Follow-up to FOI-1508-1920: Please can you now send me the latest available snapshot data in relation to questions 1 to 3 below. 1. The total sum of money currently placed on Oystercards which have not been used for (a) at least 1 year; (b) at least 2 years; (c) at least 3 years; (d) at least 4 years; (e) at least 5 years; (f) at least 10 years 2. The current number of live Oystercards which have not been used for (a) at least 1 year; (b) at least 2 years; (c) at least 3 years; (d) at least 4 years; (e) at least 5 years; (f) at least 10 years 3. The current number of Oystercards with an existing PAYG balance of £50 or more which have not been used for (a) at least 1 year; (b) at least 2 years; (c) at least 3 years; (d) at least 4 years; (e) at least 5 years; (f) at least 10 years

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Our Ref:         FOI-0689-2021 

 

Thank you for your request received on 24 July 2020 asking for information about Oyster cards. 

 

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.  

 

The maximum pay as you go (PAYG) credit that can be held on an Oyster card is £90. It is important to note that PAYG credit on Oyster cards does not expire. 

 

You asked for: 

 

1. The total sum of money currently placed on Oyster cards which have not been used for (a) at least 1 year; (b) at least 2 years; (c) at least 3 years; (d) at least 4 years; (e) at least 5 years; (f) at least 10 years 

 

Years Unused	Total PAYG Balance
1	£49,153,285
2	£33,953,757
3	£30,742,442
4	£26,139,643
5-9	£69,492,426
10+	£22,684,307
Total	£232,165,860

                                                                                          

1. The current number of live Oyster cards which have not been used for (a) at least 1 year; (b) at least 2 years; (c) at least 3 years; (d) at least 4 years; (e) at least 5 years; (f) at least 10 years 

 

Years Unused	Number of Cards
1	11,025,524
2	8,987,538
3	8,640,138
4	7,704,036
5-9	22,795,937
10+	14,748,842
Total	73,902,015

                                                                                                                                        

1. The current number of Oyster cards with an existing PAYG balance of £50 or more which have not been used for (a) at least 1 year; (b) at least 2 years; (c) at least 3 years; (d) at least 4 years; (e) at least 5 years; (f) at least 10 years 

 

Years Unused	Number of Cards
1	12,634
2	7,749
3	5,934
4	5,625
5-9	18,288
10+	4,243
Total	54,473

 

Please note, as previously stated, this information is a snapshot of the data held on 11 August 2020. This information changes on a daily basis due to the ever continuous nature of Oyster card usage. Therefore, if the reports were to be run again then the figures would have altered. 

 

If this is not the information you are looking for please feel free to contact me. 

 

The impact of current circumstances on TfL’s resources means we are not able to answer FOI requests readily and we ask that you please do not make a request to us at present. 

 

Answering FOI requests will require the use of limited resources and the attention of staff who could be supporting other essential activity. In any event, please note that our response time will be affected by the current situation. 

 

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.  

 

Yours sincerely  

 

Gemma Jacob 

Senior FOI Case Officer 

FOI Case Management Team 

General Counsel 

Transport for London 

[email protected] 

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