Paul Corfield wrote:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/london/6161498.stm

"Passengers are being warned to use their Oyster Cards correctly or face
paying more for their journeys.
From Sunday, if passengers do not touch the electronic smartcard on the
reader on entry or exit to a station, they could be charged up to £4.

The cost of not doing so could rise to £5 if journeys are started or
ended at certain national rail stations.

Transport for London said if the card is not scanned it does not know
the correct fare to apply."

How to confuse absolutely everybody. I've already seen people looking
very confused when they have heard the announcements and read the
posters about the change to pre-pay only rules. Shame no one has made
that distinction in the publicity.

I don't know where you work in LU, but it seems to me that there is also
a belief that oyster cards never fail. I had one card that worked
flawlessly, however since moving from a pass to pre-pay I chose to work
down the balances of other cards I have for visitors, so I ended up on
the third, this was notoriously unreliable. On Sunday I had had enough
and asked for an exchange, it was explained to me that I was not using
it properly, it was explained back that the I was well aware how to use
them and this one specifically did not work. Again I was told I was not
listening - this went on for a bit the queue got larger LU employee did
not care and refused to exchange. So I had to change tack, "I would like
to return this card and get my deposit back" - apparently there was a 50
deficit, okay I'll take 2.50, I can even give you 50p and you can return
me £3 - cue two LU staff not having a clue - me getting bored ask can
the see the £3 deposit, they could, in which case give me £2.50, take
the card and sort out the paperwork when the queue has died - only until
I suggested that they were clearly taking the mick, there was no reason
they could not do what I suggested that no doing so was hardly "customer
service" including the rest of the queue did they do so.

Point of story - Arrrrrrrrgh back to LU, a simple request met with
jobsworth ****e and lack of willingness to be helpful is LU all over.
Did I mention the rammed train of sardines being held "To regulate the
service", to the drivers credit, he did say he had radioed the line
controller to point out the ridiculousness, at which point we did move
only to be held a station later to regulate the service. So line
controller have no memory or are just crap.

Stop whinging about the media, sort out your own shop - the attitude
that it is not your job but someone elses is rife in LU - pass the buck
and screw the passenger.

LU is a disgrace, northern line still ****e now because of a problem at
5pm FFS.

Tell me something good about LU this week - or STFU about how you are
reported.