Unable to touch out

Normally when this happens like at OXO most of time you can still touch out on the readers the barriers are just locked open. Maybe it was an emergency as otherwise there is a constant announcement on a loop telling passengers to ensure they touch out to be charged the correct fare.

Yes, wait until the end of the day. Generally when gates are left open it is for good reason, and auto-complete will be put in place. This should mop up the majority of users who weren't able to touch out. Don't argue with staff - they won't have made the decision to open the gates and are only doing their job.

Opening gates reduces congestion and allows a station to remain open. As I have mentioned, this removes the need for all users to touch, although generally the readers will remain operational if you wish to do so. Without opening gates the congestion will quickly step back to the escalators and platforms, creating a very dangerous situation and requiring the evacuation and closure of the station.

Essentially that's your choice: so don't moan if you have to spend 20 minutes getting it adjusted, when it could be a much longer detour. 🤷🏼‍♂️

I had already detoured as Westminster was shut. And not having the Oyster readers working causes congestion while passengers remonstrate with staff after everyone tries several times to touch out. I can't see an issue with moaning about it, as this sort of thing shouldn't happen. Now I've had to email the Oyster help desk and it'll be a hassle to get my 80p back!

Just checked the GP logbook and it looks like all the SCU's/gates were offline yesterday. It was nothing to do with overcrowding but a technical fault.

Not sure what you moaning about as these things can happen once in a while, wasn't done on purpose!

Yes, they were powered up, but red Xs on all of them. And why am I not entitled to moan? The system wasn't working as it should! I don't suppose Underground staff never moan about anything, do they?

The system is also clever enough to automatically resolve some incomplete journeys. I was changing trains (DLR to Southeastern) at Lewisham, in a hurry to get somewhere (Peckham Rye I think) and forgot to touch out at Lewisham DLR on the way there, I had Island Gardens - ? and Lewisham NR to Peckham Rye journeys, but doing Lewisham correctly on the way back I had just a single Peckham Rye to Island Gardens journey. I logged on to the Oyster website the following day to resolve it, but found that I had been automatically refunded.

The system does allow you to use your discount. It’s just that on this occasion, the system went wrong.
You have also been advised on how you can get your 80p back. There’s not much point in going on about it much more unless you want the thread relegated to the rant area.

I wasn't ranting. I was just commenting mainly for the benefit of those who don't have discounted travel, who can be a lot more out of pocket. It might be called privilige travel, but it is a legally protected contractual entitlement.

I've never seen gates open without being able to touch in and out.

You seem to have encountered a rare event. If this happens to anyone a simple phone call corrects the problem if the system doesn't put it right overnight.