Tap-in and out bank card readers were suspended due to the volume of fans, but passengers were charged for incomplete journeys

13:46, 18 Jul 2025Updated 14:00, 18 Jul 2025

Oasis fans queue up for trams(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

Oasis fans were automatically charged for incomplete journeys – despite the suspension of the tap-in and tap-out bank card readers at a Metrolink stop.

The issue arose during the first Oasis gig at Heaton Park last Friday night.

Fans contacted the Manchester Evening News to say they weren’t able to tap out with bank cards at the Heaton Park stop but were still charged for incomplete journeys.

One claimed a machine was ‘covered up’ – and platform staff told them they wouldn’t be charged for an incomplete journey as a result, but they were.

Another fan said staff on the platform actually told passengers not to tap out, but she was still charged. Now the fans are urging anyone who may be affected to check their bank statements, saying thousands of people might not realise they have been charged when they were unable to tap out to pay.

Metrolink passengers using bank cards are required to tap in at their starting station and tap out again when they get to their destination stop.

Metrolink, in a statement to the M.E.N., apologised and said the operator took the decision to suspend the ‘on-stop’ readers temporarily due to the sheer volume of people on the platforms because of the gig. They confirmed some passengers were automatically charged for incomplete journeys, but said all those affected would be automatically refunded.

The band end their Heaton Park residency this weekend(Image: TfGM)

Oasis will end their massive five-night residency at Heaton Park this weekend, with gigs on Friday and Saturday night, before the tour moves to Wembley Stadium in London.

One Oasis fan said: “We went to Oasis last Friday on the tram and at Heaton Park, the contactless machines were covered up so we were unable to tap off.

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“The Metrolink staff told everyone not to worry and that we wouldn’t be charged. However, the following day we all had an additional £4.80 charge for the incomplete journey.”

The fan said they requested, and have now received, a refund, but said many probably wouldn’t check their bank accounts.

Another commuter, a woman who said she had been working at the Oasis concerts, also raised concerns about the Heaton Park stop.

Fans at Heaton Park(Image: Sean Hansford | Manchester Evening News)

She said: “Staff at the platform were telling people not to tap out. I was working there and as a result, I have been charged the full £9.50 rate when I should have only been charged £4 on Friday and £3.50 on Saturday. Lots of people were talking about it on the tram. I rang them and raised it.

“People will not realise the charge because they won’t check their bank balances.”

Fran Wilkinson, Customer and Growth Director at TfGM, said: “Occasionally the requirement to tap in or out is temporarily suspended. This happened for short periods during the peak of travel to Oasis last week, when the Metrolink operator took the decision to suspend the on-stop readers.

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“As was the case at Heaton Park tram stop, this is only ever done to get people on and off trams quicker – helping safely manage the flow of people when there are large crowds. This time, some passengers were automatically charged for incomplete journeys.

“We’re sorry. This shouldn’t have happened and we’re already refunding everyone affected.

“We’ve since worked with the operator to make sure all passengers could touch out on subsequent concert days to avoid any risk of incorrect charges.”