To ask if you still use an Oyster Card?

[ZippyTurtle]

Both me and my boyfriend live in London, both lived in London since we were born. I have an oyster card and always use it and never use my debit card for the tube. My boyfriend doesn't use an oyster card and just uses his debit card. My boyfriend always complains that he thinks I am "outdated" and that he thinks I should just use my debit card instead of my oyster card. Is he right? Am I outdated? Does anyone who lives in London still use an oyster card these days or is it just me?

YANBU - I live in London and use an oyster card.

YABU - I live in London and just use my debit card

I don't live in London but I travel there often.

I use an Oyster card because I can have my railcard discount added to it.

Most commuters I see are using contactless via phones or smart watches so definitely not oyster or debit cards

I still use my Oyster card and have no intention of stopping - makes it very easy to check journeys online so that when I mess up I can claim a refund easily.

Same.

I live in London and use my oyster card, I prefer to keep it separate to my general spending. I have also been told I'm old fashioned!

Fair enough. My boyfriend complains about my oyster card literally every time we use the tube and it's starting to really annoy me.

Your boyfriend has a bee in his bonnet about something that has absolutely nothing to do with him. Any other red flags?

I use Oyster. I don’t like getting my phone or wallet out all the time for the tube, prefer to leave my phone zipped up in my bag and just have a travel card wallet with my oyster and my train pass.

I also don't live in London but prefer oyster card so I am not walking around with my card out - it probably isn't but it feels more secure zipped in my bag / pocket!

I live in London & use my oyster because it’s easier for budgeting, I can just put a set amount on it every month.

Tell your boyfriend to shut up. It’s hardly as if using oyster takes longer than using a card, unless you’re topping up at the machine every time or something random like that?

I still use mine and buy a travel card every month just in case I’m a knob and spend too much money and get into work. Which I haven’t done since I was about 21, but still.

Same. I find it easier for budgeting too.

I travel to London regularly and still use an oyster card. Because once I've tapped in or out I usually just shove it in my pocket rather than put it properly away in my purse. I'd rather lose an oyster card than my bank card.

I also find pulling a card out of my pocket faster@ than getting my phone out and doing the fingerprint and then carefully putting that away. My phone doesn't have the face unlock thing, maybe that would be easier.

If I had a smartwatch I might use that though. I've watched people do that and think it looks quite easy. But I don't usually wear a watch and a smartwatch is just another thing to have to remember to charge up.

An old fashioned physical oyster card suits me fine.

I do. I have a bus pass and £20 pay and go.

When I use my bank card, it doesn't come out straight away for some reason. So if I am running low on cash, it can be a real problem budgetwise. I've been known, the day before payday, to go down the back of the sofa to.makevup the fare.

The other thing is that my oyster card is separate from my purse, so if it is pickpocketed, I can still get home. True my whole bag might get taken from a chair, etc, but I stand a chance.

But why does it matter to him.

You could put your Oyster on your phone to bamboozle him?

i now do just use my debit card on my phone but Oyster is way better - massively less trouble w refunds if something goes awry. I’ve just got lazy…

YABU I go in two or three days a way, use my phone haven't had oyster for yeats
But railcard doesn't benefit me

I don't know what I will do if/when they stop oyster cards. I'll just have to use my debit card if that happens.

I still Oyster.

Could use a card - but have oyster so still using it...

Yes, I don't come to London often but I'm attached to my original Oyster. Even though it doesn't work on the app!

My boyfriend just complains about it because he says it is outdated and old fashioned. Those are the only reasons he ever gives.

@ZippyTurtle Does anyone who lives in London still use an oyster card these days or is it just me?

I have to say I love this question in your OP. Out of context makes it sound like you think you’re the only person in the entire millions in London that use an Oyster card 😂 and the whole system is there for you.

i use my oyster sometimes but rarely these days

I use my oyster. (Live in London)

I have had monthly travelcard on it before.

However, one thing oyster does not do is

If you spend more in a week than a weekly travelcard would cost, then it caps you at a weekly travelcard cost.

Using a debit card (registered) does this.

So when I was working in London office. I'd buy a monthly and then it may be 2 weeks until a holiday. So no point getting another monthly but weekly May not work out as it was more than just 5 return tube trips. So I'd use a debit card that week in case of suddenly spent more on a few more trips

Now I work from home it's not an issue.

It's the exact same online system for contactless cards and you can apply for refunds in exactly the same way.

I work in London and have one due to railcard, but if it wasn't for that no way would I faff around with it, contactless is much easier.