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 My boyfriend always complains that he thinks I am "outdated" and that he thinks I should just use my debit card instead of my oyster card.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 Am I outdated?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

Live in London haven't used mine for years and years it does seem outdated to me

Although I can see the logic of saying you'd rather lose an oyster card than a debit card, these days you can freeze or cancel a lost or stolen debit card easily on your bank app

Yes, if you have a smart phone (and it wasn't also stolen) and you have a bank app and you have signal.

You could get a prepaid debit card so you can control the amount on it. I use Hyperjar for the kids. It’s free and easy to use.

I live in London and haven’t used one for years, don’t see anyone else using one either just phones or bank cards. Didn’t realise so many still used them.

I use Oyster because like some PP it's linked to my railcard. There is no way to do this with a debit or credit card, AFAIK.

I use a disability Freedom Pass (which gives me free travel) but I call it an Oyster card because I'm too embarrassed to admit I'm disabled enough for one. I do feel a bit old fashioned using a card instead of a phone to touch in.

'Outdated & old fashioned' my arse. I love my oyster.

I have travelled in and around London's transport system using overground, underground and busses daily for the best part of 30 years, and have used Oyster cards ever since they were introduced.

I have probably used my bank card instead of Oyster on less than 5 occasions when I forgot my Oyster lol

I like using Oyster as I like my travel spend being ring-fenced. Since the pandemic I have only used PAYG, rather than a season ticket as I did previously. I go in to the office 3 or 4 days a week, and can easily track the caps being applied with my Oyster card.

Journeys are logged instantaneously on my Oyster card, and I'm not sure that would be the case with a bank card. As PP said, the only users I ever see getting stuck at the barrier and holding up the queues are those using bank cards lol

I remember in about 2011 overhearing some teenagers on a bus howling with laughter about how 30 year old women call their phone “a mobile”. I imagine using an Oyster would be a similar ick to kids. Not to say it’s justified, just you know what it’s like when you’re that age.

When do we reckon the social switchover happened? I reckon 2017ish.

I moved out of London more than a decade ago but used to have a monthly travel card on my oyster. I still go to London frequently and use my Oyster card but I do feel outdated as it feels like I’m the only one! How do people with weekly/monthly travels cards do it on their debit card?

Don’t kids/teens use Oyster cards though?! 🤦‍♀️ 😂

I've lived in London for 22 years and can't remember the last time I used an oyster card.

I live in London and just tap my phone.

DH uses an Oyster card.

I live in London and use an Oyster card because I'm ancient so get free travel 😁. My DD also uses one as she's a student so gets a discount.

Yes, they all use their Zip Oyster cards so I don't get what the PP was saying at all

Oyster - surely we all get fed up with folk waving their phones unsuccessfully to get through the barriers 🤷‍♀️ Honestly, paper tickets work better than some people with phones.

Your card is attached to an oyster account so it can apply the daily cap.

So you don't need an Oyster card for most of things mentioned on here like travel cards or discounts.

And to the pp who said about the time taken for fingerprinting - also not needed anymore! You can set your phone so that oyster readers don't need to do anything at all but be touched together

Not In London but when visiting I use my contactless card, I do use either a Monzo/starling card with enough money on it for travel though in case of theft/losing it etc. I think your boyfriend is being unreasonable, literally no impact to his life or travel time I really don’t see the issue

Ah so this is why my DM uses her Oyster card must be because she gets free travel

I thought she couldn't embrace using her debit card

@mondaytosunday

My DS is starting uni in London this Sept how can he apply / get student travel ? And will it save him a lot or just a bit ?

So if I'm using my debit card or phone I just tap the station I start at then tap say Victoria

Then tap again going into Victoria tube then tap out again getting out at whatever stop

Etc etc

What if I forget to tap out or in ?

This.
I have to say that your boyfriend sounds a bit controlling or hypercritical, OP.

I would understand if there were some disadvantage to you in using your Oyster card and he wanted to help you, but I'm not sure what his problem is. Even if you were somehow "outdated" (whatever that might mean), what difference is that to him?

I use a debit card when I'm in London. I did not know my over 60s Rail Card could be linked to an Oyster Card.

Same. And my husband doesn't feel the need to comment on how I pay for anything!

I do the same.... used to live in London but now I'm in Hertfordshire. Go to London to meet up with family/friends/ theatre/football at least once a month.