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Colin Rosenstiel · May 28th 06, 02:18 AM posted to uk.transport.london

In article ,
(Paul Corfield) wrote:

On Sat, 27 May 2006 18:46 +0100 (BST), (Colin
Rosenstiel) wrote:

I used my Oyster card to enter the tube the other evening by
mistake. I had a national rail paper ticket for the journey I was
making but in my hurry forgot to use it. I exited at the other end
using the paper ticket but was unable to clear the unresolved
journey because the ticket office at East Putney was closed and I
couldn't find a member of staff to talk to. As I was being met by my
mother in a waiting car I didn't have time to check for the staff
more thorough I assumed I could sort it out the next morning.

However when I came back the next morning the machine appeared to
show the journey as completed, certainly no unresolved journey. As
the ticket office was again closed the member of staff on the
barrier suggested I sort it at the other end. That seemed logical as
it was St James's Park, LU HQ.

However, the ticket office there confirmed that the journey showed
as resolved despite my lack of touching out (or other Oyster use)
since entering the system the previous evening. They could only
refer me to the helpline who did sort me out, thankfully.

So how did the journey get resolved?

Where did you enter the system?

I ask because special arrangements were in place at stations adjacent
to Sloane Square because of the Chelsea Flower Show. Everyone was
directed to an exit without any validation equipment and there were
posters telling people not to worry as their seemingly incomplete
journeys would be rectified upon re-entry. UTS has a concept called
aliasing which can be used in an emergency where the station gates and
ticket machines can be two places at the same time (!). It is
possible that the pre-pay functionality on the entry gate may have
done something clever with your card.

Nowhere near there. I entered at Marble Arch. My previous journey was
from King's Cross to Marble Arch.

--
Colin Rosenstiel