Transport bosses have moved to downplay the overcharging of some Oyster card train customers in Redbridge, describing it as an "isolated issue".

It has emerged that those who travel between Tube stops in Redbridge and stations on the opposite side of London via the Overground are being made to pay the same rate as travelling through the more expensive Zone 1 central area, even when the journey avoids it.

Anton Venter, 53, contacted the Guardian after he noticed he was regularly overcharged by £2.10p on his journey between Snaresbrook Station and Ravenscourt Park in west London.

He travels on the Stratford to Richmond overground line to avoid crossing into Zone 1 on the District line. 

Shashi Verma, Transport for London (TfL)’s director of Customer Experience, confirmed that the organisation knew at least two people had been overcharged this way, but downplayed the extent of the problem.

He said: “We are in contact with Mr Venter about the specific route he takes and providing compensation to ensure he is not out of pocket while we rectify this anomaly.

"Our analysis of Oyster data has identified only one other person who has taken this route once and been charged incorrectly and we have refunded that customer.

"This is an isolated issue with this particular indirect route and it will be fixed in September as part of our scheduled system review.

"Any other customer who feels they may have been affected by this issue should contact us for a refund.”

After complaining to TfL, currently Mr Venter is overcharged and then automatically refunded his money every time he makes the journey.

But he fears other people may have been overcharged without realising it and that the extent of the problem could be greater.

Watchdog London TravelWatch said TfL only updated its Oyster card system three times a year because it was expensive to do.