Request ID: FOI-2750-2324 Date published: 24 November 2023
You asked
Dear Transport for London,
What are the card processing fees associated with contactless payments that TfL pays as a merchant? In particular, does it cost TfL more to charge a credit card as opposed to a debit card, and do payments going via Apple/Google pay cost extra?
Thank you
We answered
TfL Ref: FOI-2750-2324
Thank you for your request received by Transport for London (TfL) on1 November 2023 asking for information about contactless payments.
Your request has been considered in accordance with the requirements of the Freedom of Information (FOI) Act and our information access policy. I can confirm we do hold the information you require.
However, in accordance with the FOI Act, we are not obliged to supply you with information on the cost of processing card payments as this information is subject to a statutory exemption to the right of access to information under section 43(2). In this instance the section 43(2) exemption has been applied as disclosure of the information you have requested would, or would be likely to prejudice our commercial interests, as well as those of our Merchant Acquirers. The fees we pay form part of our negotiated supplier contracts with our Merchant Acquirers. Prejudice would be likely to occur as disclosure of the fees we pay could be used by suppliers who provide similar services to our Merchant Acquirers. This disclosure could hinder the ability of our Merchant Acquirers to competitively tender for similar contracts, and hinder TfL’s ability to negotiate the best value for money for similar services in the future.
The use of this exception is subject to an assessment of the public interest in relation to the disclosure of the information concerned. TfL recognises the need for openness and transparency by public authorities but in this instance the public interest in ensuring that TfL is able to obtain the best value for public money outweighs the general public interest in increasing transparency of our processes.
Please see the attached information sheet for details of your right to appeal.
Yours sincerely,
Mary Abidakun FOI Case Officer FOI Case Management Team General Counsel Transport for London
