Ongoing website problems at TfL are sparking anger amongst London’s youth.

Due to a hacking incident, 16 year olds whose Zip Oyster cards expired in late September have not been able to renew them on the TfL website.

TfL claims that all bus drivers have been instructed to let children onto the bus if they show their expired zip-card. But there has been a lack of communication to some drivers, leading to confrontations as teens board London buses.

Malena Alonzo, 16, said; “The driver said that I wasn’t allowed to get on if my card was expired unless I gave it to him and paid.

“I told him I wouldn’t then be able to prove that I am under eighteen or get on the train, but I gave it to him because he was shouting.”

Malena added; “When I tell [the other drivers] that a driver took it off me, they think I’m lying”.

She says that two of her friends have had the same problem.

On the 1st of September, 2024, TfL noticed something wrong with their website, shortly after realising they had been hacked.

The cyber-attack was hostile, leaving several security details such as names, addresses and other customer data vulnerable.

Apart from costing millions of pounds to fix, the breach has led to young people being unable to update their zip-cards.

The same issues are occurring with those aged 11, whose zip cards also recently expired, though they face less trouble on buses as they are more obviously juniors.

Jesse Currie, 14, said; “When I got on the bus, I was waved on. But the driver had a go at my big sister for her expired card even though it was their system that was down. She’s tried tonnes of times to update her card but the website’s never working.”

He added; “I feel sorry for the drivers because they don’t know what’s going on.”

However, TfL assures people that applications for Zip Oysters will reopen soon, and they are rebuilding their site.

In publicity at train stations they state, “Until Tuesday 31st December, children can show their expired cards to staff to travel free.

We will inform the parents/guardians of expired card holders when they can apply for their replacement card.”