No, I accept that. For the odd one-off transaction the inconvenience
is just about acceptable; the last time I collected anything at a
ticket gate was when I set up auto top-up. What I'm particularly
interested in is anyone who prefers online over manual top ups for
putting PAYG value on their Oyster on a regular basis.


Are you looking for script ideas for a variation on "what did the Romans
ever do for us?".

There's many other possible reasons. 2 which will count for me when our
corner shop closes:

o the local ticket machine is exposed to the elements; my PC ain't;

o the local ticket machine is exposed to street robbers; my PC is
only exposed to the burglars.
--
R

In message , at
06:42:38 on Mon, 7 Sep 2009, neverwas remarked:
o the local ticket machine is exposed to street robbers; my PC is
only exposed to the burglars.

That's a bit naive - there's all kinds of malware out there.
--
Roland Perry

That's a bit naive - there's all kinds of malware out there.

Am I also naive in thinking that the maximum loss I risk from using my
credit card online is £50 (as I have up to date security software albeit
only domestic)? (Consumer Credit Act 1974 IIRC.) That's rather less
than I risk losing to a sadly rather high proportion of Hackney
residents on the rob.
--
R

In message , at 08:24:34
on Mon, 7 Sep 2009, neverwas remarked:
That's a bit naive - there's all kinds of malware out there.

Am I also naive in thinking that the maximum loss I risk from using my
credit card online is £50 (as I have up to date security software albeit
only domestic)? (Consumer Credit Act 1974 IIRC.) That's rather less
than I risk losing to a sadly rather high proportion of Hackney
residents on the rob.

You are naive in thinking that you'll get the money back quickly and
easily, or that there will be no other consequences - for example having
to clean up your credit record if the fraud that's perpetrated via the
malware involves a loan rather than theft.
--
Roland Perry

"neverwas" wrote in message
om...
No, I accept that. For the odd one-off transaction the inconvenience
is just about acceptable; the last time I collected anything at a
ticket gate was when I set up auto top-up. What I'm particularly
interested in is anyone who prefers online over manual top ups for
putting PAYG value on their Oyster on a regular basis.


Are you looking for script ideas for a variation on "what did the Romans
ever do for us?".
No, just interested in who uses the facility and why. So far the the only
reasons given have been

o physical security, unsatisfactory siting of machine (so use a machine
elsewhere?)
o ticket machines don't take Amex (they do).

That's it.


There's many other possible reasons. 2 which will count for me when our
corner shop closes:

o the local ticket machine is exposed to the elements; my PC ain't;

o the local ticket machine is exposed to street robbers; my PC is only
exposed to the burglars.
--
R

The machines I used for manual top up when I did it were Victoria, St
James's Park, Mansion House, Warwick Avenue and Maida Vale; all roughly
equally local to Hove, which is where I live. One of the nice things about
manual top up is that you're not tied to any particular machine or place or
time, and you don't have to take a journey to collect it. The major
irritation of online top up for me was that I was forced to use the
Underground when I wouldn't necessarily choose to; I might want to take a
bus or walk instead.

The original post that started off this thread was about the inability to
collect online top up at Watford Junction. If this is a preview of how
Oyster is to be rolled out on NR routes south of the river then it will only
serve to reinforce my views about online top up.

D A Stocks

You are naive in thinking that you'll get the money back quickly and
easily, or that there will be no other consequences - for example
having to clean up your credit record if the fraud that's perpetrated
via the malware involves a loan rather than theft.

While I respect your motives in flagging the risk of consequences you
(based on http://perry.co.uk/) know only too well, I think it is a pity
you assumed I think what you think I think when it is not what I
actually think
--
R

On 7 Sep, 14:50, "David A Stocks" wrote:
"neverwas" wrote in message

om... No, I accept that. For the odd one-off transaction the inconvenience
is just about acceptable; the last time I collected anything at a
ticket gate was when I set up auto top-up. What I'm particularly
interested in is anyone who prefers online over manual top ups for
putting PAYG value on their Oyster on a regular basis.

Are you looking for script ideas for a variation on "what did the Romans
ever do for us?".

No, just interested in who uses the facility and why. So far the the only
reasons given have been

o * *physical security, unsatisfactory siting of machine (so use a machine
elsewhere?)
o * *ticket machines don't take Amex (they do).

That's it.



There's many other possible reasons. *2 which will count for me when our
corner shop closes:

o * *the local ticket machine is exposed to the elements; my PC ain't;

o * *the local ticket machine is exposed to street robbers; my PC is only
exposed to the burglars.
--
R

The machines I used for manual top up when I did it were Victoria, St
James's Park, Mansion House, Warwick Avenue and Maida Vale; all roughly
equally local to Hove, which is where I live. One of the nice things about
manual top up is that you're not tied to any particular machine or place or
time, and you don't have to take a journey to collect it. The major
irritation of online top up for me was that I was forced to use the
Underground when I wouldn't necessarily choose to; I might want to take a
bus or walk instead.

You could have taken the tram or DLR instead.


The original post that started off this thread was about the inability to
collect online top up at Watford Junction. If this is a preview of how
Oyster is to be rolled out on NR routes south of the river then it will only
serve to reinforce my views about online top up.


But as has already been mentioned in this thread, Watford Junction is
a special case as it is outside the normal zonal area where Oyster is/
will be accepted. There are currently lots of changes being
implemented to prepare for the roll out of Oyster PAYG to NR and until
things have settled down, its a bit early to be praising or
condemning
online top up on NR routes. Currently online top-up only seems to be
available from NR stations where LU or London Overground are in charge
at the station (with the exception of Barking and Upminster where C2C
are in charge, but where dual ticketing has been available for a long
time)

In message , at
14:05:55 on Mon, 7 Sep 2009, neverwas remarked:
You are naive in thinking that you'll get the money back quickly and
easily, or that there will be no other consequences - for example
having to clean up your credit record if the fraud that's perpetrated
via the malware involves a loan rather than theft.

While I respect your motives in flagging the risk of consequences you
(based on http://perry.co.uk/) know only too well, I think it is a pity
you assumed I think what you think I think when it is not what I
actually think

You appeared to think your loss was limited to £50. I'm just pointing
out that the loss can easily extend far beyond that (even if you get all
the money back).
--
Roland Perry

In message of Mon, 7 Sep 2009 14:50:40
in uk.transport.london, David A Stocks writes
"neverwas" wrote in message news:yX1pm.76443$OO7.
...
No, I accept that. For the odd one-off transaction the inconvenience
is just about acceptable; the last time I collected anything at a
ticket gate was when I set up auto top-up. What I'm particularly
interested in is anyone who prefers online over manual top ups for
putting PAYG value on their Oyster on a regular basis.


Are you looking for script ideas for a variation on "what did the
Romans ever do for us?".
No, just interested in who uses the facility and why. So far the the
only reasons given have been

o physical security, unsatisfactory siting of machine (so use a
machine elsewhere?)
o ticket machines don't take Amex (they do).

That's it.


I use auto top up and have done so for a couple of years without many
problems. The reason I do so is convenience. I generally don't have to
monitor the balance and it works.

OTOH, I had a card fail once and it did not actually top up. TfL is not
very interested in explaining Oyster failure and issued me another card.

You have to touch in at a nominated station to set it up for the first
time. If you don't intend to make a journey, staff can cancel the
charge.

I have not seen anybody mention collecting refunds, which is also done
at your nominated station. I regularly find I am overcharged be Oyster.
e.g. They have not quite got Out of Station interchanges correct.
I believe Liverpool Street to Liverpool Street via Euston and Euston
Square is charged as unfinished journey and an unstarted journey.
Station staff seem to have a VERY limited ability to cancel incorrect
charges.

I stopped the topping up credit card when I lost it. The system topped
me up, found it could not be paid and sent me an email threatening to
cancel the Oyster if I did not regularise the situation within 3 days. I
did so and came away impressed by the logic.

My other half is not convinced by auto top up and seems to have a lot
more trouble than I in keeping a positive balance on her card.

YMMV. It suits me; It would probably not do so if I used Oyster PAYG
less than once a month.


There's many other possible reasons. 2 which will count for me when
our corner shop closes:

o the local ticket machine is exposed to the elements; my PC ain't;

o the local ticket machine is exposed to street robbers; my PC is
only exposed to the burglars.
-- R

The machines I used for manual top up when I did it were Victoria, St
James's Park, Mansion House, Warwick Avenue and Maida Vale; all roughly
equally local to Hove, which is where I live. One of the nice things
about manual top up is that you're not tied to any particular machine
or place or time, and you don't have to take a journey to collect it.
The major irritation of online top up for me was that I was forced to
use the Underground when I wouldn't necessarily choose to; I might want
to take a bus or walk instead.

The original post that started off this thread was about the inability
to collect online top up at Watford Junction. If this is a preview of
how Oyster is to be rolled out on NR routes south of the river then it
will only serve to reinforce my views about online top up.

D A Stocks

I think you misunderstood
In message of Tue, 1 Sep 2009
21:54:55 in uk.transport.london, Zen83237 writes
How come if I get a refund it can be added at Watford Junc but if I do an
online top up it can't be added at Watford Junc or Euston main line.

I would suspect most users are inconvenienced once when setting up auto
top up and NEVER need to collect a refund. To collect a refund, you have
to recognise that you have been overcharged, email or phone TfL to agree
the appropriate charge - I find the latter method often taken 20 minutes
- and collect the refund at your nominated station. I believe the system
is no more than 99% right, even when one does not stress it.

If I lived in Hove actually and wanted to auto top up, I would nominate
Victoria or London Bridge.
--
Walter Briscoe

"Walter Briscoe" wrote in message
...

I think you misunderstood

snip ...

If I lived in Hove actually and wanted to auto top up, I would nominate
Victoria or London Bridge.

No. I have auto top up already. The OP obviously doesn't. I questioned why
anybody bothers with online top up, and the thread continued from there.

D A Stocks