Gold Card Discount on Oyster PAYG

If you have an annual season ticket you will get a Gold Card that gives you a substantial discount on National Rail Fares. However, if you travel outside your season ticket's zones on Oyster PAYG, you won't get the Gold Card discount unless your Goldcard is linked to your Oyster Card. Apparently this is not automatically done when you buy the season ticket (at least at a station) and I have been told that some station staff have had to be pressed to do it - they don't always know about it and don't always check the written instructions

This situation arises where your employer is paying for your season ticket (perhaps a loan) by cheque. I imagine that if you buy on line the linking work is done in the back office.

The Gold Card Partner Card is essentially a Network Rail Card. http://www.railcard.co.uk/network is clear that the NRC does not give a discount on Oyster PAYG.