Why am I seeing a $0.10 charge when paying for public transport?
The $0.10 charge is a temporary pre-authorisation hold used to verify that your card is valid and active when using contactless payment for public transport. This pending amount is not the final fare; it is typically reversed or replaced by the actual fare once your travel is calculated, usually within 24 hours to a few days.
What is the 10c or $0 Translink Smart Ticketing charge on my bank statement? You may see a 10c or $0 pending charge on your bank statement after tapping to travel, or after accessing your activity through the Ticketing Assistant. This is a temporary authorisation hold, used to verify your payment method.
The 10p authorisation is a separate issue. As you say, it's made when the card hasn't been used recently for TfL travel. Usually it is replaced by the correct figure for the whole day.
Yep, the main reason is so they can work out how much to accurately charge you because in the case of TFL, there is a maximum daily cap but it doesn't know if you will only use one trip or multiple in that given day. So the 10p is just on hold until all trips have had a chance to be calculated.
The UK's £2 bus fare cap, originally ending in 2023, was extended multiple times and eventually transitioned to a £3 cap in England (outside London) from January 2025 to December 2025, funded by the government to help with living costs. However, some regions, like Liverpool City Region and Telford, have stepped in with local funding to keep their specific £2 caps running longer, with Liverpool aiming for 2026, while the national scheme shifted focus to the £3 cap to support bus services long-term.
How to pay for public transport in London (2025 UPDATE)
Why does First bus charge me 10p?
This is just a temporary charge to check the card is valid. Once we've worked out your daily travel charge (which depends on how many journeys you made that day/night) we'll charge you for these journeys, and the 10p/£1 will be returned to your available balance.
You ever noticed a random 10 P charge from TFL? Well, it's actually not a fare. It's just a temporary check to make sure your card is valid before you travel.
When you use contactless or Oyster to pay as you go, there is a maximum amount of time that you can spend making a single journey on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line and National Rail. If you spend longer than the maximum journey time for your journey, you could be charged 2 maximum fares.
London's "1 hour rule" refers to the Hopper Fare, which allows unlimited bus and tram journeys for a single £1.75 fare within one hour of your first tap-in, using the same contactless or Oyster card. It means you can switch between buses and trams as much as you like, even linking with the Tube or DLR (though the main benefit is bus/tram hopping), without paying again, provided your subsequent taps are within 60 minutes of the initial touch.
To contact TfL about an incorrect charge (like card clash or wrong fare), call 0343 222 1234 (24/7, charges apply) or use their online forms for contactless/Oyster refunds, ensuring you wait 48 hours for automatic adjustments before claiming. For driving charges (Congestion/ULEZ), manage them via the TfL website using your plate details.
First class train travel is worth it if you prioritize comfort, space, and perks like complimentary food/drink, especially for long journeys, business travel, or special occasions, but it depends heavily on the price difference and the specific operator's service, with it being less valuable for short hops or if the upgrade cost is high. Key benefits include larger seats, extra legroom, quieter surroundings, guaranteed tables, and sometimes lounge access, making it great for working or relaxing.
There are two ways to use a contactless payment card or device on Metro services: Pay for your own travel onboard Metro services using contactless payment: An adult single fare of £2.30 for your first Metro journey of the day. An adult daily capped fare of £4.00 when you make two or more Metro journeys on one day.
10p charges from us may seem random, but here's what's happening 👇 It's a temporary check to make sure your card is valid for travel. It's replaced with the actual fare once all your travel is complete over a 24-hour period, and this amount is usually charged at 4am.
Is it cheaper to buy a bus ticket online or on the bus?
It's almost always cheaper to buy your bus ticket online or via the operator's app before you board, with savings on single fares and significant discounts on multi-day or monthly passes, as onboard purchases often incur a premium or require exact change, making digital booking more convenient and economical.
The 10p payment is to check that the card is valid and has some balance. The charge will get updated to the correct amount once the day has completed and TfL have been able to calculate where you went and how much they need to charge you.
Do you get charged if you tap in and out at the same station?
Yes, tapping in and out at the same station usually results in a charge, often the maximum fare for an incomplete journey, because the system registers it as two separate entries rather than one trip, but refunds are generally available if you apply for them, especially within a short time frame. Transport for London (TfL) and similar systems charge a "same station exit" fee or maximum fare, but if you exit quickly (e.g., within minutes or a short time window) and don't travel, the charge is often automatically refunded within 48 hours or you can request it manually.
Yes, it is generally cheaper to use First Bus's Tap On Tap Off (TOTO) system because it automatically caps your daily and weekly spending at the equivalent of a day or weekly ticket, saving you money compared to buying multiple single tickets, especially for multiple journeys, though buying mTickets on the app can sometimes be even cheaper. You must tap off with the same card to get the best value and avoid being charged a higher default fare, as TOTO calculates your fare based on your specific journeys.
If you travel on Tube, DLR, London Overground, Elizabeth line, IFS Cloud Cable Car or River Bus services in between Hopper journeys, you'll be charged a standard fare. The Hopper fare will still apply to any further bus and tram journeys made within one hour of first touching in.
Initial Cost—The card has an upfront cost of £5, which might not be worth it if you're not travelling much.
Limited Utility – If your month-long stay has you mostly walking to nearby destinations or your travel is limited to specific zones, an Oyster card might not offer much value.
