Originally Posted by
WHBM
The current amount of Oyster balances on cards not used for more than 12 months is now well above £50m. It's an interesting accounting issue for TfL as to when they write off the outstanding amount in their accounts and do something useful with it. The cards will continue to be acceptable, theoretically for ever, but much of the value here will never actually be used.
That's very interesting, that £50m figure. I get back to London once or twice a year and the Oyster system works perfectly for me... my card(s) usually have £5 or £10 left on there, and I top them up at my first Tube stop. I never feel I lose any value. NYC Transit Metrocards, on the other hand, expire one year after issuance.