Child oyster

The £15 isn't refundable but over the course of the duration that the 11-15 zip card is valid your child should travel enough times to recoup this money through the discounted rates on the Tube, Overground, Tfl Rail and most National Rail services in London.

If this card is reported lost, stolen or damaged TfL will charge £10 for a replacement which I think answers your different price question.

A child rate visitor oyster card has disadvantages over the zip card as it is only valid for 2 weeks and requires you to ask a member of staff at a Tube station to change the fare charge. This can be done repeated times if desired.

But the biggest disadvantage to child rate visitor oyster cards is fares, on a 11-15 zip card any Tube journey is 75p (off-peak) or 85p (Peak) irrespective of distance, Buses and Trams are completely free and London Overground fares are mostly the same as tube fares apart from areas in the "Special fares apply" zone eg. Watford Junction.

Child visitor oyster cards only give a half adult rate meaning that Tube, London Overground, TfL Rail and National Rail services will be subject to more expensive zonal fares and buses and tram fares will cost 75p.

£15 seems difficult to justify when thinking about how much your child will travel depending on wether or not you live within the greater London boundary, the zip schemes tend to deliver better value for money which is a good reason why it isn't constrained to house holds within the London boroughs. Children in the surrounding home counties can utilise the scheme even if they only make make 3-4 trips in and around London a year, the combined discounts obtained make it worthwhile.

Hope this helps with your enquiry and feel free to ask away if there is anything I have left out,



Martin

I've got an 11-15 Oyster Card and I would say that all the discounts do pay off. The amount of times I get the buses. I would get charged about £90 per month with a normal card and maybe £45/month on the Child discount. I'd better get more careful with my travelling though, as I've only got 2 years left with this card!

Then it's only another 50 years or so until you get your freedom pass.

Thankyou all for your replies. I guess we'll have to take the plunge . . . 

Regrds

Adam