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Oyster card confusion

I have started commuting in London using the PAYG Oyster card.

However, I am very confused as to how it is charging me because I was under the impression that it caps the daily running cost of journeys to the price of a daily travelcard (around £6.50 for zones 1 to 6?). But, I have been using around £10 per day according to my online Oyster journey history!

How exactly does the price capping work?

Thanks

P.S
And am I being cynical in thinking that the Oyster card is a marketing con because they claim it's a huge saving over the equivalent cash fare - but at £4 for a single journey , it's a discount to an already grossly overpriced cash fare!


"To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant." Amos Bronson Alcott

Comments

  • dzug1
    dzug1 Posts: 13,535 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    The price cap you quote is for off peak travel - after 0930

    If you travel at peak times it's £13.30.
  • And does anyone know at what point the peak/off peak fare is measured? Is it at the point of touching in or touching out?

    For example, if I start my journey at off-peak 06:45am (15 mins before peak time starts at 7am), and complete the journey at 07:15am (peak time), does this count as a peak journey or off-peak? i.e is it the time at touch in that counts or the time at touch out?

    I called Oyster helpline twice and got two different answers! Classic!
    "To be ignorant of one's ignorance is the malady of the ignorant." Amos Bronson Alcott
  • It is the point at which you touch in that determines whether you are travelling peak or off-peak.

    How does the system know which cap to apply?
    Did you really mean to put loose?
    Lose: no longer possess, not to retain, unable to find
    Loose: not firmly or tightly fixed in place
  • dzug1
    dzug1 Posts: 13,535 Forumite
    10,000 Posts Combo Breaker
    And does anyone know at what point the peak/off peak fare is measured? Is it at the point of touching in or touching out?

    For example, if I start my journey at off-peak 06:45am (15 mins before peak time starts at 7am), and complete the journey at 07:15am (peak time), does this count as a peak journey or off-peak? i.e is it the time at touch in that counts or the time at touch out?

    I called Oyster helpline twice and got two different answers! Classic!

    That's coz there ARE two different answers:

    From the capping point of view 0645 is peak - off peak doesn't start until 0930 for capping purposes

    From the Oyster single fare point of view 0645 is off peak.

    And yes it's the touch in time that counts.
  • chuckley
    chuckley Posts: 4,405 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture
    are you by any change starting from a greater london station that doesnt operate paug oyster?!
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