TfL unhelpful line

[Roland Perry]

As a spin-off from my recent mystery shopping of wearables on TfL, I
noticed that there were two long-expired credit cards linked to my TfL
account, which it wouldn't let me remove. (They say they are removed
automatically, but after several years I begin to think that's wishful
thinking on their part).

Got this reply:

"Thank you for your web form of 23 June about incorrect fare charge.

You have access to removing and adding your contactless payment card by
logging in to you TFL account.

Thanks again for contacting us. If there is anything else we can help
you with, please reply to this email."

(a) The web form wasn't about an incorrect charge
(b) No! It won't let me remove the cards.

At this point I think I'm just going to give up.

[eastender]

I've just realised there is about £140 on at least six Oyster card accounts that we haven't used for some time. Some are linked to expired cards.
I take it I have to call to shut the accounts and recover the cash and it can't be done online.

[MikeS]

I've just realised there is about £140 on at least six Oyster card accounts that we haven't used for some time. Some are linked to expired cards.
I take it I have to call to shut the accounts and recover the cash and it can't be done online.

If you have a TfL online account it should be easy. I did it in 2017
when I decided to use contactless credit cards instead of Oyster (I
broke the original card). The refund including the deposit can be as
credit to your TfL account or, in my case, payment to a bank account.

[Peter Able]

Post by MikeS

I've just realised there is about £140 on at least six Oyster card
accounts that we haven't used for some time. Some are linked to
expired cards.
I take it I have to call to shut the accounts and recover the cash and
it can't be done online.

If you have a TfL online account it should be easy. I did it in 2017
when I decided to use contactless credit cards instead of Oyster (I
broke the original card). The refund including the deposit can be as
credit to your TfL account or, in my case, payment to a bank account.

In 2023 it took months of back and forth to get my late wife's balance
returned.

Proofs of this, proofs of that - and all for what turned out to be £4.

PA

[MikeS]

Post by Peter Able

Post by MikeS

I've just realised there is about £140 on at least six Oyster card
accounts that we haven't used for some time. Some are linked to
expired cards.
I take it I have to call to shut the accounts and recover the cash
and it can't be done online.

If you have a TfL online account it should be easy. I did it in 2017
when I decided to use contactless credit cards instead of Oyster (I
broke the original card). The refund including the deposit can be as
credit to your TfL account or, in my case, payment to a bank account.

In 2023 it took months of back and forth to get my late wife's balance
returned.
Proofs of this, proofs of that - and all for what turned out to be £4.
PA

That is completely different circumstances and typical of most
organisations including banks etc. Ask any executor.

[Roland Perry]

Post by MikeS

Post by Peter Able
In 2023 it took months of back and forth to get my late wife's
balance returned.
Proofs of this, proofs of that - and all for what turned out to be £4.
PA

That is completely different circumstances and typical of most
organisations including banks etc. Ask any executor.

I'm still trying to sort out my multi-car insurances which were in my
late wife's name and coming up for renewal this week. Admiral could not
have been less helpful, it's almost like their mission statement says
"screw the survivors".

[Ken]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by MikeS

Post by Peter Able
In 2023 it took months of back and forth to get my late wife's
balance returned.
Proofs of this, proofs of that - and all for what turned out to be £4.
PA

That is completely different circumstances and typical of most
organisations including banks etc. Ask any executor.

I'm still trying to sort out my multi-car insurances which were in my
late wife's name and coming up for renewal this week. Admiral could not
have been less helpful, it's almost like their mission statement says
"screw the survivors".

I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

But Government at all levels was great. NatWest was exemplary. Most
utilities very helpful (but some issued refund cheques that the phone
banking apps have trouble with). But the difficulty caused by that
small proportion of organisations doesn't half make life difficult. I
doubt that the attitude is screw the survivors. They're just poorly
run.

[M***@dastardlyhq.com]

On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:15:07 +0100

Post by Ken
I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

Post by Ken
small proportion of organisations doesn't half make life difficult. I
doubt that the attitude is screw the survivors. They're just poorly
run.

Poorly run except for the Sales Dept which always has first class service
that treats you like a royal. Of course once you've bought something its a
different story.

[Roland Perry]

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com

Post by Ken
I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

Which solicitor is that? I've come to the conclusion that having spent
two lots of ~3k with solicitors to administer my late mother's estate
that it's money down the toilet, for all the good it does.

Especially the first lot, anything the slightest bit difficult and they
parked it, before giving up. The biggest line item they gave up on
collecting was in the region of £50k.

I'd get someone to sue them for negligence, but apparently it's hard to
find solicitors willing to help sue other solicitors.

[M***@dastardlyhq.com]

On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:12:24 +0100

Post by Roland Perry

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com

Post by Ken
I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

Which solicitor is that? I've come to the conclusion that having spent
two lots of ~3k with solicitors to administer my late mother's estate
that it's money down the toilet, for all the good it does.

You wouldn't be saying that if HMRC came knocking on your door later.
My mums estate was complex including a house so no way did I have the legal
knowledge to sort everything out and neither did the rest of the family.

Post by Roland Perry
I'd get someone to sue them for negligence, but apparently it's hard to
find solicitors willing to help sue other solicitors.

IME its hard to find a solicitor to do much of anything these days unless
it earns them a fortune. Last time I needed one to witness a document signing
it took forever to find one who could be arsed. You'd think I was asking them
to do it for free.

[Ken]

On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:54:40 -0000 (UTC), ***@dastardlyhq.com
wrote:

.

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com

Post by Roland Perry

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

Which solicitor is that? I've come to the conclusion that having spent
two lots of ~3k with solicitors to administer my late mother's estate
that it's money down the toilet, for all the good it does.

You wouldn't be saying that if HMRC came knocking on your door later.
My mums estate was complex including a house so no way did I have the legal
knowledge to sort everything out and neither did the rest of the family.

We had a house, too. I bought a couple of books on probate and, as I
said, took advice from a solicitor. And I'm happy using a computer and
keeping accounts, which not everybody is. I can fully understand your
position, though, and had I been working it would not have been
possible.

[Roland Perry]

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:12:24 +0100

Post by Roland Perry

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com

Post by Ken
I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

Which solicitor is that? I've come to the conclusion that having spent
two lots of ~3k with solicitors to administer my late mother's estate
that it's money down the toilet, for all the good it does.

You wouldn't be saying that if HMRC came knocking on your door later.
My mums estate was complex including a house so no way did I have the legal
knowledge to sort everything out and neither did the rest of the family.

The complicated thing about selling estate houses is handling the CGT
(the actual sale is just as easy as any other using a conveyancer). But
rather than hand over to someone to do the grunt work at £250/hr, just
buy one hour's time to be told what to do.

[Roland Perry]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:12:24 +0100

Post by Roland Perry

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com

Post by Ken
I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

Which solicitor is that? I've come to the conclusion that having spent
two lots of ~3k with solicitors to administer my late mother's estate
that it's money down the toilet, for all the good it does.

You wouldn't be saying that if HMRC came knocking on your door later.
My mums estate was complex including a house so no way did I have the legal
knowledge to sort everything out and neither did the rest of the family.

The complicated thing about selling estate houses is handling the CGT

Sorry, IHT (or CGT if it's a second home).

Post by Roland Perry
(the actual sale is just as easy as any other using a conveyancer). But
rather than hand over to someone to do the grunt work at £250/hr, just
buy one hour's time to be told what to do.

[Ken]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Roland Perry

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 11:12:24 +0100

Post by Roland Perry

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com

Post by Ken
I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

Which solicitor is that? I've come to the conclusion that having spent
two lots of ~3k with solicitors to administer my late mother's estate
that it's money down the toilet, for all the good it does.

You wouldn't be saying that if HMRC came knocking on your door later.
My mums estate was complex including a house so no way did I have the legal
knowledge to sort everything out and neither did the rest of the family.

The complicated thing about selling estate houses is handling the CGT

Sorry, IHT (or CGT if it's a second home).

Not a problem for us as the property went to direct descendents of my
mother, we had all of my father's allowances intact and the estate was
under a million.

IHT is an unnecessary worry for most people. Only about 4% of estates
pay any.

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Roland Perry
(the actual sale is just as easy as any other using a conveyancer). But
rather than hand over to someone to do the grunt work at £250/hr, just
buy one hour's time to be told what to do.

[Ken]

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:15:07 +0100

Post by Ken
I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

I handled probate myself as an executor. It isn't that hard, just
time-consuming. But I did pay for an hour's consultation with a
probate solicitor and her time was worth its weight in gold.

I know a family struggling with probate after a much-publicised sudden
death of their mother. They expect to pay £10k to the probate
solicitors.

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com

Post by Ken
small proportion of organisations doesn't half make life difficult. I
doubt that the attitude is screw the survivors. They're just poorly
run.

Poorly run except for the Sales Dept which always has first class service
that treats you like a royal. Of course once you've bought something its a
different story.

Some can't even get the sales right.

[M***@dastardlyhq.com]

On Thu, 11 Jul 2024 07:34:39 +0100

Post by Ken

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:15:07 +0100

Post by Ken
I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

I handled probate myself as an executor. It isn't that hard, just
time-consuming. But I did pay for an hour's consultation with a
probate solicitor and her time was worth its weight in gold.
I know a family struggling with probate after a much-publicised sudden
death of their mother. They expect to pay £10k to the probate
solicitors.

10k?! Who was she, a member of the royal family? IIRC mine was 3 grand-ish
albeit over 10 years ago now.

Post by Ken

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
Poorly run except for the Sales Dept which always has first class service
that treats you like a royal. Of course once you've bought something its a
different story.

Some can't even get the sales right.

Those companies tend to go out of business pretty quickly though.

[Ken]

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
On Thu, 11 Jul 2024 07:34:39 +0100

Post by Ken

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
On Wed, 10 Jul 2024 10:15:07 +0100

Post by Ken
I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.

The solictor should have dealt with that sort of thing, not you.

I handled probate myself as an executor. It isn't that hard, just
time-consuming. But I did pay for an hour's consultation with a
probate solicitor and her time was worth its weight in gold.
I know a family struggling with probate after a much-publicised sudden
death of their mother. They expect to pay £10k to the probate
solicitors.

10k?! Who was she, a member of the royal family? IIRC mine was 3 grand-ish
albeit over 10 years ago now.

No, but she was killed by a royal family protection officer. You will
have heard about it. Don't know why the estate is so complicated.

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com

Post by Ken

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
Poorly run except for the Sales Dept which always has first class service
that treats you like a royal. Of course once you've bought something its a
different story.

Some can't even get the sales right.

Those companies tend to go out of business pretty quickly though.

[M***@dastardlyhq.com]

On Fri, 12 Jul 2024 10:17:48 +0100

Post by Ken

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
10k?! Who was she, a member of the royal family? IIRC mine was 3 grand-ish
albeit over 10 years ago now.

No, but she was killed by a royal family protection officer. You will
have heard about it. Don't know why the estate is so complicated.

Nasty. I may have heard about it but certainly don't remember it.

[Graeme Wall]

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
On Fri, 12 Jul 2024 10:17:48 +0100

Post by Ken

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
10k?! Who was she, a member of the royal family? IIRC mine was 3 grand-ish
albeit over 10 years ago now.

No, but she was killed by a royal family protection officer. You will
have heard about it. Don't know why the estate is so complicated.

Nasty. I may have heard about it but certainly don't remember it.

The one knocked down by a car driven by an RFPO?

[Ken]

On Fri, 12 Jul 2024 12:40:38 +0100, Graeme Wall

Post by Graeme Wall

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
On Fri, 12 Jul 2024 10:17:48 +0100

Post by Ken

Post by M***@dastardlyhq.com
10k?! Who was she, a member of the royal family? IIRC mine was 3 grand-ish
albeit over 10 years ago now.

No, but she was killed by a royal family protection officer. You will
have heard about it. Don't know why the estate is so complicated.

Nasty. I may have heard about it but certainly don't remember it.

The one knocked down by a car driven by an RFPO?

Yes, but it was a motorcycle.

[Roland Perry]

Post by Ken

Post by Roland Perry

Post by MikeS

Post by Peter Able
In 2023 it took months of back and forth to get my late wife's
balance returned.
Proofs of this, proofs of that - and all for what turned out to be £4.
PA

That is completely different circumstances and typical of most
organisations including banks etc. Ask any executor.

I'm still trying to sort out my multi-car insurances which were in my
late wife's name and coming up for renewal this week. Admiral could not
have been less helpful, it's almost like their mission statement says
"screw the survivors".

I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.
But Government at all levels was great. NatWest was exemplary. Most
utilities very helpful (but some issued refund cheques that the phone
banking apps have trouble with). But the difficulty caused by that
small proportion of organisations doesn't half make life difficult. I
doubt that the attitude is screw the survivors. They're just poorly
run.

Cockup or conspiracy? My wife's dog has been re-homed and the pet
insurance company is refusing to roll over the policy to the new
'owner'.

What this means is they want a new policy taken out, and the dog is now
late middle aged, and while they lifetime guarantee premiums if you take
out a policy when they are younger, we have this "reset button" to argue
about. And at least a doubling of premiums.

[Ken]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Ken
But Government at all levels was great. NatWest was exemplary. Most
utilities very helpful (but some issued refund cheques that the phone
banking apps have trouble with). But the difficulty caused by that
small proportion of organisations doesn't half make life difficult. I
doubt that the attitude is screw the survivors. They're just poorly
run.

Cockup or conspiracy? My wife's dog has been re-homed and the pet
insurance company is refusing to roll over the policy to the new
'owner'.

Normally cockup.

Post by Roland Perry
What this means is they want a new policy taken out, and the dog is now
late middle aged, and while they lifetime guarantee premiums if you take
out a policy when they are younger, we have this "reset button" to argue
about. And at least a doubling of premiums.

Pet insurance is as bad as it gets. We made a huge mistake when
choosing a provider, as the reviews now show (but didn't then).

[Roland Perry]

Post by Ken
Pet insurance is as bad as it gets. We made a huge mistake when
choosing a provider, as the reviews now show (but didn't then).

What I found remarkable was our local vet, who charged a supplement if
you were paying via an insurer. I never did find out if having filled
out the extensive paperwork (which was their excuse) they also claimed
the supplement from the insurer.

[Marland]

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Ken

Post by Roland Perry

Post by MikeS

Post by Peter Able
In 2023 it took months of back and forth to get my late wife's
balance returned.
Proofs of this, proofs of that - and all for what turned out to be £4.
PA

That is completely different circumstances and typical of most
organisations including banks etc. Ask any executor.

I'm still trying to sort out my multi-car insurances which were in my
late wife's name and coming up for renewal this week. Admiral could not
have been less helpful, it's almost like their mission statement says
"screw the survivors".

I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.
But Government at all levels was great. NatWest was exemplary. Most
utilities very helpful (but some issued refund cheques that the phone
banking apps have trouble with). But the difficulty caused by that
small proportion of organisations doesn't half make life difficult. I
doubt that the attitude is screw the survivors. They're just poorly
run.

Cockup or conspiracy? My wife's dog has been re-homed and the pet
insurance company is refusing to roll over the policy to the new
'owner'.
What this means is they want a new policy taken out, and the dog is now
late middle aged, and while they lifetime guarantee premiums if you take
out a policy when they are younger, we have this "reset button" to argue
about. And at least a doubling of premiums.

Is such insurance purely based on what medical needs the animal may require
or do other factors influence the premiums? Eg if you took out an
Insurance when the animal lived in a home in a good area with little
traffic and was then passed to another owner who lived an area with open
plan front gardens next to a busy rat run.
While the first owner could equally move to such an area it probably
doesn’t happen that often whereas rehoming pets is quite frequent. Your
rehoming I am guessing was done privately to someone you were happy with
but that isn’t always the case and a middle aged dog that hasn’t been a pet
that has been loved since it was a bright young thing may not get the
attention and care that it should get and just at the point complex medical
needs start to occur.
I can well see why insurance would take an opportunity to reassess any
risk.

GH

[Roland Perry]

Post by Marland

Post by Roland Perry

Post by Ken

Post by Roland Perry

Post by MikeS

Post by Peter Able
In 2023 it took months of back and forth to get my late wife's
balance returned.
Proofs of this, proofs of that - and all for what turned out to be £4.
PA

That is completely different circumstances and typical of most
organisations including banks etc. Ask any executor.

I'm still trying to sort out my multi-car insurances which were in my
late wife's name and coming up for renewal this week. Admiral could not
have been less helpful, it's almost like their mission statement says
"screw the survivors".

I sympathize. I had to deal with my mother's estate last year. I found
that 90% of organisations, once you mention bereavement, are very
good. The remainder are woeful. I gave up on a registrar of a small
shareholding due to the unhelpful and rude attitude of the call
handler. The estate will have £50 less to disburse than it should.
But Government at all levels was great. NatWest was exemplary. Most
utilities very helpful (but some issued refund cheques that the phone
banking apps have trouble with). But the difficulty caused by that
small proportion of organisations doesn't half make life difficult. I
doubt that the attitude is screw the survivors. They're just poorly
run.

Cockup or conspiracy? My wife's dog has been re-homed and the pet
insurance company is refusing to roll over the policy to the new
'owner'.
What this means is they want a new policy taken out, and the dog is now
late middle aged, and while they lifetime guarantee premiums if you take
out a policy when they are younger, we have this "reset button" to argue
about. And at least a doubling of premiums.

Is such insurance purely based on what medical needs the animal may require
or do other factors influence the premiums?

It's entirely based on age - like people the older they get the more
medical attention is required.

[Ken]

On Sun, 07 Jul 24 16:47:29 GMT, eastender

I've just realised there is about £140 on at least six Oyster card accounts that we haven't used for some time. Some are linked to expired cards.
I take it I have to call to shut the accounts and recover the cash and it can't be done online.

I had a similar situation a couple of years ago. If you have an online
account you can get your refunds there.
The only thing I can't sort out is the V1 Oyster that has a 50p
negative balance. I guess I'll just have to live with it.

[eastender]

Post by Ken
On Sun, 07 Jul 24 16:47:29 GMT, eastender

Post by eastender
I've just realised there is about £140 on at least six Oyster card accounts that we haven't used for some time. Some are linked to expired cards.
I take it I have to call to shut the accounts and recover the cash and it can't be done online.

I had a similar situation a couple of years ago. If you have an online
account you can get your refunds there.
The only thing I can't sort out is the V1 Oyster that has a 50p
negative balance. I guess I'll just have to live with it.

I can't get online refunds on five cards as they are/were linked to photocards, and the photocard login(s) now don't work. TFL won't deal with five over the phone and have told me to submit an enquiry using their online form detailing the cards and asking for refunds.
Tedious.

[M***@dastardlyhq.com]

On Tue, 09 Jul 24 11:52:20 GMT

Post by eastender

Post by Ken
On Sun, 07 Jul 24 16:47:29 GMT, eastender

Post by eastender
I've just realised there is about £140 on at least six Oyster card

accounts that we haven't used for some time. Some are linked to expired cards.

Post by Ken

Post by eastender
I take it I have to call to shut the accounts and recover the cash and it

can't be done online.

Post by Ken
I had a similar situation a couple of years ago. If you have an online
account you can get your refunds there.
The only thing I can't sort out is the V1 Oyster that has a 50p
negative balance. I guess I'll just have to live with it.

I can't get online refunds on five cards as they are/were linked to
photocards, and the photocard login(s) now don't work. TFL won't deal with
five over the phone and have told me to submit an enquiry using their online
form detailing the cards and asking for refunds.
Tedious.

TfL want to keep your money. They'll make the process as hard as possible.