Oyster gets old: TfL will support contactless payments from 16th September
Contactless credit, debit and pre-paid cards and some EE phones will soon get you round London, much like an Oyster
Transport for London has announced that, from 16th September, contactless payment will be available for all customers on London’s Underground, Overground, DLR and Tram networks, as well as the capital’s buses.
That means if you have a contactless card or other device, you’ll be able to use it much like you currently use an Oyster card. The system has been available on buses for around 18 months already, and its success, as well as that of a 3,000-customer pilot scheme, has led to TfL deciding on mass adoption.
Commuting by credit card
TfL says the system will use both daily and weekly (Monday to Sunday) capping to ensure customers don’t end up paying more than they should: it will automatically calculate the best value fare for travellers’ journeys over the day or week, and only make one charge per day to the users’ bank or credit card provider.
One note of caution: customers will need to keep their contactless card and Oyster card well separated to avoid “card clash” and the system charging them more than once.
NFC phones will be compatible with the system, but at launch it’s limited to customers on EE, using the network’s Cash on Tap service.
READ MORE: Ditch your wallet now: NFC mobile payments explained
Sam Kieldsen
Contributor 
