Thank you for your email received by us on 31 August 2017 asking for information about card payments.

Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 and our Information Access Policy. I can confirm that we hold some of the information you require. You asked:

As you know under the FOI Act, Local Authorities have a duty placed on them to provide “advice and assistance”. Could you advise me who would have this Risk Assessment if TFL does not hold this information. Could you also confirm if a Risk Assessment was ever performed by TFL.

In 2015 we consulted on whether passengers should be able to pay by card in all licensed taxis. The consultation identified some impacts of the proposals and you can find a copy of the consultation and subsequent report here:

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/taxis/card-payment/

https://consultations.tfl.gov.uk/taxis/card-payment/user_uploads/paying-by-cards-in-taxis-report.pdf  

We do not advise drivers to enter the passenger compartment should a problem with their card payment device or any other payment issues arise and we do not hold a risk assessment for drivers doing so. Our advice is, firstly, to ask the passenger to try their payment card again and to try it using all of the different methods available (for example, Swipe, Chip and PIN and, if applicable, contactless). If the issue persists, to ask the passenger whether they have another payment card or cash to pay for the fare, or offer to take the passenger to the nearest ATM.

Safety advice and guidance for drivers has been previously published and can be found here: http://content.tfl.gov.uk/safety-advice-for-drivers.pdf

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.

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

Yours sincerely

Jasmine Howard
FOI Case Officer
Information Governance
Transport For London