Help - Washed my Oyster!!

[ValleyLines142]

Evening folks,

I've stupidly accidentally put my Oyster in the washing machine. It was in my jeans and I forgot to take it out!

What are the chances of it working again? Can I get a new one if it's registered and protected, or is that only if it is lost or stolen?

Thanks in advance!

 

[anthony263]

I did that with mine after changing into works uniform and fogetting I left it in my trousers which my parents then washed.

My oyster card you will be pleased to know does still work although it hardly gets used due to me buying paper travelcards when I visit London as it offers more flexibility.

Sadly my IFF card didn't survive the wash however.

If you explain I think you shouldnt have too much of a problem getting a replacement although you might be charged

 

[ValleyLines142]

I did that with mine after changing into works uniform and fogetting I left it in my trousers which my parents then washed.

My oyster card you will be pleased to know does still work although it hardly gets used due to me buying paper travelcards when I visit London as it offers more flexibility.

Sadly my IFF card didn't survive the wash however.

If you explain I think you shouldnt have too much of a problem getting a replacement although you might be charged

Will give it another go when I'm in London next!

 

[MikeWh]

Evening folks,

I've stupidly accidentally put my Oyster in the washing machine. It was in my jeans and I forgot to take it out!

What are the chances of it working again? Can I get a new one if it's registered and protected, or is that only if it is lost or stolen?

Thanks in advance!

If it's just been washed then it should be fine. Tumble drying tends to be more risky. If it is dodgy then take it to an Underground station and they can arrange a swap, transfering the deposit and unused credit.

 

[34D]

Do you have an android phone?

 

[causton]

Does this imply you have something that can read Oysters on Android? As I can't read mine with any apps

 

[34D]

Does this imply you have something that can read Oysters on Android? As I can't read mine with any apps

I don't have any myself, but there are a couple of apps that can use NFC to read RFID cards.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hanimobile.oysterads&hl=en is but one example.

 

[MikeWh]

I don't have any myself, but there are a couple of apps that can use NFC to read RFID cards.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hanimobile.oysterads&hl=en is but one example.

But deep down in the description it says:

About supporting NFC feature (Pleas read carefully) We only use this feature to launch this app instantly. We tried, but could not read Oyster card data encrypted.

 

[jon0844]

As long as you can read the encrypted data (even if you can't read it), it should confirm the card is still working. It will have code that can be seen.

I can't see why getting it wet will do any harm. There's a chip and aerial wire inside, but it's effectively sealed and waterproof.

 

[starrymarkb]

If not just report it lost on the website and they'll issue a new one free of charge with your credit on it.

 

[Crossover]

Surely the bigger issue with such cards is excessive heat, rather than moisture?

 

[Eagle]

Surely the bigger issue with such cards is excessive heat, rather than moisture?

Yep, it'll melt it. Washing at 40 °C is probably fine, but tumble drying will almost certainly kill it.

 

[jon0844]

Yes, heat would be a risk but perhaps even then it might take a fair bit. I'd expect to need to see the card deform first.

 

[34D]

There was those bracelets that people were making. Didn't that involve heat?

 

[cjohnson]

There was those bracelets that people were making. Didn't that involve heat?

No... just dissolving the plastic part of the card in nail polish remover, exposing the chip and aerial.

 

[Daniel]

If the card can be read, even if it is damaged, a free exchange can be given instantly in a ticket office, (LUL).

If the card cannot be read, ticket office staff can call the Staff Oyster desk and find out what was on your card, and transfer it onto a new one, within the space of 2-3 minutes.

Nice and simple, at a ticket office. If it's open.

 

[Cliveblackpool]

No... just dissolving the plastic part of the card in nail polish remover, exposing the chip and aerial.

A great idea for TfL to sell - an Oyster 'card' bracelet!

 

[Deerfold]

A friend who got an Oystercard before the general roll-out liked to stick his card at the end of his newspaper and just tap the reader with his newspaper to go through and watch as people gave him odd/surprised looks.

 

[jon0844]

In the winter I put my Oyster card inside my glove and just wave my hand at the reader to enter/exit.

 

[Flamingo]

In the winter I put my Oyster card inside my glove and just wave my hand at the reader to enter/exit.

Tell them your name is Dumbledore!

 

[Eagle]

Take the chip out and mount it on the end of a wand for maximum effect. :P

 

[ValleyLines142]

If it's just been washed then it should be fine. Tumble drying tends to be more risky. If it is dodgy then take it to an Underground station and they can arrange a swap, transfering the deposit and unused credit.

Thank you for the advice. Will see how it is next time I'm in the big smoke.

Do you have an android phone?

Yes, I do. I have the Oyster app, but I had a free trial which has now expired.

 

[Deerfold]

Yes, I do. I have the Oyster app, but I had a free trial which has now expired.

Do any of the Oyster apps actually read the card? All the ones I've seen just provide a front end to the TfL website.

 

[jon0844]

No, the apps don't read the card data - but some can presumably read enough to identify the card and then show the data as long as you've already logged in via the app itself.

I paid for the full version of Oyster Master and have a widget that shows my current balance on the home screen. I can also view my journey history, although there's a large lag for that and something that might one day be speeded up.

 

[34D]

Do any of the Oyster apps actually read the card? All the ones I've seen just provide a front end to the TfL website.

The ITSO apps (which can also read oyster etc) do

 

[jon0844]

I have an app that can read the card, but not display anything useful.

In fact, most NFC cards don't reveal much that is of any use - unless you decode sections of data first.

The only decent thing I can read and 'show off' is the app that can read a passport - showing all the info on the passport page (including your photo) but obviously the 'good stuff' is encrypted, like your biometric data.

The smartcards in Hong Kong, and perhaps others, have apps that can actually show you the balance of your card by touching it. It would be nice if a mobile had the ability to read info from the card, much like staff with an 'Oyster wand'. I am not aware of anything like that existing yet.

 

[Deerfold]

The ITSO apps (which can also read oyster etc) do

Can you provide links to any (or just the names of apps) which read anything useful?

The most I've been able to find out from any I've tried is how much memory my card has.

 

[jon0844]

All I get is the card type and the ability to 'read' various banks of information - but not display anything of any use whatsoever.

At best it confirms the card can be read and isn't corrupt.

 

[34D]

Can you provide links to any (or just the names of apps) which read anything useful?

The most I've been able to find out from any I've tried is how much memory my card has.

Yorcard checker is a good one.

The fact that you can get some encoded information out of the cards tell you that the card 'works'.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

All I get is the card type and the ability to 'read' various banks of information - but not display anything of any use whatsoever.

At best it confirms the card can be read and isn't corrupt.

Which is all the thread OP needs.

 

[tsr]

Take the chip out and mount it on the end of a wand for maximum effect. :P

Ha. A friend of my cousin's did that, and it stopped working eventually. Needless to say they couldn't just go into a ticket office (Diagon Alley LUL, huh!) and get it replaced... the Oyster Card chooses its deposit maker and all that...

"Polymer with chip and strands of metal, possibly antennae... Mr Collins, this wand is one of a pair. The other was used for great evil in suspected misuse of an OSI at Waterloo East. It is ancient, and not fully ITSO-compatible. Use it with caution..."