As always when this subject comes up, we should stress that it is
possible
to purchase an Oyster card online that comes with auto top-up already
enabled so it is less of an issue than it was, and it is also possible to
pick up the auto top-up from tram stops now for those who live in that
part
of town.

Didn't know that. Do they post it out to you? (I don't like in
London). If so I might well do that and get the deposit back on my
existing one, which is getting a bit scruffy now anyway.

Yes, just go to http://sales.oystercard.com/ and you'll see you now get a
choice of ordering an Oyster with or without auto top-up and it gets
delivered to you ready to go. To my mind it is something they should be
promoting a lot more.

G.