twitter (incase you don't have an account)

Most large companies seem to respond more promptly via SM.

Good luck

Thanks I do have an account but rarely use it. Great idea will give it a whirl.

thanks for replying.

Pop into a tube station and ask someone there?

Has DS tried looking at the Oyster website? There definitely a way to transfer credit from one card to another.

You may need to do it in person at a train or tube counter. I'm having endless problems transferring a card for my dc who is in education but 18 and we live outside Greater London. When the new card arrives we have to take both cards to a counter in person.

If you live in London you can get him a free buss pass. Go onto TfL account to download the form and ask college to stamp and sign it.

Sorry stamp and sign it. Then take it to the post office with birth certificate. They will post it out to you.

No advice except to say good luck - when I first got a job in London I bought an annual travel card and (the details escape me) effectively TfL took my money but delayed putting it on the oyster. It was over £1000 and I was in tears at the stress of it all (on top of moving, starting a job etc). It did work itself out in the end but it was just a case of riding it out and waiting for everything to go through.

Thanks to everyone for your replies much appreciated.

twitter got us a good result,
despite DS saying “it won’t make any difference” and me not holding out high hopes! I tweeted yesterday with a very blunt message and after a bit of twoing and froing with them someone called my DH today and they sorted it out on the phone. So hopefully his card will work on the bus on Monday morning🤪