Goldcard Network Railcard

[dlj83]

I've just tried to buy a Network Railcard for £1 with my goldcard on the railcard website it says it's possible, however when I just tried to buy it just now from Shepherds Bush LO station I was told I was attempting to trick the clerk into selling the railcard for £28 pound less.



Can you no longer buy a cheap network Railcard with a goldcard just the recipient of the card needs it before he can book tickets for tomorrow.

 

[Qwerty133]

If I read this correctly you want to buy a network railcard for someone else on your gold card. This surely can't be allowed as someone could easily make hundreds by buying gold cards for people and charging them less than the going rate.

 

[maniacmartin]

It's still possible. You were given incorrect advise from the ticket office. I'd suggest trying a non-London Overground ticket office, or returning with a printout from the National Rail website.

--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If I read this correctly you want to buy a network railcard for someone else on your gold card. This surely can't be allowed as someone could easily make hundreds by buying gold cards for people and charging them less than the going rate.

When I got my partner card issued, the clerk checked the reverse of my Gold card wrote Partner Card Issued on the reverse of my Gold Card. This prevents you getting a second one.

 

[MikeWh]

A Gold Card holder can still buy a partner Network Card for £1, yes. Once issued, the fact will be noted on the Gold Card (or Record Card if the Gold Card is on Oyster). It would not surprise me if Shepherds Bush were giving out incorrect information, I have heard numerous similar stories about LO staff. Can you get to a different station, then write a complaint to LO?

 

[RJ]

I've just tried to buy a Network Railcard for £1 with my goldcard on the railcard website it says it's possible, however when I just tried to buy it just now from Shepherds Bush LO station I was told I was attempting to trick the clerk into selling the railcard for £28 pound less.



Can you no longer buy a cheap network Railcard with a goldcard just the recipient of the card needs it before he can book tickets for tomorrow.

Garbage service.

If you are after one, PM me and I can arrange for one to be sold to you without any problems at a London Terminal station.


--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

If I read this correctly you want to buy a network railcard for someone else on your gold card. This surely can't be allowed as someone could easily make hundreds by buying gold cards for people and charging them less than the going rate.

The clerk is supposed to make / check for an endorsement on the reverse of the Gold card.

 

[paddington]

If you are after one, PM me and I can arrange for one to be sold to you without any problems at a London Terminal station.

I've done this successfully at Paddington and Marylebone without needing any "inside help" so the OP might like to try those stations first.

 

[maniacmartin]

I got mine from FCC at St Pancras - no problems at all

 

[londonboi]

i got mine in febuary when i bought my gold card from selhurst station i didnt know about it until the nice man at the window told me

 

[IanD]

Got mine at Kensington Olympia with no problems.

 

[furlong]

Now, who signs the application form for the partner card?

The owner of the existing gold card or the 'partner' who will be using the card independently?

 

[IanD]

The partner - they are applying for a Network Railcard in their own name. It's not a 'special' partner card, it's just a reduced price normal Network Railcard.

 

[furlong]

The partner - they are applying for a Network Railcard in their own name. It's not a 'special' partner card, it's just a reduced price normal Network Railcard.

Any more views on this?

A booking office clerk at one of the mainline London stations a few months ago insisted to me that the the owner of the Gold card now had to sign the form (and pay), not the 'partner'. We queried this before playing along, scribbling out one signature and replacing it with another - and exchanging pound coins too

 

[maniacmartin]

When I went, the "partner" was the one who signed the form.

However a friend of mine went to the booking office without taking the partner and they let him fill in the partner's details and sign his own signature....

 

[RJ]

Any more views on this?

A booking office clerk at one of the mainline London stations a few months ago insisted to me that the the owner of the Gold card now had to sign the form (and pay), not the 'partner'. We queried this before playing along, scribbling out one signature and replacing it with another - and exchanging pound coins too

Officially the Annual Gold Card holder is required to fill out the form on behalf of the partner they have nominated.

 

[IanD]

I've always signed the form (past 15 years or so). I'm not the goldcardholder.

Signing the form is a declaration that you agree to the terms and conditions of the card so it seems a bit pointless to ask someone who is not going to use the card to sign the form.

Last time I got one (last month), my partner was told she could go off and do whatever else she wanted to do whilst I filled the form in as long as she left her oyster gold record card to be marked.

 

[dlj83]

Apologies for not replying back sooner, in the end we had to buy the non discounted tickets (I didn't have time to visit another station on the chance they might issue the card) I'll try to buy the railcard when i'm inZone 1 this week.

In case im told again that I'm trying to trick them or they refuse to acknowledge its valid then can I ask to speak to a manager. I don't want to keep asking various places when I now know that its still offered

 

[bb21]

Who is the TOC involved?

This is pretty disgraceful given that it has been available for a long time and the uptake is not low. Might be better off getting in touch with customer service of that TOC now.

 

[OwlMan]

Who is the TOC involved?

This is pretty disgraceful given that it has been available for a long time and the uptake is not low. Might be better off getting in touch with customer service of that TOC now.

There appears to be stations all over the country and all TOCs where the staff can not/ will not process simple customer transactions.
Things like railcards, fares from other stations, excess fares are not rocket science, the TIS & The Manual are available to assist the staff if they are not sure what to do.

However 95%+ of ticket office staff have no problem doing these transactions - its about time the other 5% are either trained properly or if they will not learn dismissed.


Peter

 

[dlj83]

Who is the TOC involved?

This is pretty disgraceful given that it has been available for a long time and the uptake is not low. Might be better off getting in touch with customer service of that TOC now.

The TOC is London Overground

Poor training does seem very common on LO for example a friend lives near Haggerston station and they are adamant (or most likely don't know how) that you cant buy tickets in advance.

 

[bb21]

The TOC is London Overground

Poor training does seem very common on LO for example a friend lives near Haggerston station and they are adamant (or most likely don't know how) that you cant buy tickets in advance.

In addition to what Peter said above, London Overground do appear to think that they are not part of National Rail and anything National Rail-related do not apply to them. Staff always* appear to be poorly trained on ticketing issues and senior management do not seem to care.

* Yes I know this is an over-exaggeration but I am yet to come across one positive experience in my dealings with LO, the last one being told that I cannot purchase a Boundary Zone extension ticket with my Travelcard.

 

[transmanche]

In addition to what Peter said above, London Overground do appear to think that they are not part of National Rail and anything National Rail-related do not apply to them.

I suspect that TfL would rather that LO was not part of NR - you'll notice that the National Rail logo does not appear at stations[*], only the LO logo.

Is there some specific legislation with prevents TfL from withdrawing LO from the National Rail network?

* Other than the original temporary signs, or (of course) where other NR services share the station.

 

[Bushy]

Apologies for not replying back sooner, in the end we had to buy the non discounted tickets (I didn't have time to visit another station on the chance they might issue the card) I'll try to buy the railcard when i'm inZone 1 this week.

In case im told again that I'm trying to trick them or they refuse to acknowledge its valid then can I ask to speak to a manager. I don't want to keep asking various places when I now know that its still offered

You could print a copy of the NRE page on Gold Cards

Gold Card holders can also buy a Network Railcard for another adult for just £1. The Network Railcard Partner Card gives 1/3 off leisure travel in the Network Railcard Area. ... ... Only one £1 Network Railcard Partner Card can be issued during the validity of the Annual Gold Card.

Regards

Bushy

 

[maniacmartin]

That page will not be useful as many LO staff deny that they are part of National Rail in the first place.

Take a copy of the NRE Train Operating Companies list with you too.

 

[paul1609]

The TOC is London Overground

Poor training does seem very common on LO for example a friend lives near Haggerston station and they are adamant (or most likely don't know how) that you cant buy tickets in advance.

If you mean advance tickets they are probably right. lots of stations in the South cant make reservations or sell advance tickets.