Greetings,

Apologies if this question has been asked earlier but is there a way to check the outstanding balance on an Oyster card from overseas without creating an account on TFL's website? The last time I used my Oyster card was in 2006. TFL's website would not allow me to check the balance without creating an account and it would not allow me to create an account because I do not have an address in the U.K. Thanks in advance!

Have you tried using the address of your hotel, or any UK address for that matter, or are their computers that smart? Give it a try, if you haven't, and tell us what happens.

MmePerdu, thanks. I thought about using the hotel's address. My concern is that the address will somehow need to be linked with the credit card that I will use to refill the Oyster Card.

People change addresses. I'm sure you could edit the details when you want to add value to the card. The downfall of this plan could be the need for a credit card and associated details when the account is first made but it's worth a try. I'd try myself but my oyster card is in a file cabinet to which I've lost the key, a problem I'll need to solve before long, but not today.

Why do you need to?

You can check the balance at any touchscreen ticket machine in a Tube station.

If it's inadequate, use your payment card to top up.

I agree, what difference does it make, you'll find out when you try to use it.

My own response to the 2 above would be, no reason and no practical difference, some just like to know. Information for its own sake. I sympathize and also like to try to pervert systems designed to exclude.

I personally wouldn't mess about even trying.

If you plan on using it yourself upon landing at LHR -- the machines on the wall before you enter the tube station will tell you in 1 second. And if you plan on giving/loaning it to someone else they can do the same -- and unless you left a lot of PAYG on it there likely isn't enough on it to get into London anyway so they'd still have to use the machine.