Extech Portable Receipt Printer Rides The London Underground

Inspectors equipped with Extech printers with magnetic card readers swipe credit cards and issue receipts for fines paid by fare dodgers.

Three million passenger journeys take place using the London Underground every day. Lost income, due to fare dodgers, was impacting the railway system and the paper based system used by the inspectors checking for valid tickets was cumbersome and unreliable.

Management turned to ICL who developed a system incorporating the Psion Workabout handheld computer and the Extech 2000T portable receipt printer with magnetic card reader. Now, when issuing a penalty fare notice, inspectors enter the details into the Workabout.

The rider can pay the fare by cash, cheque or credit card. The inspector uses the receipt printer to swipe the credit cards and issue receipts. The result has been an increase in penalty fare revenues and an increase in valid fare revenues from passengers who have decided they would rather not pay the fines.