In message
, at
14:04:56 on Sat, 24 Mar 2012, Owain
remarked:
It's regarded as a banking facility (or e-money), if they can be spent
with a third party. Most gift cards are tied to one shop or product.

However the regulations allow you to get a refund of the stored value
on your Oyster.

So all that's needed is a machine (A) which you touch your Oyster
against and (if you have stored PAYG value) it gives you a 20p or even
a 50p coin as a partial refund.

That's a very clever idea, but has a drawback - it would allow thieves
to "cash in" on lost/stolen cards.
--
Roland Perry