Oyster card confusion

[edd]

I'm hoping somebody can help me as I'm completely confused! I travel one way from Waterloo to Putney every morning Monday to Friday at 8.30am (peak I assume.) I use an Oyster card with auto top-up enabled, and check in and out at each end. It seems to me that since I have enabled auto top-up, I am being charged more and the prices aren't consistent. But the oyster online statement is so confusing I can't understand it! Take a look here:

1) Why does the balance for each day appear to go up and then down!?
2) What on earth do the multiple figures for each use in the fares column mean? Why do some have - and some a figure?
3) Why does the price differ every day? You can see £4.30, £4.40, £6.50, it makes no sense at all!

Basically all I want to figure out is how much I am paying for that single, identical journey each day. Then I can decide if it's worth my while, as I currently get the train in the morning and then cycle home.

Any help appreciated!

 

[OwlMan]

Firstly read the staement from bottom to top. When you enter at Waterloo you pay the entry fee (marked - ) and this is deleted from your balance. When you arrive at Putney you are refunded the difference between your entry fee and the fare paid - this entry is added to your balance.

Taking the 28th April

Your balance from the previous day was £7-80
An auto top up was added making the balance £27-80
Ann entry fee of £6-50 was taken at Waterloo leaving the balance at £21-30
A exit refund of £4-30 was added at Putney laeving the balance at£25-60

You were charged £2-20 (£6-50 less £4-30)

Peter

 

[island]

And the £4.40 was the entry charge when you touched in off-peak at Charing Cross.

 

[swt_passenger]

Where there is an entry fee charged that is a minus sign above the figure - it would be far more logical to put this in front of the pound sign, and also have a plus sign next to refunds and topups.

My preference would also be to display it all with the transactions ordered downwards, like my bank statement, but what do I know...

Another point is that they don't really emphasise the variable entry charge and 'rebate on exit' system much in their literature - you definitely need to realise that is how it works before reading a statement...

 

[clagmonster]

It is possible to order a less confusing statement online. To do so, go to www.tfl.gov.uk then click on 'Help & Contact' at the top right of the page, then 'Make a Complaint', the 'Oyster' from the second column then 'Statements' from the third column. You will then need to fill in a form. The statement will take a couple of days to arrive in your email.

Alternatively, go to any booking with Oyster issuing facilities and ask for a statement.

 

[edd]

Thanks for the replies. It now makes sense - how overly complicated though! I don't see how you're supposed to work that out by yourself. You might have a slight chance of working it out if the dashes were actually next to the amounts!