Problem with Rover Date Boxes

[_toommm_]

I recently was travelling on one of the 4 in 8 day tickets, and had forgotten to fill in one of the dates before I got on the train, and was pulled up on the train.

The guard let me off this once, but obviously wasn't happy. He didn't take my details as such, but my name and photo were on the railcard. Is there a way I can be prosecuted, or my name can be looked up in the railcard database? I'm really really nervous now....

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I recently was travelling on one of the 4 in 8 day tickets, and had forgotten to fill in one of the dates before I got on the train, and was pulled up on the train.

The guard let me off this once, but obviously wasn't happy. He didn't take my details as such, but my name and photo were on the railcard. Is there a way I can be prosecuted, or my name can be looked up in the railcard database? I'm really really nervous now....

Did he take any details at all?

If not, you're probably OK. Just remember to do it next time before you board, in clear writing. Allow enough time for the ink to dry before putting it in a wallet etc.

 

[_toommm_]

Did he take any details at all?

If not, you're probably OK. Just remember to do it next time before you board, in clear writing. Allow enough time for the ink to dry before putting it in a wallet etc.

He didn't take any details or write anything down to my knowledge, I'm just worried what with the name being on my railcard if it could be linked?

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

He didn't take any details or write anything down to my knowledge, I'm just worried what with the name being on my railcard if it could be linked?

Not really - if he didn't write anything down turn it's unlikely anything will come of this.

 

[A Challenge]

You could potentially be linked to your railcard with the details you have when buying it (I don't know if it happens), but if he didn't take the details of the Railcard, the Railcard isn't linked to this case and if he wrote nothing down, as @ForTheLoveOf said, it is unlikely to have been reported at all

 

[_toommm_]

Not really - if he didn't write anything down turn it's unlikely anything will come of this.

Thank you - appreciate it. Guess I've learnt my lesson! He wrote a handy reminder on my ticket to make sure it's dated too.

 

[trentside]

It sounds like an attempt at “scare tactics” by the guard, and hopefully it has worked. As @ForTheLoveOf says, don’t forgot to do it again and you won’t have any issues.

As an aside, asking people to show the date boxes of their rovers seems to cause a lot of upset. It amazes me how many people don’t have them on display and then suddenly ask for a pen when you ask for them to be presented!

 

[yorkie]

I recently was travelling on one of the 4 in 8 day tickets, and had forgotten to fill in one of the dates before I got on the train, and was pulled up on the train.

The guard let me off this once, but obviously wasn't happy. He didn't take my details as such, but my name and photo were on the railcard. Is there a way I can be prosecuted, or my name can be looked up in the railcard database? I'm really really nervous now....

you don't have anything further to worry about on this occasion, but just be careful in future.

 

[Hadders]

I agree with @yorkie and @trentside. The guard's reminder is also a possible indication to anyone checking your ticket in future that they maybe shouldn't be as lenient in future if you're boxes aren't dated.

 

[_toommm_]

Thank you guys, appreciate it! I've never been asked for the boxes so I guess I just slipped up.

 

[Elecman]

Be grateful the guard didn’t treat it like a Staff Priv travel box not being dated, which results in the first available box being crossed out ( hence forfeited) before insisting you fill in the next box

 

[_toommm_]

Be grateful the guard didn’t treat it like a Staff Priv travel box not being dated, which results in the first available box being crossed out ( hence forfeited) before insisting you fill in the next box

That's exactly what the guard did! Effectively losing me £17 (although it is of course justified).

 

[Elecman]

That's exactly what the guard did! Effectively losing me £17 (although it is of course justified).

That is the correct procedure and taken to be the penalty for your forgetfullness, no need for any further action by him/ TOC

 

[GadgetMan]

That's exactly what the guard did! Effectively losing me £17 (although it is of course justified).

Unless ofcourse you’ve previously got an extra day or more travel having forgotten to date the box, in which case it cost you nothing.

 

[trainophile]

I'm going to use one of these for the first time in July. I know what my plans are and the relevant dates, so is it okay to fill in the whole lot before commencing use on the first day? Would avoid the possibility of forgetting to do so on subsequent days.

 

[VT 390]

I'm going to use one of these for the first time in July. I know what my plans are and the relevant dates, so is it okay to fill in the whole lot before commencing use on the first day? Would avoid the possibility of forgetting to do so on subsequent days.

The only issue with this is that if on the morning of one of the days there is major disruption and you choose not to travel you would loose that days travel (as you can't clam compensation on Rover tickets). I discovered this on a 8in15 Severn and Solent Rover last year when there were no GWR trains from Worcester for a few hours and I choose not to travel that day but beacuse I had already filled in the date box I lost that day.

 

[trainophile]

The only issue with this is that if on the morning of one of the days there is major disruption and you choose not to travel you would loose that days travel (as you can't clam compensation on Rover tickets). I discovered this on a 8in15 Severn and Solent Rover last year when there were no GWR trains from Worcester for a few hours and I choose not to travel that day but beacuse I had already filled in the date box I lost that day.

Oh good point. Hmm, I will just have to remember each morning when I arrive at the first station then.

 

[A Challenge]

If you're going for the same train or a similar timed train each day you could set an alarm for when you'll be at the station so you remember?

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

(as you can't clam compensation on Rover tickets)

There is no exemption in the NRCoT or any TOC's Passenger Charter for delay compensation on rovers.

 

[gray1404]

Is it documented anywhere that the procedure is to cross out a box on public tickets?

 

[221129]

That is the correct procedure and taken to be the penalty for your forgetfullness, no need for any further action by him/ TOC

I'm pretty sure that's not the correct procedure!!

 

[nedchester]

I'm pretty sure that's not the correct procedure!!

I agree. They should not be crossing out a box. That does apply to priv boxes but not rovers.

 

[VT 390]

There is no exemption in the NRCoT or any TOC's Passenger Charter for delay compensation on rovers.

When I tried to clam compensation for a 3 hour delay last year I got a response from GWR saying that Rover tickets were not valid for compensation, were they wrong?

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

When I tried to clam compensation for a 3 hour delay last year I got a response from GWR saying that Rover tickets were not valid for compensation, were they wrong?

Absolutely so.

As long as you initially contacted them to claim compensation within 28 days of the journey, you can get back to them now and say that you are unhappy and wish to raise a complaint.

You won't be eligible to take it to the Rail Ombudsman if it happened before November 2018, as they only look at cases that started after then, but you can still take the matter to the County Court if you wish.

I have a post somewhere in my history about me taking Chiltern to the County Court (ultimately successfully) in relation to refused delay compensation.

 

[gray1404]

Yes, when last year was it?

 

[paddington]

When I tried to clam compensation for a 3 hour delay last year I got a response from GWR saying that Rover tickets were not valid for compensation, were they wrong?

That's strange because I have claimed from GWR delays on rovers several times and they paid out based on the price of the rover rather than a single, so once I got 3 days of free travel for a 5 minute delay (missed a connection so total delay was over an hour)

 

[Silver Cobra]

When I tried to clam compensation for a 3 hour delay last year I got a response from GWR saying that Rover tickets were not valid for compensation, were they wrong?

They're definitely wrong, at least in the case of the All Line Rover, but I would say for all rovers. I made a delay repay claim with LNER back in August when travelling from Edinburgh to Stevenage on a 7-day first class All Line Rover, and they paid it with no quibbles (I got 5% of it's value back for a 30-59 minute delay, which came to £38.60). Granted, GWR still use their passenger charter for handling delay claims rather than the delay repay scheme, but I can't see any mentions in it of rover tickets not being eligible.

 

[_toommm_]

Whenever I've claimed delay repay, for example on a 4 in 8 ticket, they've treated it as a season, calculating it on the basis that I'd do one return journey a day, in that they divide it by 4 for a two hour delay (equivalent of getting a full return fare back), 8 for an hours delay (to, in effect, claim the full amount of one half of a return back), and 16 for a half hour delay (equivalent of getting half of one half of a return fare).

DISCLAIMER: Your mileage may vary...

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

Whenever I've claimed delay repay, for example on a 4 in 8 ticket, they've treated it as a season, calculating it on the basis that I'd do one return journey a day, in that they divide it by 4 for a two hour delay (equivalent of getting a full return fare back), 8 for an hours delay (to, in effect, claim the full amount of one half of a return back), and 16 for a half hour delay (equivalent of getting half of one half of a return fare).

DISCLAIMER: Your mileage may vary...

Treatment of rovers has varied significantly in my experience. Sometimes there wasn't a "rover" option in the form, and so I had to select "other". This has then led to it sometimes being treated as a return ticket!

 

[trainophile]

Treatment of rovers has varied significantly in my experience. Sometimes there wasn't a "rover" option in the form, and so I had to select "other". This has then led to it sometimes being treated as a return ticket!

I do hate those tick box claim forms where there’s no opportunity to enter freehand information. They never seem to be appropriate for what I’m claiming for, so usually result in email exchanges making more work for everyone.