I am interested in the revenue protection steps taken with Contactless Payment Cards. 1) When revenue inspectors are located outside the paid area (i.e. where they are scanning users who have touched out), and scan Contactless Payment Cards, how does the system determine whether to charge a maximum fare? For example, does it assume that a touch-out within 5 minutes is treated as being within the system? 2) How many Contactless Payment Cards have one 'revenue inspection failure' marker? 3) How many Contactless Payment Cards have two 'revenue inspection failure' markers? 4) How many Contactless Payment Cards have three 'revenue inspection failure' markers? 5) How many Contactless Payment Cards are blacklisted (whether due to three revenue failures, not having funds upon touch in, or any other reason)? 6) Why is a Maximum Fare, and not a Penalty Fare, charged to holders of Contactless Payment Cards which were later determined to have failed revenue inspection? 7) Does TfL have any plans to improve inspection of Contactless Payment Cards - either on trains or at stations - so that inspectors can query the live database and issue penalty fares or take further action in real-time?

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TfL Ref: 1308-1920

Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on 31 July 2019 asking for information about ‘Revenue Protection steps taken with Contactless Payment 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 that we hold the information you require. Your questions and our replies are below:

1. When revenue inspectors are located outside the paid area (i.e. where they are scanning users who have touched out), and scan Contactless Payment Cards, how does the system determine whether to charge a maximum fare? For example, does it assume that a touch-out within 5 minutes is treated as being within the system?

On checking a card, the Revenue Inspection Device (RID) takes into account different factors, for example entry/exit location, classification of journey and inspection location in order to determine the fare charged.

2) How many Contactless Payment Cards have one 'revenue inspection failure' marker?

Since 5 December 2017, 147,063 Contactless Payment Cards have had failed revenue inspection tap.

3) How many Contactless Payment Cards have two 'revenue inspection failure' markers?

Since 5 December 2017, 23,758 Contactless Payment Cards have had two failed revenue inspection taps.

4) How many Contactless Payment Cards have three 'revenue inspection failure' markers?

Since 5 December 2017, 10,859 Contactless Payment Cards have had three or more failed revenue inspection taps.

5) How many Contactless Payment Cards are blacklisted (whether due to three revenue failures, not having funds upon touch in, or any other reason)?

As of 12 August 2019 there were 2,010,643 Contactless Payment Cards that were denied travel on our network for a variety of reasons, by both the card issuer or TfL.  

6) Why is a Maximum Fare, and not a Penalty Fare, charged to holders of Contactless Payment Cards which were later determined to have failed revenue inspection?

Penalty Fares are issued subject to the relevant legislation, and the legislation cannot be complied with in this scenario.

7) Does TfL have any plans to improve inspection of Contactless Payment Cards - either on trains or at stations - so that inspectors can query the live database and issue penalty fares or take further action in real-time?

We believe that the revenue protection arrangements for contactless payment cards work well, and do not currently envisage a need to introduce such functionality.

If this is not the information you are looking for, or if you are unable to access it for any reason, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal as well as information on copyright and what to do if you would like to re-use any of the information we have disclosed.

Yours sincerely

Sara Thomas

FOI Case Management Team

General Counsel

Transport for London

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