Oyster top up from National Rail TVM

[bakerstreet]

Can anyone remember the first time they topped up their Oyster card from an NR Station?

Wow. I'm sure I am going to show myself up here but...

I use NR TVMs often to buy tickets but only use tube tvms when (v rarely) topping my Oyster card. I have a season and rarely need payg.

This morning as I picked up my Metro a girl who was standing by the tvm asked if I could help her top up her oyster.

So. It took us both 6 or 7 mins minutes to do it. It was our first time for us both.

The sun blinding us to the screen didn't help but in addition:

- you think you've done all you need on one particular screen but there's a button neither of us saw to move on. Happened on a couple of occasions.
In a place which for some reason wasnt expected.

- then the whole process seems so fiddly!

From memory the tube was much easier!

I've sometimes wondered why people find the tvms so difficult; today I learned my lesson!

So, can you remember the first time you topped up your Oyster card from an NR Station?
Did you find it straight forward?

 

[bb21]

I last did what you described at East Croydon. The process was painless and straight-forward as I recall. Of course as with all Oyster transactions, you need to remember to touch the card on the reader at the end of your transaction.

 

[IanD]

If you're really describing topping up tickets then I had the same issue at Barking. Took us about 3 goes to get it right. I seem to recall it kept finishing and cancelling the transaction earlier than expected due to us not seeing some instructions on the screen, but once we'd got the hang of it there was no problem with the next 3 Oysters we topped up.

 

[bakerstreet]

Correct exactly what was happening to us. Second go onwards I'll be ok but was amazed at how difficult I found it !

 

[MikeWh]

There does seem to be an extra "are you sure?" type question before it lets you put your money in, but other than that it seems straightforward. Sun on the TVM screen can be a show stopper with the simplest of purchases though.

 

[Muzer]

I've never liked the LUL TVMs. They always seem awkward and rather limited in what they can do. I've not had much opportunity to use them because 90% of the time they can't do what I need them to.

 

[Hadders]

I topped up my Oyster PAYG using an FCC TVM at Finsbury Park on Saturday.

I don't use Oyster that often as it's usually better for me to get an out-boundary travelcard but I found the whole process straightforward.

 

[455driver]

I topped up at Hayes and Harlington last Thursday and it must have taken all of 30 seconds.

Its quite easy when you read the instructions on the screen and follow them!

 

[Mojo]

It does seem to confuse some people as you need to press a button on the screen whereas on LU machines, which is what most people are probably used to, you can just place your Oyster card to the reader. Other than that I've found the process fairly straightforward. Might have been imagining but I think it was the case that on some TVMs you cannot top up odd amounts (on LU Poms you can put in a random number of coins - at least 10p pieces).

 

[MikeWh]

Yet another blindingly helpful post from someone who hasn't properly read the thread.:roll::roll:

The sun blinding us to the screen didn't help

Its quite easy when you read the instructions on the screen and follow them!

From memory, the process at a SET TVM is thus:

1. Hold Oyster over reader to activate Oyster menu (you can press the button on the screen but then you have to hold the card anyway).
2. Select manual top up
3. Select amount or select "Other"
4. If Other, enter amount on screen
5. Confirm the amount entered (this is the bit which catches some people)
6. Pay the amount, or enter a payment card and follow card instructions
7. touch Oyster on reader again
8. Collect change or receipt if appropriate

 

[IanD]

Yet another blindingly helpful post from someone who hasn't properly read the thread.:roll::roll:





From memory, the process at a SET TVM is thus:

1. Hold Oyster over reader to activate Oyster menu (you can press the button on the screen but then you have to hold the card anyway).
2. Select manual top up
3. Select amount or select "Other"
4. If Other, enter amount on screen
5. Confirm the amount entered (this is the bit which catches some people)
6. Pay the amount, or enter a payment card and follow card instructions
7. touch Oyster on reader again
8. Collect change or receipt if appropriate

Yeah - that was the problem, we were so used to just putting the coins in until we reached the required amount (rather than saying how much we wanted to top up) that by the time we'd found that the slots didn't work, the screen had reset and we had to start again.

I prefer this method actually as you get change if you put too much in unlike tfl machines which will take your whole £20 even if you only need to add a fiver or so.

Yes - I know this is where someone comes in and advises auto top-up but that's not something I'm prepared to set up!

 

[island]

It's possible to top up £5 on an LUL POM and pay with £20 and get change, although it will be all in coins.

 

[IanD]

It's possible to top up £5 on an LUL POM and pay with £20 and get change, although it will be all in coins.

Must be doing that wrong too! Think I'll stick to the ticket stops.

 

[paddington]

LO/NR machines accept 5p coins, and you need to enter the amount you want to top up. As MikeWh says, you also need to confirm that you want to top up twice.

LU machines do not accept 5p coins. They allow you to enter fixed amounts in multiples of £5 to top up, ostensibly but not necessarily with notes, but there is also an option to drop in any amount of coins (for about 1 minute - any longer and everything comes crashing back out into the change box).

In both cases overpaying will cause change to be given, but in coins only - a potential way of obtaining 15 pound coins if you had a need for them.

 

[bicbasher]

I prefer topping up at LO/NR TVM's. First of all, they let you top up with a credit/debit card even with 10p where it's a £5 minimum at LU self service machines.

The double confirmation ensures you know how much you're topping up with. However I can see the OP's annoyance if you're used to LU machines that you have to physically press the Oyster button which is always nearest to the reader on the touchscreen, but those of use in LO/NR land are used to it along with manually adding in the total if you require a top up under £5.