Debit/credit cards
Credit and debit cards can be used in exactly the same way as an Oyster card. The same daily caps apply.
Cards usually need to be activated for contactlessness first, so make sure that you do that before you leave home.
The advantage is that you do not need to buy an Oyster card or top it up. The cost is removed directly from eg your bank account.
We have some thoughts about this:
- it’s even more important that you tap in and tap out, or your account may be charged a higher amount
- digging out a debit card, especially contactless, when passing through a ticket barrier at a busy station or when getting on a bus is an advert for criminals that you have something worth stealing
- if you have a habit of keeping all your cards together, eg in a wallet or purse, not taking your payment card out may cause the wrong card to be debited, the wrong amount or more than one card charged. This is card clash. Keep your cards separate and take out just the one you need.
- always remember to tap in and tap out with the same card
Electronic devices
Oyster and card readers also accept electronic devices, with a suitable payment system. You can also use a phone to top up an Oyster card, though we have never tried that.
The same caveats apply as debit etc cards, except smart devices are even more desirable to criminals.
Also, our continuing experience of delays getting through ticket barriers or boarding buses is with people trying to find their phones, spending what seems like hours logging in, finding some app, trying to get it to work…
Our advice: use a card, if you can.
(NB: prices increased in March 2024 so do double check on the day).