On 7 Sep, 14:50, "David A Stocks" wrote:
"neverwas" wrote in message

om... No, I accept that. For the odd one-off transaction the inconvenience
is just about acceptable; the last time I collected anything at a
ticket gate was when I set up auto top-up. What I'm particularly
interested in is anyone who prefers online over manual top ups for
putting PAYG value on their Oyster on a regular basis.

Are you looking for script ideas for a variation on "what did the Romans
ever do for us?".

No, just interested in who uses the facility and why. So far the the only
reasons given have been

o * *physical security, unsatisfactory siting of machine (so use a machine
elsewhere?)
o * *ticket machines don't take Amex (they do).

That's it.



There's many other possible reasons. *2 which will count for me when our
corner shop closes:

o * *the local ticket machine is exposed to the elements; my PC ain't;

o * *the local ticket machine is exposed to street robbers; my PC is only
exposed to the burglars.
--
R

The machines I used for manual top up when I did it were Victoria, St
James's Park, Mansion House, Warwick Avenue and Maida Vale; all roughly
equally local to Hove, which is where I live. One of the nice things about
manual top up is that you're not tied to any particular machine or place or
time, and you don't have to take a journey to collect it. The major
irritation of online top up for me was that I was forced to use the
Underground when I wouldn't necessarily choose to; I might want to take a
bus or walk instead.

You could have taken the tram or DLR instead.


The original post that started off this thread was about the inability to
collect online top up at Watford Junction. If this is a preview of how
Oyster is to be rolled out on NR routes south of the river then it will only
serve to reinforce my views about online top up.


But as has already been mentioned in this thread, Watford Junction is
a special case as it is outside the normal zonal area where Oyster is/
will be accepted. There are currently lots of changes being
implemented to prepare for the roll out of Oyster PAYG to NR and until
things have settled down, its a bit early to be praising or
condemning
online top up on NR routes. Currently online top-up only seems to be
available from NR stations where LU or London Overground are in charge
at the station (with the exception of Barking and Upminster where C2C
are in charge, but where dual ticketing has been available for a long
time)