It is evident from posts here, as well as from the very low level of
take up, that people simply do not understand what pre pay is and how it
works. The huge attachment to Travelcard and its relative ease of use is
obviously a factor in making it hard for people to understand how
pre-pay works alongside it or in the case of capping or extensions in
conjunction with it. TfL urgently need to get more information out to
actual and potential card holders as to how Oyster works - publicity has
been dumbed down too far.

I'd agree with that. I was at a tramstop in Croydon and there were some
young girls standing around talking and when one of them queried what the
Oyster validator was another replied that 'it was for old people'.

I am trying to remember if there has been a mailshot to everyones homes
talking about Oyster Pre-Pay. Every now and again bus maps and timetables
and area guides turn up but I can't recall a Pre-Pay one.

I haven't bought a single on the bus or tube for ages. Is there any Oyster
publicity on them? It would be great if it were possible to print 'you
would have saved at least £x.xx on this ticket if you'd used Pre-Pay' on
them.

When it comes to actually using Pre-Pay, something that does frustrate me is
the signs above tube and rail platform validators that say words to the
effect of "Pre-Pay users touch in here". That simply isn't good enough.
More information is needed. For example, at Farringdon Pre-Pay users who
will be entering and leaving the station through the gates may pass these
validators on the platforms and be tempted to use them. If they are
switching between tube and Thameslink they might pass one or two or them and
again use one or both of them. Maybe this is harmless but if isn't they
should be warned off. The signage should make it clear under what
circumstances a validation is needed. Similarly at Wimbledon there are
validators on the tube platforms but again no explanatory note to make it
clear when they are being used. For example someone arriving on the
District Line and switching to the tram might think that touching in on the
tram platform removes the need to have touched out on the tube platform or
touching out on the tube platform removed the need to touch in. It is also
incredibly easy to walk past the validators on the tube platform without
thinking.