Community service for teen after dad puts travel pass in washing machine

Feb 18 2010 By David Baker, Harrow Observer

A 15-YEAR-OLD boy must carry out community service to get his free travel pass back - because his dad accidentally put it in the wash.

Hapless Daniel Burton has been ordered to carry out six hours of voluntary work to earn back his Oyster Zip card because his photograph is damaged.

And to add insult to injury, the teenager is unable to get to the voluntary work - because his right to free public transport has been axed.

Single father-of-two Bob Burton washed his son's trousers not knowing that the Oyster zip card had been left in the pocket.

A bus inspector later confiscated the pass because the picture was deemed invalid.

Daniel, who lives in Bishop Ken Road, Harrow Weald, was told he must to go to Hounslow, Hanwell or Barnet to 'earn back' a replacement card.

Mr Burton has written to Transport for London (TfL) to complain about the 'punishment' and even offered to carry out the community work himself.

He said: "I completely under-stand that they have to look out for people misusing the free travel and I am more than happy to pay a renewal fee because clearly washing it was my mistake.

"I have even offered to carry out the voluntary work myself but I have been banging my head against a brick wall.

"He is being treated like a criminal because of a small mistake and, ridiculously, he is being told to travel all over London for this work and I can't afford to send him.

"As a single parent of two, it is difficult for me to fork out money for travel and this whole fiasco is compromising his schooling. He is at Nower Hill High School, in Pinner, and needs to take two buses there and back but I can't afford to pay peak prices, so he is having to get in after nine. It's not on."

Despite the pass having Daniel's name, date of birth and unique Oyster code on it, TfL bosses are cracking down on abuse of the free travel scheme.

A TfL spokeswoman said: "The Zip scheme has played a big part in reducing anti-social behaviour on buses.

"Photocards are key to this and allow our staff to confirm that the person travelling for free is authorised to do so, as well as identifying people who are misbehaving, and it's therefore vital that the photo on each card is clearly visible."

But Mr Burton added: "If he was caught with someone else's card, or someone was found with his card, or he was too old for free travel, I would understand, but this was a basic mistake."

TfL confirmed that Mr Burton was in the second stage of an appeal which, if it goes to the third stage, will be reviewed by an independent board.

A spokesman said: "We do not take the decision to withdraw free travel lightly. However, damaging or defacing an Oyster photocard breaches the behaviour code.

"Daniel continued to use his photocard, which was damaged, and this is why his concession was withdrawn."