The story so far: Earlier this year, after repeated trips to the PO where I was
was living (because they'd run out of the cards), I got my new plastic travel
pass, not due to expire until 2006. After a few month's normal use it started
to not work, intermittently, and eventually ceased working altogether. As this
meant asking station staff to let me through barriers they advised me to get it
replaced.
A couple of weeks ago, after some delay with PO counter staff here thinking it
was like a new application. I got my nice new replacement pass. . .
(Apologies to regular readers who are already familar with this saga so far)
Well, this week my new pass has stopped working. Nothing gradual, just stopped,
kaput, just like that. And like the man on the Euston Square barrier said last
night, "You want to take that back and get a new one".
I don't really want to, especially not after the bother I had last time, but it
looks like I'm going to have to.
At this rate I could get through quite a lot of cards before the date in 2006
when I am supposed to renew my pass. Mind you, it does give me a chance to get
to chat up that nice young lady at the PO, though I guess being entitled to a
free travel pass is a bit of a giveaway on my age.
Has anyone had similar experience with failing cards, or heard how frequently
this is happening? I have not knowingly mistreated the card and it shows no
signs of wear and tear, as used to effect the old cards through repeated use,
dust etc. Is there any recommended way of prolonging their active life? Could
there be a manufacturing fault causing this problem?

I never had a problem with my card, neither did my husband.
Maybe you're exposing your card too much/often/whatever to some kind of
source (e.g. magnetic field) that destroyed the data? Or your favourite
PO isn't storing the cards properly...


CharlesPottins wrote:
The story so far: Earlier this year, after repeated trips to the PO where I was
was living (because they'd run out of the cards), I got my new plastic travel
pass, not due to expire until 2006. After a few month's normal use it started
to not work, intermittently, and eventually ceased working altogether. As this
meant asking station staff to let me through barriers they advised me to get it
replaced.
A couple of weeks ago, after some delay with PO counter staff here thinking it
was like a new application. I got my nice new replacement pass. . .
(Apologies to regular readers who are already familar with this saga so far)
Well, this week my new pass has stopped working. Nothing gradual, just stopped,
kaput, just like that. And like the man on the Euston Square barrier said last
night, "You want to take that back and get a new one".
I don't really want to, especially not after the bother I had last time, but it
looks like I'm going to have to.
At this rate I could get through quite a lot of cards before the date in 2006
when I am supposed to renew my pass. Mind you, it does give me a chance to get
to chat up that nice young lady at the PO, though I guess being entitled to a
free travel pass is a bit of a giveaway on my age.
Has anyone had similar experience with failing cards, or heard how frequently
this is happening? I have not knowingly mistreated the card and it shows no
signs of wear and tear, as used to effect the old cards through repeated use,
dust etc. Is there any recommended way of prolonging their active life? Could
there be a manufacturing fault causing this problem?

On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 12:33:36 GMT, Juli wrote:

I never had a problem with my card, neither did my husband.
Maybe you're exposing your card too much/often/whatever to some kind of
source (e.g. magnetic field) that destroyed the data? Or your favourite
PO isn't storing the cards properly...



Just as well it is not an UK ID card then! Probably be in the Tower of
London by now about to be beheaded.

David Bradley

Its the magnetic strip getting wiped by something. Common cause is a
magnetic clip on a wallet of handbag where it is kept. Another common one is
the magnetic bracelets the older folk tend to wear for joint relief etc. Can
also be done by mobile phone in close proximity. Happens very regular.
Cant it now be done at your local station. It was introduced like that about
2 years ago but it may have changed perhaps. Just ask the nice young lady on
the barrier to see if it can be done locally.

"David Bradley" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 12:33:36 GMT, Juli wrote:

I never had a problem with my card, neither did my husband.
Maybe you're exposing your card too much/often/whatever to some kind of
source (e.g. magnetic field) that destroyed the data? Or your favourite
PO isn't storing the cards properly...



Just as well it is not an UK ID card then! Probably be in the Tower of
London by now about to be beheaded.

David Bradley

Malcolm & Nika wrote to uk.transport.london on Thu, 25 Nov 2004:

Its the magnetic strip getting wiped by something. Common cause is a
magnetic clip on a wallet of handbag where it is kept. Another common one is
the magnetic bracelets the older folk tend to wear for joint relief etc. Can
also be done by mobile phone in close proximity. Happens very regular.
Cant it now be done at your local station. It was introduced like that about
2 years ago but it may have changed perhaps. Just ask the nice young lady on
the barrier to see if it can be done locally.

I understood the OP was talking about an Oyster-like card, not the kind
with the magnetic strip. Those die very easily indeed!
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 22 November 2004

"Malcolm & Nika" wrote in message ...
Its the magnetic strip getting wiped by something. Common cause is a
magnetic clip on a wallet of handbag where it is kept. Another common one is
the magnetic bracelets the older folk tend to wear for joint relief etc. Can
also be done by mobile phone in close proximity. Happens very regular.
Cant it now be done at your local station. It was introduced like that about
2 years ago but it may have changed perhaps. Just ask the nice young lady on
the barrier to see if it can be done locally.

Unfortunately for the OP, he said 'plastic', which means that he has
an Oystercard.

In the case of an Oyster, exposure to powerful radio frequency
emissions or other EM radiation could damage the chip and/or aerial
within the Oyster. Stuff like microwaves, TVs, cellphones or carbon
arc lamps (!) could be responsible.

One likely culprit are the RFID-busters used by department stores,
which send out a superpowered radio burst to fry the chip inside the
disposable RFID tag. I wonder if the OP works in or near a department
store.

The card is indeed an Oyster, and they were supposed to be a big improvement on
the old cards which had to be passed through the barrier slot and took wear and
tear, sometimes not lasting the year. the new plastic cards usually stay in
your little wallet and just need pressing on the barrier or the widget on buses
(often these are out of order on buses round my way).
The plastic cards are supposed to last two years before expiring.
As regards electro-magnetic radiation (or induction? forgive my ignorance) I
have wondered about this. I may occasionally have carried the card in the same
pocket as my mobile, or left it lying near my PC.
Hey, if these things are damaging my oyster card what are they doing to ME?!!
Still wondering whether this is a widespread phenomenon, and whether any advice
has been given on safeguarding the cards?.

On Thu, 25 Nov 2004 23:28:37 +0000, CharlesPottins wrote:

The card is indeed an Oyster, and they were supposed to be a big improvement on
the old cards which had to be passed through the barrier slot and took wear and
tear, sometimes not lasting the year. the new plastic cards usually stay in
your little wallet and just need pressing on the barrier or the widget on buses
(often these are out of order on buses round my way).
The plastic cards are supposed to last two years before expiring.
As regards electro-magnetic radiation (or induction? forgive my ignorance) I
have wondered about this. I may occasionally have carried the card in the same
pocket as my mobile, or left it lying near my PC.
Hey, if these things are damaging my oyster card what are they doing to ME?!!
Still wondering whether this is a widespread phenomenon, and whether any advice
has been given on safeguarding the cards?.

My Oyster went kaput with ~ £9 of prey-pay on it. They wont change it at
the station, I have to send in a form with my name and address. Bloody
theives, I wont be so stupid in future.

As for oyster, I keep it in my back left pocket, and my work ID card in my
back right pocket. My work ID has never let me down in the 15 months I've
had it. My Oyster lasted 3.