Forgot to ask for railcard discount

[Sleeper]

Can anyone help me with this query please?

Just an hour or so ago I booked an advanced purchase ticket from Paddington to Stroud for next Saturday, 23rd. For avoidance of doubt, this is a fixed train ticket.

Carelessly, I forgot to check that my Senior Railcard discount was being applied, and I have now realised it wasn’t. The difference isn’t a fortune – about £16 – but it’s worth having if possible. Is there any way I can now get my discount?

The journey was researched on the National Journey Planner, and the final choice was processed on the GWR website.

I got onto GWR’s live chat, but the person at the other end said there was nothing that could be done.

The ticket is to be picked up from my local station, but I haven’t retrieved it as yet. It would be practical to go up to Paddington booking office tomorrow or Monday if that would make a difference.

Thanks in anticipation.

 

[robbeech]

It is sadly unlikely they will be able to do anything but it doesn't hurt to ask. Do as you suggest and pop into the ticket office / customer information desk at PAD tomorrow and ask if it is possible.

 

[wibble]

Try giving them a call - if you realised your error shortly after booking, they should refund it and allow you to rebook with your railcard. If you leave it too long, they're very unlikely to help.

 

[Sleeper]

Thanks for the replies so far. In looking for a phone number, I found the following very clear statement on the GWR site.

You can change the time, date, or class of an Advance ticket. There's a £10 fee for each ticket, plus any increase in the fare. If the new fare is less, you'll still need to pay the £10, and we don't pay the difference back. Advance tickets can't be refunded unless you we’re unable to travel because your train was delayed or cancelled. (My bold)
​

Therefore seems unlikely I shall get any joy. Lesson to be learned.

The problem appears to have arisen because for reasons unkown to me I wasn't logged in to my Journey Planner account, and I didn't notice.

 

[Hadders]

I'd telephone their web support. You might be lucky and send you some vouchers.

 

[Sleeper]

I'd telephone their web support. You might be lucky and send you some vouchers.

Thanks Hadders. I called their sales support number this morning, and was advised to email the booking details and price difference to them; they would not be able to pay back money, but could give compensation in vouchers.

From the ready way in which the call centre operator handled my query, I think they must get this a lot. I wouldn't quite say she promised me vouchers, but my hopes are quite high. If this works out, well done GWR I say!

 

[JaJaWa]

For reference, (at least with the TOCs I've tried), you can get the ticket cancelled if you call immediately

 

[30907]

Not GWR so this may be irrelevant.

I have successfully had a ticket refunded and reissued in this circumstance. It was with VTEC and ISTR I phoned their web support and was told how to proceed.

 

[gray1404]

Sane here with VTWC. Made a mistake and called straight away. They refunded my ticket straight away but insisted I booked the new one while on the line.

 

[Sleeper]

I’m delighted to report that a pleasant letter arrived this morning from GWR Customer Support, together with a voucher for the amount lost due to my oversight. (For latecomers to this thread, I'd booked a ticket online but failed to ask for Senior Railcard discount.)

Good for GWR. And thanks again to all forum members who supplied information or suggestions, especially Hadders who suggested that vouchers might be a possibility.

 

[AnkleBoots]

For next time, consider booking with Cross Country as I think that if you had booked with them, you would have been able to cancel it yourself.

 

[gray1404]

I had a situation the other day whereby I had to make a journey and realised I had forgot my railcard. I didn't want to not use the railcard and write in later as I could be told "tough." I opted to buy a railcard discounted ticket anyway on the basis I am a genuiene railcard holder, I believe the rules allow for it to be "left at home" (is it once a year or something) and offer my name and address and to send a copy of it in if asked. As it happened on the outward journey there was no ticket check and on the return journey my ticket was checked but the railcard was no asked for.

I know the rules have been changed to allow for customers forgetting their railcard. However, I could not help but wonder if the rules should also allow you to write in afterwards in case you discovered before you buy your ticket you don't have it and decide to buy a full price one. The rules currently only allow for someone on a discounted ticket to show proof afterwards.

 

[Hadders]

I had a situation the other day whereby I had to make a journey and realised I had forgot my railcard. I didn't want to not use the railcard and write in later as I could be told "tough." I opted to buy a railcard discounted ticket anyway on the basis I am a genuiene railcard holder, I believe the rules allow for it to be "left at home" (is it once a year or something) and offer my name and address and to send a copy of it in if asked. As it happened on the outward journey there was no ticket check and on the return journey my ticket was checked but the railcard was no asked for.

I know the rules have been changed to allow for customers forgetting their railcard. However, I could not help but wonder if the rules should also allow you to write in afterwards in case you discovered before you buy your ticket you don't have it and decide to buy a full price one. The rules currently only allow for someone on a discounted ticket to show proof afterwards.

Cue people giving their full priced used tickets to friends who are railcard holders so they can write in a and claim the railcard discount.

 

[gray1404]

Isn't it limited to once or twice or year though?