On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 23:28:37 +0000, CharlesPottins wrote:

The card is indeed an Oyster, and they were supposed to be a big improvement on
the old cards which had to be passed through the barrier slot and took wear and
tear, sometimes not lasting the year. the new plastic cards usually stay in
your little wallet and just need pressing on the barrier or the widget on buses
(often these are out of order on buses round my way).
The plastic cards are supposed to last two years before expiring.
As regards electro-magnetic radiation (or induction? forgive my ignorance) I
have wondered about this. I may occasionally have carried the card in the same
pocket as my mobile, or left it lying near my PC.
Hey, if these things are damaging my oyster card what are they doing to ME?!!
Still wondering whether this is a widespread phenomenon, and whether any advice
has been given on safeguarding the cards?.

My Oyster went kaput with ~ £9 of prey-pay on it. They wont change it at
the station, I have to send in a form with my name and address. Bloody
theives, I wont be so stupid in future.

As for oyster, I keep it in my back left pocket, and my work ID card in my
back right pocket. My work ID has never let me down in the 15 months I've
had it. My Oyster lasted 3.