As travel card marks 15 years, bosses ‘incredibly quiet’ about credit left unused in contactless era, say Lib Dems

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Transport for London (TfL) is being urged to encourage more people to get their money back from dormant Oyster cards on the 15th anniversary of the electronic travel cards.



Caroline Pidgeon, Lib Dem member of the London Assembly, accused transport bosses of being “incredibly quiet” about highlighting the “cash mountain” from money left on cards.

The balances and deposits on Oyster cards that have not been used for at least a year stands at more than £321 million, TfL figures show.

Ms Pidgeon went on: “The total amount left on dormant Oyster cards is soaring, almost certainly in part due to the increasing number of people who have switched to contactless payment.

“TfL never stops bombarding us with advertisements and information campaigns, but highlighting this cash mountain is one issue that they remain incredibly quiet about.

“It is time TfL devoted far more time and energy telling the public how they can get their own money back.”

More than 100 million people have used Oyster cards since they were launched on 30 June 2003.