Oyster Steals Stephen Pollard's Cash

Much has been said on the privacy implications of Oyster, but Stephen Pollard had a different problem.

The latest thing has been putting £40 cash on my Oystercard last night, getting on a bus this morning and having it record that I have only 90 pence on it. And when I then go back to the station where I put the money on, being told that it is not possible that I added £40 as the system cannot fail. In other words, I am a liar.

I have no idea how these things happen, but no system is foolproof, least of all one managed by the public sector.