Excess away a Railcard discount (selected the wrong ticket)

[mildertduck]

I'm what's called a class 1 numpty.

So, I've bought two tickets today, using the East Coast website, both Advance Purchase. The first one has no issues. For the second one, I seem to have booked a railcard ticket in error, without physically selecting one (I don't have a railcard, nor am I eligible for any anymore). I've found out how: the "favourite journeys" dropdown box doesn't just remember the ROUTE of a favourite journey, but the RAILCARD TYPE too! I obviously re-used a favourite journey that I created 5 years ago, when I did have a railcard - which is a slightly problematic "feature".

I have sent the online helpdesk at East Coast an email about my booking, asking them if there's any way of amending it, but haven't had a reply yet... what do you think my options will be?

Duck

 

[Wallsendmag]

Go into a VTEC station and repay the railcard discount


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

 

[yorkie]

The majority of VTEC booking offices are good, and will excess the ticket without quibble.

Some operators would not be so accommodating but you should be fine.

 

[30907]

From experience (of doing the reverse!) they will ask you to buy the correct ticket and refund the incorrect one in full.

 

[Haywain]

From experience (of doing the reverse!) they will ask you to buy the correct ticket and refund the incorrect one in full.

In the circumstances described by the OP that is highly unlikely. If you purchased a full price ticket instead of a discounted ticket that is an entirely different matter.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

From experience (of doing the reverse!) they will ask you to buy the correct ticket and refund the incorrect one in full.

In the circumstances described by the OP that is highly unlikely. If you purchased a full price ticket instead of a discounted ticket that is an entirely different matter.

That's right. There is not going to be any problem in removing the discount, as WallsendMag has also advised.

The majority of VTEC booking offices are good, and will excess the ticket without quibble.

That is also perfectly correct.

Some operators would not be so accommodating but you should be fine.

I'm not sure that I can see the the point of this remark, which seems to me to be seizing the opportunity for an off-topic 'poke' at the rail industry. There is no doubt in my mind that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. And in the circumstances described, there is nothing more to be said.

 

[Wallsendmag]

I'm not sure that I can see the the point of this remark, which seems to me to be seizing the opportunity for an off-topic 'poke' at the rail industry. There is no doubt in my mind that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. And in the circumstances described, there is nothing more to be said.

There is a TIS problem that means you have to make reservations on Advance tickets when you upgrade them (which can be awkward on the day of travel)but VTEC have a solution in place.

 

[adamello]

That's right. There is not going to be any problem in removing the discount, as WallsendMag has also advised.
That is also perfectly correct.

I'm not sure that I can see the the point of this remark, which seems to me to be seizing the opportunity for an off-topic 'poke' at the rail industry. There is no doubt in my mind that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. And in the circumstances described, there is nothing more to be said.

It's quite useful for Googlers who get directed to this page, and that the advice is useful for VTEC but not necessarily for other operators

 

[IanD]

There is no doubt in my mind that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. And in the circumstances described, there is nothing more to be said.

You should try getting this done at Milton Keynes Central. In my mind there is plenty of doubt that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. Yorkie's words of caution are entirely appropriate considering we don't know which station mildertduck would visit to try and resolve their issue.

 

[Bletchleyite]

There is no doubt in my mind that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. And in the circumstances described, there is nothing more to be said.

There is definitely doubt in my mind that some ticket offices are capable of doing excesses correctly.

My recent experiences with ticket offices, and many related on here, have told me one thing and one alone - that they should all be closed and replaced with TVMs and online sales (and a further simplified fare system to avoid any need for human intervention, and roving assistance staff at larger stations whose role it is to explain how to use TVMs) due to poor training and incompetence.

It is OT, but Yorkie has a very good point. Sadly, they are not all like the good ones any more

 

[Bletchleyite]

You should try getting this done at Milton Keynes Central. In my mind there is plenty of doubt that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. Yorkie's words of caution are entirely appropriate considering we don't know which station mildertduck would visit to try and resolve their issue.

Agreed.

 

[Merseysider]

You should try getting this done at Milton Keynes Central. In my mind there is plenty of doubt that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. Yorkie's words of caution are entirely appropriate considering we don't know which station mildertduck would visit to try and resolve their issue.

Quite.

And try getting such an excess anywhere on Merseyrail! I've never encountered a clerk anywhere on the network outside of Liverpool city centre who's capable of doing excess fares.

That's before you even get into whether they want to touch an "online ticket" or not - most won't!

I think yorkie's point is a necessary one. When buying online you really have to be extra careful that all the details of the transaction are correct, as it can be a major faff to sort out.

 

[Mojo]

I'm not sure that I can see the the point of this remark, which seems to me to be seizing the opportunity for an off-topic 'poke' at the rail industry. There is no doubt in my mind that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. And in the circumstances described, there is nothing more to be said.

I thought it's quite relavent, as, not that long ago I tried to either remove a railcard discount or had it changed into another type, and I really struggled, having tried about 5 or so different booking offices all of whom failed to do it.

I don't know whether the procedure is officially allowed or not, if it isn't, it certainly should be in advance of travel, in the interest of good customer service.

 

[Bletchleyite]

And try getting such an excess anywhere on Merseyrail! I've never encountered a clerk anywhere on the network outside of Liverpool city centre who's capable of doing excess fares.

If ever there have been pointless ticket offices they are the ones on Merseyrail. They'd genuinely be better fitting two TVMs at each station (more at busier ones) and having more platform staff instead, particularly with the coming of DOO, but also to improve the feeling of personal safety on some of the stations which feel quite nervy at quiet times.

 

[crehld]

I'm not sure that I can see the the point of this remark, which seems to me to be seizing the opportunity for an off-topic 'poke' at the rail industry. There is no doubt in my mind that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. And in the circumstances described, there is nothing more to be said.

I would suggest that, given ticket office experience varies, along with the capabilities of the ticket issuing equipment and training and attitude of the staff therein, the remark is merely a statement of empirical fact pertinent to the matter under discussion.

As I'm sure you'll agree, it is entirely prudent to provide such a qualified remark when offering advice. Lest anyone reading that advice (now or in the future) be told in all circumstances they will be able to get the discount removed when the probability of success, though high, is nevertheless lower than 100%.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....I'm not sure that I can see the the point of this remark, which seems to me to be seizing the opportunity for an off-topic 'poke' at the rail industry. There is no doubt in my mind that, before travel, a discounted ticket can be 'undiscounted'. And in the circumstances described, there is nothing more to be said.

I don't normally stick up for Yorkie, but.....

East Coast had a policy of removing a railcard discount by way of an excess, I assume VTEC have continued it, this was beyond what they were required to do and is not official policy at some other TOCs, like Northern. However, to complicate matters further, some TOCs, like Northern, aren't very good at communicating official policies to staff and so even where it should or should not be possible, it may or may not be.