Difficulty registering Oyster card - security question

[afc1992]

Hi there,

Firstly - appreciate this site is run by volunteers, so thanks for all everyone does on here in terms of contributors

I have a questions regarding Oyster that is driving me round the bend. I bought an Oyster card from a newsagent - paid £7 deposit, and topped up, but bought the card with no details exchanged (i.e. no registration form completed, just bought the Oyster and left). I am trying to register the Oyster card online and its asking me for a 'Security question answer ("this could be your mothers maiden name, a memorable place or date or a PIN code that has been issued to you"). Obviously I dont have any security question answers set up as there was nothing exchanged at the newsagent other than paying the Oyster deposit! When I ring up Oyster helpline, they advise to go back to the newsagent and get a code/security answer - which they dont have/have said they are completely unaware what this means!

TfL/Oyster and the newsagent are sending me round in circles and I cant register my Oyster. I have had a google for this and it looks like this problem existed as far back as 2009/2010 as there were other on other forum asking similar problems back then. But unclear what the resolution is.

Any help would be amazing on this. And hopefully this post can remain so others similarly baffled like me can read for info...

 

[CyrusWuff]

You'll need to visit a London Underground station and ask a member of staff to (re)register the card on a ticket machine.

If memory serves, they should ask you for your postcode and get you to enter a password (recommendations being a memorable name, memorable eight digit day month year or memorable place.)

Wait until next day and you should then be able to register the card online using that same password.

 

[Adam Williams]

I was able to convince them to just tell me the password/answer over the phone, though I'm not sure if they were supposed to or not..!

 

[CyrusWuff]

I was able to convince them to just tell me the password/answer over the phone, though I'm not sure if they were supposed to or not..!

Given the original idea of the password was to identify you if you phoned them up - before the online self-service system existed, I suspect probably not.

 

[island]

Hi there,

Firstly - appreciate this site is run by volunteers, so thanks for all everyone does on here in terms of contributors

I have a questions regarding Oyster that is driving me round the bend. I bought an Oyster card from a newsagent - paid £7 deposit, and topped up, but bought the card with no details exchanged (i.e. no registration form completed, just bought the Oyster and left). I am trying to register the Oyster card online and its asking me for a 'Security question answer ("this could be your mothers maiden name, a memorable place or date or a PIN code that has been issued to you"). Obviously I dont have any security question answers set up as there was nothing exchanged at the newsagent other than paying the Oyster deposit! When I ring up Oyster helpline, they advise to go back to the newsagent and get a code/security answer - which they dont have/have said they are completely unaware what this means!

TfL/Oyster and the newsagent are sending me round in circles and I cant register my Oyster. I have had a google for this and it looks like this problem existed as far back as 2009/2010 as there were other on other forum asking similar problems back then. But unclear what the resolution is.

Any help would be amazing on this. And hopefully this post can remain so others similarly baffled like me can read for info...

Once you have made a journey with the card and waited 24 hours it should allow you to use this detail to register it.

If not, a competent and willing London Underground station staff member can register the card for you which will invite you to set the password and a postcode.