TfL resumes refund processing and Zip applications

Transport for London (TfL) has reopened applications for Zip photocards - which discount travel for passengers aged from five to 17 - following a cyber-attack that affected its systems two months ago.

It also said it can now process refunds for Oyster and paper ticket customers who have paid more than they should have for their travel due to the pause in services. Refunds for journeys on contactless and mobile should follow "shortly".

It follows the resumption in processing applications for 60+ and 18+ Student photocards, as well as other concessions, at the beginning of November.

TfL said the cyber-attack was "highly sophisticated" and apologised for inconvenience caused to customers.

Zip cards allow free or discounted travel for those aged 5-10, 11-15 and 16-17.

Those with expired 5-10 and 11-15 photocards will still have their cards accepted until 31 December.

TfL told the BBC its other systems, such as the one that deals with refunds for delays, will be restored "shortly".

On 1 September, about 5,000 customers were contacted by TfL to be told personal details could have been accessed by hackers.

Many TfL systems then became unavailable, including concession photocards, with customers contacting the BBC to share their experiences of having to pay more.

Shashi Verma, who is in charge of technology at TfL, said they had been working to restore systems they had to take offline "as part of our mitigations".

He added: "We are now able to start processing refunds for journeys made using Oyster or paper tickets."

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