This is actually a story that has originated from TfL, in a bid to try
and raise awareness of the need to touch-in and touch-out (see below
for the article itself). No mention of any OEP issues, instead this is
just the old requirement to touch-in and touch-out, which will always
be a requirement unless the ultra-radical notion of a flat fare ever
came to be (which will happen right after TfL's future introduction of
the innovative flying rugs of bacon hire scheme).

I note that unlike on the Tube or DLR the TOCs don't seem to be making
any effort to communicate to pax the need to "always touch-in and
always touch-out" when using Oyster PAYG. It might well be helpful if
the standalone readers at NR stations (the ones in stainless steel
boxes) had those bright yellow vinyls applied as is the case at some
DLR stations (looked by couldn't quickly find a photo). The ones
mounted on walls could have yellow flashes around them, a bit like the
ones at Finsbury Park in the tunnel walkway leading up from the tube
platforms. Of course this would all involve a bit of effort on the
TOCs part!

I dare say that there are a small minority of pax who are under the
illusion that they'll end up paying a cheaper fare if they don't touch-
out at the end of their journey - I've certainly overheard chit-chat
to this effect.

Anyhow here's the BBC News online story:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/8512142.stm

---quote---
Thousands use Oyster incorrectly on London trains

More than 32,000 commuters are using their Oyster cards incorrectly
since its introduction on mainline trains, Transport for London (TfL)
said.

Passengers are failing to touch in and out with their Oyster cards at
the start and end of each journey, resulting in a higher fare.

TfL said in January passengers had overpaid about £500,000.

It has sent out information reminding customers about the changes to
ensure they are charged the appropriate fare.

In the first few weeks of the operation which begun last month,
refunds were given to passengers who incurred incorrect charges.

Oyster 'inexperience'

A spokesperson said: "We have encouraged the Train Operating Companies
to use discretion when issuing penalty fares to Oyster pay-as-you-go
National Rail (NR) users during this time.

"If it was evident that a customer had not correctly touched in or out
due to inexperience of using Oyster as for some passengers this would
have been a significant ticketing change."

TfL has asked train companies to provide more facilities for commuters
to touch in and out at stations.

The new system allows passengers to use their Oyster cards to travel
on NR services as well as on the bus, tube and tram.

About 500,000 journeys are now being made on NR using pay-as-you-go
Oyster cards each week.

The number of incomplete journeys have fallen from 40,000 since the
roll-out of the new system and TfL expects that figure to decline
further.
---/quote---