Should I get an Oyster Card?

[whole diary]

[Pb_devon]

Apologies for being off-topic, but you guys are soooo knowledgeable about all things railway!
Both Mrs Pb and I have got Senior Railcards on reaching the golden age.  As Devon residents we rarely visit London (I^m ignoring my business travel pre-retirement here), but are going to be there later this week, and then again in May, for two-day visits.  I now know that Senior Railcards entitle to discounted off-peak travel on tfl, but only when registered with oyster.
I had previously not got Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services), as I didn^t see that tying up funds for rare visits was good cash management BUT now there^s a third off to be had, maybe time for a rethink.
Our London travel is likely to be limited to zone 1 and 2, and off-peak.  I have a senior bus-pass so can get free bus travel (but not Mrs Pb ^ yet).
Plus does anyone have experience of buying oyster at Paddington, on-spec.
Your valuable thoughts please. 
Many thanks.

[Western Pathfinder]

I don't know about getting your oyster card at paddington but TFL^▸ (Transport for London) has a very good website an can send cards to you through the post that's how I got mine I'm only in London three or four times a year but they do save a lot of time and hassle so I think oysters are well worth having.

[bobm]

If your wife is planning to use the buses she will need an Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) card or contactless bank card as they no longer take cash.

[Fourbee]

There are TfL^» (Transport for London - about) machines which will vend Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) cards (^5 deposit, then your choice of multiples of ^5 PAYG^▸ (Pay as you go) credit).

However, as you need to register the Senior railcard entitlement on each card (the entitlement ends automatically when the railcard expires) it may be easier to go to a TfL ticket window at Paddington and do it all there (purchase cards and register).

FYI^▸ (for your information) here's the current full fat adult fares:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/tube-dlr-lo-adult-fares.pdf
And the semi-skimmed railcard version:
http://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cms/documents/tube-dlr-lo-railcard-fares.pdf

[ChrisB]

Yes, that is definitely recommended.

[chrisr_75]

Also worth noting that you can refund any unused PAYG^▸ (Pay as you go) credit at a ticket office, as well (I think) as the card deposit fee on return of the card. You will also get the benefits of daily fare capping if you plan to make more than a couple of journeys and can make seamless journeys onto the NR^» (Network Rail - home page) network around London (be aware of the Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) card boundaries though!).

If you register the card online, any funds held on the card are protected in the event of the card being lost or stolen and you'd be able to top-up online before your next trip, which could make your arrival process a little simpler.

[Pb_devon]

Your collective advice is gratefully received and will be acted upon.  I will try & remember to supply feedback when I return home.

(Fourbee... how did you know I'd be a green top semi-skimmed sort of chap? )

[Fourbee]

(Fourbee... how did you know I'd be a green top semi-skimmed sort of chap? )

It's hard to find the silver and red striped foil variety these days

[Pb_devon]

I promised feedback^
PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) tfl ticket queue was long so we skipped that (I had bought the travelcard add-on when buying the PLY^» (Plymouth - next trains)-PAD tickets).  On our travels around I spotted a much shorter Q at another underground station so joined that.
Experience very good^ Chap knew exactly what to do and all set up without hassle including the SNR R/C discount. Nervously approached the barrier the following morning, but it blithely ignored my hesitant approach and whizzed open at the touch of the card!!
Went on-line to set up the on-line account without trouble, with both cards on one account (BUT you seemingly cannot share credit balance, which seems a deficiency).  The journey details are there, and with the SNR discount, so that works.
Thanks all for advice.

[Fourbee]

I'm glad everything worked out OK

This website is an interesting read about Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services):
www.oyster-rail.org.uk

[JayMac]

A clip from 'Shaun of the Dead'? 

Wrong link there I think. 

(Warning. Until Fourbee provides the right link I should warn of repeated expletives in the erroneous clip)

[Fourbee]

Woops! Thanks BNM for pointing that out; I've changed the link to the correct one.

[Brucey]

with both cards on one account (BUT you seemingly cannot share credit balance, which seems a deficiency)

Unfortunately, the Oyster^▸ (Smartcard system used by passengers on Transport for London services) system is fairly old (for smartcard technologies anyway) and the balance is actually stored on the card (rather than some computer system)* so sharing balances between cards is technically impossible.

If you do not want to top-up ^5 multiples each time, then use a National Rail ticket machine (e.g. in the mainline station at Paddington) to top-up.  These will let you add any amount, including odd pence.  As I no longer live in London, I usually just add on the exact fare I need for the journeys I plan to make that day.

* = But TfL^» (Transport for London - about) regularly (i.e. at least once every 24hrs, but usually very soon after touching in/out of the system) check the balance on their system reflects the balance on the card, to prevent tampering etc.