Oyster

stevemcol

Hi. I travel to London once or twice a year just for weekend breaks, sight seeing etc. I got Oyster cards for me and the missus last year and think they're great. I'm just trying to top them up on line but the system insists I nominate a station to activate the top up. Is there anyway round this. I just want to put £10 on each card on-line (I was actually then going to lend them to a friend). I don't remember having to nominate a station when I first bought and loaded up the cards.

omen666

I dont recall thi having to happen either, I would suggest noinating the station that you would normally arrive into London in

LittleVoice

The funds don't get added to the card until they are physically presented at a machine and then as you go through the systems adds it. There is a period (sorry don't recall how long) in which the card has to pass through a machine at that station in order for it to work. (If it doesn't I hope your money is returned to your debit/credit card.)

flyingscotno1

LittleVoice wrote: »

The funds don't get added to the card until they are physically presented at a machine and then as you go through the systems adds it. There is a period (sorry don't recall how long) in which the card has to pass through a machine at that station in order for it to work. (If it doesn't I hope your money is returned to your debit/credit card.)

Buy it on the day of arrival- or nominate a station you'll arrive at 24hr before.

diable

Why don't you just top it up when you reach London at the first station/ticket machine you come across?

[Deleted User]

It's a strange shortcoming of Oyster that you must present it at a fixed point within 7 days of ordering the top-up. If the card isn't touched at the station the top-up is refunded back to your card.

You could set the top-up so when you get to London it will top-up at whichever station you go through first or you could both top-up when you arrive at a tube station.

Alternative - buy a couple of new oyster cards online. Then you can ask for any value as they'll then post the cards to you. You can then return your existing PAYG Oyster cards to a tube station and get a full refund for the credit on it plus the £3 deposit paid when you first got it. However this seems more tedious than simply topping-up when you get to London.

Simple system isn't it? :rolleyes: It took me a while to get used to it too!

stevemcol

Hi

Thanks for all the replies. I was just trying to make it as simple as poss for my friend. Anyway, all good in the end. She just topped up on a tube station no probs.

The system is stupid though. I can't see why you shouldn't just be able to top up on line wihtout nominating a station and having to activate. I'm sure they've got they're reasons. I travel often enough to use auto credit card top-up so I'll probably set that up for the future.