Ticket collection didn’t ask for card

[trainophile]

I tried four of the six in the block and they were all the same.

Just spotted the other thread on this subject, where Adam mentioned that all Trainsplit sales are set to any card, but as I booked on Trainsplit presumably it’s not set to “no card”, or doesn’t the vendor have any control over that?

 

[OscarH]

I tried four of the six in the block and they were all the same.

Just spotted the other thread on this subject, where Adam mentioned that all Trainsplit sales are set to any card, but as I booked on Trainsplit presumably it’s not set to “no card”, or doesn’t the vendor have any control over that?

From the retailer's point of view, bookings are either "same card" or "not same card". We set everything to the latter.

On older TVM software like you appear to be seeing today, that means insert any card, but it doesn't care what the card number is. On newer software then it does the flow the better way around and asks the booking ref first, so knows if it needs a card at all.

"No card" and "any card" are not different concepts in the system, which one you get is entirely dependent on the TVMs software version.

 

[trainophile]

Thanks for the explanation. I will try it again somewhere else next time and see what happens.

 

[Joe Paxton]

From the retailer's point of view, bookings are either "same card" or "not same card". We set everything to the latter.

On older TVM software like you appear to be seeing today, that means insert any card, but it doesn't care what the card number is. On newer software then it does the flow the better way around and asks the booking ref first, so knows if it needs a card at all. [...]

Out of curiosity, if a TVM wants 'any card' to start the process does it nonetheless make a record of the inserted card's number? I assume not, but I suppose there could just about be an anti-fraud argument made in favour of doing so (though perhaps PCI-DSS rules would prohibit this?).

Many aeons ago, for 'any card' bookings at least some TVMs would accept Tesco Clubcards and the like (I think pretty much any CC standard card with a mag stripe), but that stopped working at some point.

 

[OscarH]

Out of curiosity, if a TVM wants 'any card' to start the process does it nonetheless make a record of the inserted card's number? I assume not, but I suppose there could just about be an anti-fraud argument made in favour of doing so (though perhaps PCI-DSS rules would prohibit this?).

Certainly not in the main ToD system at least, and nowhere the retailer could find it. Whether the TVM logs it internally to the manufacturer I don't know, but I doubt it.

Worth noting it is also not the full card number that's stored for security reasons.

Many aeons ago, for 'any card' bookings at least some TVMs would accept Tesco Clubcards and the like (I think pretty much any CC standard card with a mag stripe), but that stopped working at some point.

A real bank card doesn't even work half the bloody time

 

[Haywain]

if a TVM wants 'any card' to start the process does it nonetheless make a record of the inserted card's number?

Sort of, because at that stage there is no way of knowing if the booking is set as same card collection. However, I don't believe that it retained in any form. The back office might have shown the partial number but as there is no purchase involved the card details would not be passed to the merchant or shown/kept in their software.

 

[Joe Paxton]

A real bank card doesn't even work half the bloody time

I've not had this problem.

 

[Haywain]

I've not had this problem.

My recent experiences have been that at least two attempts are needed.

 

[Adam Williams]

The S&B machines definitely seem a bit flaky at times, unfortunately. Contactless on e.g. the Fowlbirds more reliable, where available.

 

[Haywain]

Fowlbirds

 

[Joe Paxton]

My recent experiences have been that at least two attempts are needed.

I recall having issues (on S&B TVMs) but I'd put that down to my impatience in removing my card too early!

I'll try to remember to pay attention in the future, though I suspect as I'll generally be collecting 'same card not required' bookings from updated TVMs that won't now require the insertion of any card I won't come across this issue much in the future.

 

[MrJeeves]

The S&B machines definitely seem a bit flaky at times, unfortunately. Contactless on e.g. the Fowlbirds more reliable, where available.

Hopefully all S&B machines will get the changes to allow collection via contactless, at least for the benefit of the few customers that use retailers requiring same card collection.

 

[Wallsendmag]

The S&B machines definitely seem a bit flaky at times, unfortunately. Contactless on e.g. the Fowlbirds more reliable, where available.

I think I like that better actually , will it change to RingGo I wonder

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jan 2025 ==

Hopefully all S&B machines will get the changes to allow collection via contactless, at least for the benefit of the few customers that use retailers requiring same card collection.

At least the ones in England will

 

[janb]

Just collected one from Lime Street, the machines near the information desk, same thing. Ticket bought on Trainsplit a couple of days ago.

Don’t lose your little bits of paper with your collection references on them!

Just collected a ticket from Lime Street and all the machines at the top end near the ticket office were asking for the booking card again. Contactless didn’t work so back to the faff. Wonder why.

Machines near info desk = Avanti?
Machines near ticket office = Northern?

Been a while since I've been in Lime Street to picture it but that would seem the obvious explanation.

 

[trainophile]

Machines near info desk = Avanti?
Machines near ticket office = Northern?

Been a while since I've been in Lime Street to picture it but that would seem the obvious explanation.

I did wonder that, but I almost always use the ones at the far end as the other ones are usually busy with a queue. It might explain it though, next time I'm there I will make a point of trying the ones nearest the entrance.

 

[NaZzAtAzEr]

Can confirm GTR have updated. Took me by surprise when I collected the other day

 

[Edvid]

Can confirm GTR have updated. Took me by surprise when I collected the other day

That's certainly true for their S&B machines. The Worldline/Evoke machines at Gatwick Airport & Luton Airport (+ Parkway) still ask for the card first; however they can fulfil ToD purchases with contactless verification as well, even those made on LNER with virtual cards!*

[* At least those based on physical cards registered with Google Pay; not sure if numberless cards (Chase-issued, for instance) are included. I purchased a very low-value ticket (not through Trainsplit!) to see if it was possible.]

 

[trainophile]

Just collected one from Lime Street, the machines near the information desk, same thing. Ticket bought on Trainsplit a couple of days ago.

Don’t lose your little bits of paper with your collection references on them!

Update on Lime Street - Avanti machines no card required, Northern ones at the top end still asking for the card you paid with.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Update on Lime Street - Avanti machines no card required, Northern ones at the top end still asking for the card you paid with.

The Flowbird update is a few months away