Barclays Cycle Hire

Teething problems.

So far I've been accidentally charged £96 upon joining - I've been told this will be refunded - and today I've been charged a £150 late fee due to a faulty docking station that failed to recognise a returned bike, but locked in place anyway.

The £150 charge may or may not be refunded in a few days. Apparantly they have a lot of similar incidents to work through before they can look to see if the bike I returned is where I left it.

Oh dear.

It's going to be pretty unlikely that the bike you used is still in the same place where you left it, isn't it? Hope you get it resolved satisfactorily.

(Sorry to hear that it's not worked for you, but thanks for sharing the news. I want to use the scheme, but was holding off until I'd heard whether it was working well or not.)

I had the same problem as ssimps01 with a bike I returned to Bricklayers Arms on Friday.

My account was suspended and I was fined £150

This morning a phantom journey that I didn't make appeared on my account:
http://twitpic.com/2axcw5

And later a second fine of £150 was added for no apparent reason:

http://twitpic.com/2axjdq

Eventually at lunchtime they reinstated my account and said that the £300 fine will be cancelled.

When the system works, it is fantastic and I heartily recommend it.

ssimps01 wrote:

Teething problems.
So far I've been accidentally charged £96 upon joining

Were you ordering 2 keys?

I think you automatically get fined £150 after 24 hours for late return, then another £150 a day later for being a thief.
I phoned to let them know there was a problem before I got the fine/suspension, as I think James did. I'm sure if they put 2 and 2 together, bike not registered as returned and someone phoning to say the docking didn't work, then they can avoid fining/refunding people all the time.

To be honest I'm more annoyed that they have suspended my account. I'm sure they won't actually fine me in the end. But the bikes are great, and I was planning on using one this morning and this evening.

ps...I only ordered one key.

They've lost teh bike.

No wait. They haven't lost it. They just haven't been to look for it yet.
So they will charge me another £150 while they prepare to go and look to see if there is a problem with the docking station I originally reported.

I've been charged twice for my key and year's access - waiting for someone "more senior" to phone me back about a refund. Otherwise I'm loving it so far as it's practically halved my journey time to work in Victoria.

It will take a while to settle down but I think its a great system.......I am currently in Barcelona and everyone here uses it. If it reduces congestion from short journeys that will help and hopefully motorists will be more respectful of more cyclists on the roads

Have to say the bikes look fab, saw 4 or so up near Liverpool Street today - like the flashing lights!

Are they comfy? - they look like they have a big old seat on them.