A couple of months ago my Oyster card stopped working and I had to get a replacement. I filled out a replacement form and the lady at the ticket office told me I had supplied an incorrect security answer, which by the way has always been my mothers maiden name. She told me it was a memorable date and gave me my replacement card.

When I next checked online, I discovered my old card was still registered so I called the Oyster phoneline to try to retrieve my security answer. I was told that I needed to go to an underground ticket office with some id and they'd give me the answer. I went to several ticket offices and they all said that the cannot give me the answer unless I 'guess the correct answer'. They also told me I should call the Oyster phoneline and give them information about recent journeys or (fanfare) 'guess the correcrt answer'. I seem to be going round and round in circles. Basically I cannot check my Oyster balance online and have no record of my journeys which is a real pain.

To make matters worse I looked into making a complaint but the Oyster complaint procedure requires I have...wait for it....my security answer!!!!

My only option left is to pay the 'refundable' £3 and get a new card. I find this totally atrocious!!