Absurd Oyster Top-up Process

Nessun_Dorma

martindow wrote: »

Your son could open an account - he'll need one at some point. This one offers a contactless card, for instance

http://www.barclays.co.uk/Otheraccounts/Childrensaccounts/YoungPersonsAccount/P1242557963846

He could continue using this or move to the Oyster card if he can link his rail card to it. You need to ask the staff at the station to do this - they hang around by the machines now that ticket offices are closed.

I'm sorry, I should have explained (many already know this on here) my son is autistic. He finds the concept of money quite difficult to grasp on occasions. This why the Oyster system is, apart from this anomaly, a godsend.

martindow

Nessun_Dorma wrote: »

I'm sorry, I should have explained (many already know this on here) my son is autistic. He finds the concept of money quite difficult to grasp on occasions. This why the Oyster system is, apart from this anomaly, a godsend.

If he can manage an Oyster card he would be able to use the card from an account like this in just the same way. There would be no need for him to deal with the bank account beyond this - you could top up the account in the same way as you would with the Oyster card.

Bollotom

It is a communication thing. Even staff dependents' passes have to be collected from a nominated station. I know it's a pain in the butt but it is what it is. Perhaps one day TfL will get Oyster to work beyond TfL zones but I wouldn't hold my breath. In these days of privatisation it would probably cost millions to link it to every terminal.

Shelldean

Can't help with your dilemma but have you got him a normal oyster or a zip 16+ one?

warehouse

I live in Greater London, about 2 minutes walk from a tube station, and yes, the Oyster card payment system is shambolic.

My daughter once got stuck in Central London with not enough credit on her card to get home. She called me, I called TFL to get it credited. "It'll take 24 hours" they said, "and need to be done by swiping in at a nominated tube station" they added. No matter what I tried there was simply no way around it and they either couldn't or wouldn't hep. I had to go into town and meet her.

A joke in 2016, OP I feel your pain.

wealdroam

warehouse wrote: »

My daughter once got stuck in Central London with not enough credit on her card to get home.

Did your daughter learn from her mistake?

lush_walrus

agrinnall wrote: »

Oyster cards are pretty much a dead duck (if that's not a mixed metaphor) now, the vast majority of people will have a contactless card or a phone that will make NFC payments. Why carry an extra piece of plastic around when you'll almost certainly have one or both of the other means to pay?

A lot of people still prefer Oysters as if the charge is incorrect you can reclaim the error. With contactless you can not.

peachyprice

Shelldean wrote: »

Can't help with your dilemma but have you got him a normal oyster or a zip 16+ one?

You can't get a zip 16+ if you live outside a London borough.

Shelldean

peachyprice wrote: »

You can't get a zip 16+ if you live outside a London borough.

They way I read TFL you can but only those who reside in a London borough get free bus and tram trave and half price train and tube l. Others who live outsideget half price adult fares on everything

Buy child-rate 7 Day, Monthly or longer period Travelcard and Bus & Tram Passes
Pay as you go at half adult rate on bus, Tube, tram, DLR, London Overground, TfL Rail and most National Rail services in London


https://tfl.gov.uk/fares-and-payments/travel-for-under-18s/zip-oyster-photocards?intcmp=25258

ehlo

Surely there are some very easy options here....

• Get a contactless gift card and use this on the underground
• Order a new Oyster card that will come with the amount of credit you specify. This will mean you have the pay an additional £5 deposit
• Top up the oyster card at one of the self service machines in the station that takes cash