Oyster Card question

Ali195 · 3 Apr 2011 at 20:16

Ok so i've landed a new job in London so naturally i need a Oyster card. Just happened to locate one from visiting London last summer so i go online to register it. Still had £10.50 on it (good times) so i try to top it up when i suddenly find 1. Asks me to pick a week i will be using the card. 2. Asks what station i will be activaing my card from?

I always presumed these cards could be topped up & used in any station, at any time but you must 'start & end' the trip via scanners or you dont get the discount.

uvarvu · 3 Apr 2011 at 20:19

You can top up at any station but if you buy credit or travelcards online you have to pick a station to pick up your purchase from. Just pick the station nearest your workplace if you're not sure where you'll be travelling from and use the 10.50 to pay for the journey on the way there.

bmi92 · 3 Apr 2011 at 20:19

Did you try and top it up online? If you're topping up online you must choose a station to "activate" your top-up.

They can, however, also be topped up at any(most) stations.

Ali195 · 3 Apr 2011 at 20:31

Ok so different rules for topping up online vs station. I presume to 'pickup' your online purchase you need to put the card in a 'hole in a wall?

xarr · 3 Apr 2011 at 20:46

Nope, you just touch in (on the yellow disks) and it will auto add the topup. You do however have to wait for a few days until they email you and say its ready for collection and you then have a few days to collect it. Good I guess if your that organised but its just as easy to top up at a station with cash or cards.

Ali195 · 3 Apr 2011 at 21:03

May as well just topup in a station, as i'l be arriving at Kings Cross anyway.

Thanks a lot for the help people.

Mattus · 3 Apr 2011 at 21:12

If you're travelling daily, you might also want to activate the auto top-up feature (automatically tops the card up if the balance goes below a certain amount).