Buying Oyster Card with a credit card

Can anyone tell me how they bought an oyster card? Cash?

I bought my Oyster in March 2007 at the Transport for London Information Centre at Heathrow, on my Visa, no problem, no PIN requested. I put as much as possible on my Visa to get airline miles.

You can get UK currency at any of several ATMs in the airport, and you'll likely need some cash anyway. You'll pay a foreign transaction fee (1% last year at my credit union) for using the ATM.

Thanks, I use my AMEX and Citi card to get points as well.

Dave
I purchased my Oyster from the clerk. Most of the Euro cards use a "chip" and wont' allow our US ones at the kiosks.

When we arrived at LHR there's a counter with a bunch of clerks.. it was like a T.I. but literally next to the kiosks where they sell the tickets.

Just go to them, tell them you want an Oyster Card for "X" pounds, and then give them your card. They'll advise you there's a small deposit (1 or 2 pounds) and its refundable when you turn back the card.

The card is good forever, so you can give it to someone or use it your next trip and top it off with more money.

Thanks Michelle! I imagined this was how we'd get the Oyster Cards. We'll just buy them at Heathrow before we jump on the train or tube to London (haven't decided yet if we'll take the tube or the Heathrow Connect train).