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Oyster gateline display "Low Balance"
- Thread starter bicbasher
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Interesting. I wonder if that appears between the minimum and maximum fare. Trouble is, if it doesn't show what the balance is then how do you know whether you've got enough? Was it only on entry, or exit, or both?
ert47
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Had the same message popping up when I touched in on Sunday, had £3.05 on the card, I went back to top up my card before I continued with my journey.
My journey would have only cost £1.65, but I did not know how much I had on the card at the time.
My journey would have only cost £1.65, but I did not know how much I had on the card at the time.
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I saw this yesterday too, on the passenger in front of me. MY vague memory seems to recall something else as well as "Low Balance". I'll have to check
It was on both Mike. I can see why TfL have done this, although it did make me unnecessarily concerned about the balance on my card, which was enough for the journey I made.
A number of gatelines have been upgraded in preparation for the acceptance of Contactless cards which is coming soon (initially on a trial basis). These gates display the error code twice when a card is rejected.
Yesterday, I put £10 on the card, touched in and the display showed the total, touched out at Charing Cross NR, which doesn't have the LCD display and it showed the total, same again when on my return.
Returned to Forest Hill with a balance of £4.70 using the wide gates and it also showed the total and fare price in brackets. So I wonder it's under £4 when you get the low balance alert?
Returned to Forest Hill with a balance of £4.70 using the wide gates and it also showed the total and fare price in brackets. So I wonder it's under £4 when you get the low balance alert?
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l actually noticed this message on the E1 gates[1] as well the other day; activated by a customer ahead of me entering the system at White City.
[1] These are the older design of electric gates, typically found at LU stations outside of Zone 1 and were installed in the late 90s/early 2000s.
[1] These are the older design of electric gates, typically found at LU stations outside of Zone 1 and were installed in the late 90s/early 2000s.
If the E1's are the same ones used at Surrey Quays (except for the wide gate), they can also show the total and a near expiry message of a season ticket too.
Yes these are the same. The "Near expir" [sic] message is something these gates seem to have been showing for a while though; never seen Low balance before.
DavyCrocket
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I've noticed that the readers on the old UTS gates are new. The old ones had a LCD screen with balance etc. new ones are solely pads!
On a similar but off topic note, we tapped in to a wrong entrance at one of the Underground stations then had to tap back out charging the maximum possible fare, but when we got off at the intended station it did a sort of refund when tapping out at those gates which was slightly confusing! 
On a similar but off topic note, we tapped in to a wrong entrance at one of the Underground stations then had to tap back out charging the maximum possible fare, but when we got off at the intended station it did a sort of refund when tapping out at those gates which was slightly confusing!
But actually exactly what is supposed to happen. If you touch out straight away (within 2 minutes) after entering at a gateline then it will 'charge' a maximum fare. If you re-enter again at any station within 45 minutes (without using a bus/tram) then it cancels that maximum fare and starts a new journey. The confusion is only that it displays the balance including the maximum fare deduction whereas normally the balance shown on entry is before the deduction is made.
With a balance of £3.50, 'Low Balance' showed on the LCD display at Forest Hill.
However as I touched out at the Surrey Quays B1 gates, it only showed the fare/total, but as I touched back in with a £2 balance, it did display it and the total.
However as I touched out at the Surrey Quays B1 gates, it only showed the fare/total, but as I touched back in with a £2 balance, it did display it and the total.
Nym
Established Member
Seems that someone at CTS thought it was a good idea to say 'Low Balance' rather than letting a passenger decide when their balance was low, one will at some point be able to work out how the equations say that this should be displayed, but I'm yet to actually use Oyster PAYG for long enough to work it out.
As from Start of Traffic yesterday (Sunday) a base data release was sent to all LU stations to remove the 'Balance low' message from the gate Pods (so it seems this message was an unintended consequence of the recent update).
The standalone reader at West Ruislip on the footbridge between the National Rail and London Underground sections gave me a "Low Balance" this evening. I had 25p credit remaining after touching out there. Not a very useful message. I don't think it even told me the fare deducted for that journey.
I assume this reader hasn't received an update yet?
I assume this reader hasn't received an update yet?
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