Similarly, many ATMs do not ask if you want another service after you ask
for cash. Considering that most people just want cash, the calculation must
be that things are speeded up by not giving people too many choices (have
you seen how long people stare blankly at the screen when asked an
unexpected question!).

I assume you wanted to pay by card in a second transaction so you were
stuck, but on balance I don't think I would have programmed the thing
differently. Using the machines for (single!) oyster transactions is dream -
I can top up my prepay in about 10 seconds, precisely because I'm not
standing there answering questions.

j



"Mrs Redboots" wrote in message
...
Back from holiday, this morning I wanted to renew my bus pass on my
Oyster card and top up my pre-pay, which is running low.

Why, oh why, can you not do that at one of the machines in the
Underground station? I held up the person behind me quite badly trying
to work out how to do both of those things in one transaction, but it
simply doesn't seem to be possible. If you ask to renew your pass, it
takes you straight to that screen and demands money, and if you ask to
top up pre-pay, it demands money for that. Wouldn't it be possible to
program the machines so that, if you ordered a new pass, it asked you
whether you wanted to top up your pre-pay before you paid for the pass?
It seems a very simple programming task to me.....

I am sure I could do it if I went to the newsagent instead of the ticket
machines, but he doesn't take Visa so you have to write out a cheque,
and when in a hurry, as I was this morning..... sheesh..... so I still
have far too little pre-pay on my card, but luckily I don't need it for
a day or so.
--
"Mrs Redboots"
http://www.amsmyth.demon.co.uk/
Website updated 23 May 2005