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Schoolgirl punished for scratched Oyster card

Oystercard As reported in the Evening Standard, an 11 year-old girl has had her free tube travel pass withdrawn after an inspector noted that the photo had been 'scratched'.

According to the Standard:

Elliz McKenzie, of East Dulwich, had her card confiscated by a TfL ticket inspector who noticed that her photo card, which entitles 11 to 15-year-olds to free travel to school and is worth up to £360, had been scratched and was therefore “in breach of the Oyster card behaviour code”.

The card had been accidentally damaged by the schoolgirl's baby cousin.

TfL said the card would be returned if Elliz carried out six hours of volunteer work, which could include cleaning graffiti or picking up litter. 

This is yet another massive overreaction by London Underground (having bizarrely banned an album poster earlier this week) that is set to unfairly punish a young girl. 

The 'Oyster card behaviour code' is intended to ensure good behaviour by the under-16's on buses and tube trains, rather than give free license for officious inspectors to vicitimise young travellers.

Big Brother Watch intends to contact Elliz and Mrs McKenzie and offer our support in getting this ridiculous decision overturned.

By Dylan Sharpe

Posted on February 10, 2010 by Big Brother Watch Posted in Overbearing state
  • http://bastardoldholborn.blogspot.com/ Old Holborn
  • LeChiffre

    “TfL said the card would be returned if Elliz carried out six hours of volunteer work, which could include cleaning graffiti or picking up litter.”
    Sounds like a TfL have turned themselves into magistrates. The number of public authorities who behave like judge, jury and executioner is rising day by day. The trend needs to be resisted.

  • Winston Smith

    The Declaration of Rights of 1688/9 provides:
    “That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction are illegal and void”
    This organisation is acting illegally.
    This applies to all spot fines, penalties and forfeitures, including driving licence points and theft of DNA samples, which since most or all are taken with threats of violence, constitutes robbery.
    WS

  • Hannah

    The same thing has happened to me, my 11-15 oyster card was taken off me by an inspector who accused me of scratching it. I have had the card for four years so obviously it will become worn out and faded and as I would need to get a 16+ one in a few weeks it seemed pointless to replace it. I explained my situation to the inspector and she told me to ring the number to get a replacement and said I would have no more problems. Then three weeks later I recieve a letter from TfL saying that I could no longer travel for free on buses or trams for a year. I feel like I am being treated like a criminal when I have done nothing wrong and in my opinion TfL cannot just accuse people of willingly damaging an oyster card without proof.