I've done it several dozen times with a monthly oyster and it seems
you can still do so (having had a look this evening). For me it's
a lot less hassle than having lots of small credit card transactions
or carrying change.

I can only think that you must be using one of the stations that may be
testing out the system at present. It's certainly not working like that
at my station; I've had a few disgruntled customers wondering why
they've put money on their Prepay and can't use it yet.

What we have here is a failure to comunicate... What (I think) we're
talking
about is; walking up to a ticket machine, selecting your ticket and
paying
for it by placing you oyster on the card reader. The cost of the ticket
is
deducted from your oyster and a paper ticket is issued. It is simply
using
the oyster as an electronic wallet, none of the higher functions.

No, I do understand exactly what you mean but it's my understanding that
this is not generally available yet.
However, it is more than likely that it *is* enabled at a few stations
to test the system.
--

I've used it for the past month or so, and it's worked at
Belsize Park
Swiss Cottage
Finchley Road
Uxbridge
Edgware Road H&C
Baker Street

I've never had it say I can't use it (yet!).

I select a ticket as normal, then instead of shoving my credit card in, I
press "pay using oyster". It then deducts the amount from my card. I only
do it as it's a bit faster then verifying your card, and I don't need to get
my card out, stick it in the machine etc. It's a small saving, I know, but
it saves the shrapnel on the c.c statement.

JP