In article .com,
wrote:
You have never actually been able to do that. The large touch screen
machines at some stations (Tottenham court road and others) used to
have a pay by oyster option but there was a sign saying not to use it

I did it on more than one occasion at Finchley Central (usually to
get a single zone extension). There was no sign visable.

--
Mike Bristow - really a very good driver

"Thomas" wrote in message
...
I got myself an Oyster Card with the intention of using it for single bus
journeys, so I went online to put some credit on it.

However, I was only given the option to put a ticket on it and then pick
up
this ticket from my local tube station. I didn't understand this, so rang
the helpline. I was told that if I want to use the Oystercard for bus
journeys, I have to top it up at a tube station or at a newsagent's.

I thought the whole point of the Oystercard was so that you could put
credit
on it online, in the comfort of your own home?

*confused*

Thomas

The way it works (I think) is that the stored value is on the card. So when
you top up online you need to nominate a tube station, so that the equipment
at that station will update your card when you are detected. Because you are
unable to nominate the exact bus on which you will be travelling, your card
cannot be updated on a bus.
peter