I got myself an Oyster Card with the intention of using it for single bus
journeys, so I went online to put some credit on it.

However, I was only given the option to put a ticket on it and then pick up
this ticket from my local tube station. I didn't understand this, so rang
the helpline. I was told that if I want to use the Oystercard for bus
journeys, I have to top it up at a tube station or at a newsagent's.

I thought the whole point of the Oystercard was so that you could put credit
on it online, in the comfort of your own home?

*confused*

Thomas

However, I was only given the option to put a ticket on it and then pick
up
this ticket from my local tube station. I didn't understand this, so rang
the helpline. I was told that if I want to use the Oystercard for bus
journeys, I have to top it up at a tube station or at a newsagent's.

That is basically the size of it. The credit has to get on your card
somehow. For those who regularly use a tube station they nominate that tube
station and when they pass through the gates on their normal journeys the
new ticket or credit gets added to the card.

I tend to top-up my pre-pay at credit card only touch screen machines at
tube stations when I occasionally pass through them. They tend not to be as
busy as other ticket machines.

I thought the whole point of the Oystercard was so that you could put
credit
on it online, in the comfort of your own home?

No, because you can't put credit or tickets on it online, you can only order
credit or tickets, you still have to collect it somehow (by passing through
gates normally as it happens). However in itself this is an extremely handy
feature of use to many users. Just not those who only ever use buses or
trams with their card.

G.

Graham J wrote to uk.transport.london on Thu, 6 Jan 2005:

I tend to top-up my pre-pay at credit card only touch screen machines at
tube stations when I occasionally pass through them. They tend not to be as
busy as other ticket machines.

The only snag is, though, that you can't (as far as I know) top up your
pre-pay AND add a pass in the same transaction, and then they won't let
you use the same credit card twice in five minutes.... You would have
thought they would ask you if you wanted another transaction before
asking you to insert your card, but, unless I'm being totally dim (quite
probable!), I don't think they do.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 2 January 2005

Graham J wrote:
No, because you can't put credit or tickets on it online, you can only order
credit or tickets, you still have to collect it somehow (by passing through
gates normally as it happens). However in itself this is an extremely handy
feature of use to many users. Just not those who only ever use buses or
trams with their card.

You can, however, happily top up oyster cards at corner shops that are
"Ticket Stop"; at the touchscreen ticket machines at tube stations.

One daft thing that you can't do (but I'm sure you used to be able to
do) was use the credit on an oyster card at a tube ticket machine to buy
a paper one day travelcard.

Mrs Redboots wrote in
:


The only snag is, though, that you can't (as far as I know) top up
your pre-pay AND add a pass in the same transaction,

I have done both at the same time

"Thomas" wrote in message
...
I got myself an Oyster Card with the intention of using it for single bus
journeys, so I went online to put some credit on it.

However, I was only given the option to put a ticket on it and then pick
up
this ticket from my local tube station. I didn't understand this, so rang
the helpline. I was told that if I want to use the Oystercard for bus
journeys, I have to top it up at a tube station or at a newsagent's.

I thought the whole point of the Oystercard was so that you could put
credit
on it online, in the comfort of your own home?

*confused*

Thomas

The way it works (I think) is that the stored value is on the card. So when
you top up online you need to nominate a tube station, so that the equipment
at that station will update your card when you are detected. Because you are
unable to nominate the exact bus on which you will be travelling, your card
cannot be updated on a bus.
peter

Andrew Black (delete obvious bit) wrote to uk.transport.london on Fri, 7
Jan 2005:

Mrs Redboots wrote in
:


The only snag is, though, that you can't (as far as I know) top up
your pre-pay AND add a pass in the same transaction,

I have done both at the same time

Then I'm probably dim..... wouldn't surprise me in the least. Must look
more carefully when I renew my bus pass next week.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 2 January 2005

On Thu, 06 Jan 2005 20:44:16 +0000, Simon Hewison
wrote:

One daft thing that you can't do (but I'm sure you used to be able to
do) was use the credit on an oyster card at a tube ticket machine to buy
a paper one day travelcard.

Surely this is to minimise fraud in the event of an Oyster card being
lost?

Otherwise, if someone found/stole a card, the value coould be emptied
into paper tickets to be sold on - a tout's dream!

Using the ticket to make even a short journey takes longer than
purchasing a travelcard.

--
Cheers,

Jason.

On Fri, 07 Jan 2005 16:02:19 +0000, Jason
wrote:


lost?

Otherwise, if someone found/stole a card, the value coould be emptied
into paper tickets to be sold on - a tout's dream!


A bit like you can with a stolen credit/debit card, you mean?

Simon Hewison wrote:

One daft thing that you can't do (but I'm sure you used to be able to

do) was use the credit on an oyster card at a tube ticket machine to
buy
a paper one day travelcard.

You have never actually been able to do that. The large touch screen
machines at some stations (Tottenham court road and others) used to
have a pay by oyster option but there was a sign saying not to use it