Virgin West Coast frustration

[VauxhallandI]

Journey required:

London Euston to Glasgow Central First Class

Out Friday

Return Sunday

I wanted to go on the 8:30 @ £163

I could see an off peak at £92.50

I had two RTV's totalling in £78

I couldn't use the RTV's on line or at the call centre.

I therefore went to Liverpool Street to buy the tickets. First of all we had to make a call to Virgin before the £163 ticket would be sold to me.

The chap then couldn't find the £92.50 fare.

I came home and couldn't find the fare unless I put the outward journey into the search engine. I then called the sales line again that said I could only get the lower fare at the time of buying the outward fare.......

Is this 2016?

 

[gazthomas]

I can sympathise with you experience!

 

[Agent_c]

Journey required:

London Euston to Glasgow Central First Class

Out Friday

Return Sunday

I wanted to go on the 8:30 @ £163

I could see an off peak at £92.50

I had two RTV's totalling in £78

I couldn't use the RTV's on line or at the call centre.

I therefore went to Liverpool Street to buy the tickets. First of all we had to make a call to Virgin before the £163 ticket would be sold to me.

The chap then couldn't find the £92.50 fare.

I came home and couldn't find the fare unless I put the outward journey into the search engine. I then called the sales line again that said I could only get the lower fare at the time of buying the outward fare.......

Is this 2016?

Yes, if it wasn't 2016, then there's no way they could have the technology to make it that complicated

 

[Bletchleyite]

The off-peak is a SVH with a Weekend First upgrade added to it. It can only be sold with another single in the opposite direction.

 

[VauxhallandI]

In order to spend my £78 compensation I had to leave £40 on the table

 

[Bletchleyite]

You could have changed the vouchers for cash, no? Or does that apply only to some TOCs?

 

[AlterEgo]

You're entitled to cash from any TOC.

Virgin will give you a cheque straight up, as long as you ask for it when you claim.

 

[Haywain]

The off-peak is a SVH with a Weekend First upgrade added to it. It can only be sold with another single in the opposite direction.

And the SVH is only available online, so will not be seen as available by station staff.

 

[Bletchleyite]

And the SVH is only available online, so will not be seen as available by station staff.

Indeed. Though I do think this is rather silly.

 

[VauxhallandI]

You're entitled to cash from any TOC.

Virgin will give you a cheque straight up, as long as you ask for it when you claim.

I've had these vouchers for a while.

Besides Virgin usually ignore the request for cash. They've done it to my parents three times on the trot.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

You could have changed the vouchers for cash, no? Or does that apply only to some TOCs?

Not offered to me by Virgin, I'd not heard of that option

 

[AlterEgo]

I've had these vouchers for a while.

Besides Virgin usually ignore the request for cash. They've done it to my parents three times on the trot.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---


Not offered to me by Virgin, I'd not heard of that option

You have a legal right to the cash. Phone Virgin and if no success, contact Transport Focus.

 

[John @ home]

I've had these vouchers for a while.

You have a legal right to the cash.

Not, I suspect, for tickets sold or journeys undertaken prior to the 2015 version of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.

National Rail Conditions of Carriage, 19 July 2015

H. TRAIN SERVICE DISRUPTION

42. Compensation for delays

(d) Compensation will be paid in rail travel vouchers or, at your request, in money.

 

[AlterEgo]

Not, I suspect, for tickets sold or journeys undertaken prior to the 2015 version of the National Rail Conditions of Carriage.

Correct, but given the validity of the vouchers is one year, the chances of this being the case with the OP are fairly low.

 

[OwlMan]

Correct, but given the validity of the vouchers is one year, the chances of this being the case with the OP are fairly low.

The vouchers could be for something other than delay compensation

 

[robbeech]

VTWC and VTEC have both recently (within 3 months) sent me a cheque when i requested RTV. Seems the opposite of the norm here. Silly as it seems its actually more effort going to the bank and paying in a cheque than it is just paying for rail travel with vouchers. Of course, everyone is different and some people would prefer to have the money to spend on other things, but i use the railway enough to be able to use them.

 

[gordonthemoron]

VTWC and VTEC have both recently (within 3 months) sent me a cheque when i requested RTV. Seems the opposite of the norm here. Silly as it seems its actually more effort going to the bank and paying in a cheque than it is just paying for rail travel with vouchers. Of course, everyone is different and some people would prefer to have the money to spend on other things, but i use the railway enough to be able to use them.

Strangely, I put in a claim with VTWC and requested a cheque, but they sent RTV. A bit later they sent an email apologising for the mistake and then also sent me a cheque. So I got 100% compensation instead of 50%

 

[janb]

VTWC and VTEC have both recently (within 3 months) sent me a cheque when i requested RTV. Seems the opposite of the norm here. Silly as it seems its actually more effort going to the bank and paying in a cheque than it is just paying for rail travel with vouchers. Of course, everyone is different and some people would prefer to have the money to spend on other things, but i use the railway enough to be able to use them.

VTWC and VTEC are supposed to default to cheque now which is maybe why.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-35976056

 

[BlueFox]

VTWC and VTEC have both recently (within 3 months) sent me a cheque when i requested RTV.

Yesterday I received RTVs from VTEC, which is what i requested.

They sent me several times the amount I expected though.

 

[VauxhallandI]

Received a mail from Virgin today, not interested.