I am in the process of setting up 'Auto top-up' on my Oyster card.

From the web site I selected the most convenient underground station to
validate my card against, but on receipt of the confirmation email that I
should proceed to validate the card I am told that I need to use the card
reader in the barriers, not the ones in the ticket hall that I usually use
to top my card up.

Unfortunately, I very rarely use the tube to travel and I have no
particular inclination to pay a tube journey surcharge just to use the
Auto top-up feature.

Is there any way to get around this?

In message , Colin
Murphy writes

Unfortunately, I very rarely use the tube to travel and I have no
particular inclination to pay a tube journey surcharge just to use the
Auto top-up feature.

Is there any way to get around this?

According to the Oyster FAQ:

You will be sent an email when your Auto top-up instruction is
ready to be collected from your nominated station. If you do not
collect it within 8 days of being notified, the instruction will
be cancelled and your pay as you go top up will be refunded. You
will need to submit a new application to set up Auto top-up.

In other words, you will need to run-down the balance on your current
Oyster and then start afresh with a new one, preset to auto top-up.
Possibly the Oyster helpline can tell you if there is any quicker way to
do what you want.
--
Paul Terry

Colin Murphy wrote:
I am in the process of setting up 'Auto top-up' on my Oyster card.

From the web site I selected the most convenient underground
station to validate my card against, but on receipt of the
confirmation email that I should proceed to validate the card I am
told that I need to use the card reader in the barriers, not the
ones in the ticket hall that I usually use to top my card up.

Unfortunately, I very rarely use the tube to travel and I have no
particular inclination to pay a tube journey surcharge just to use
the Auto top-up feature.

Is there any way to get around this?

When I was faced with a similar situation, I touched in at a gate but
didn't go through it. I then asked the ticket clerk to cancel the
resultant unresolved journey. I think you may need to get the Oyster
helpline to do that now, rather than the local ticket office.
--
Richard J.
(to e-mail me, swap uk and yon in address)

Richard J. wrote:
Colin Murphy wrote:
I am in the process of setting up 'Auto top-up' on my Oyster card.

From the web site I selected the most convenient underground
station to validate my card against, but on receipt of the
confirmation email that I should proceed to validate the card I am
told that I need to use the card reader in the barriers, not the
ones in the ticket hall that I usually use to top my card up.

Unfortunately, I very rarely use the tube to travel and I have no
particular inclination to pay a tube journey surcharge just to use
the Auto top-up feature.

Is there any way to get around this?

When I was faced with a similar situation, I touched in at a gate but
didn't go through it. I then asked the ticket clerk to cancel the
resultant unresolved journey. I think you may need to get the Oyster
helpline to do that now, rather than the local ticket office.

And again you have to travel to get the refund.

Whoever sanctioned the recent changes is a ****tard of the highest order.