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# Apology as technical fault lands Metrolink passengers with £60 fines

- **Source:** 
- **Published:** 8 Sept
- **Club:** Manchester City
- **Original URL:** https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/metrolink-passengers-hit-with-fare-34583375

Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) has apologised and said full refunds to all those affected were being processed.

Passengers who 'tapped in' using bank cards with inspectors carrying the devices tapped out again at the end of their journeys, but were fined £60 despite doing so.

One football fan who was in Manchester for Coventry City's Premier League game with Manchester City at the Etihad stadium on Saturday said he and many other Coventry fans were fined.

He said he believed their initial transactions weren't processed in error and after checking, only the fact that he 'tapped out' was recorded on his bank transactions.

The issue emerged over the weekend, but wasn't network-wide. It's not known how many passengers were affected. But the Coventry City fan, who boarded a tram to the Etihad with thousands of others at Piccadilly Gardens, said the number was likely to be large and involve general commuters as well as Manchester City fans travelling to the game.

TfGM said only 'a very small number' of handheld devices used by Metrolink staff over the weekend were affected

The supporter, 49, said: "Like thousands of others I used the tram from Piccadilly, where we were scanned in by inspectors. I tapped out at the Etihad, but got a £60 fine.

"I checked and the only record is of me tapping in - or out as I thought. It seems like the ticket inspectors didn't upload the data.

"I'm on a number of Coventry City FC WhatsApp groups and this has happened to loads of people. It will have happened to everyone going from Piccadilly to the match, and possibly elsewhere.

"I know lots of people who were fined and everyone was talking about it. Anyone who has tapped in on those devices will have been affected. Piccadilly Gardens was mobbed with fans - the platform was packed.

"Surely such a huge spike in fines should be monitored and investigated before sending out the fines?"

Fran Wilkinson, Customer and Growth Director at TfGM, issued an apology and said refunds were being processed.

She said: "We are sorry to customers who received an incorrect charge after using Metrolink at the weekend. This was because of a technical fault that occurred during an upgrade to a small number of ticket inspection devices, and we are in the process of fixing this and refunding those affected.

"We are also working with our suppliers to ensure it doesn't happen again."

No further details have been revealed.