Claiming for a Taxi on Last Train

[MHS1979]

As Thread title a trainload of people were left out in the cold back in November as the last train from Birmingham to Rugeley Trent Valley (might've been Hednesford for that journy IIRC) got cut short at Walsall and no replacement bus service arrived (and this must be the five-hundredth time that's happened by now) - It was stated at New Street when I asked that there would be a replacement on.

Anyway, this has happened to me over the years so many times now (we're easily in double figures for this) that I have decided I'm not gonna take this anymore and phoned Passenger Assist who attemped to get me a taxi but couldn't figure it out (presumably there's procedural hoops there that made it difficult as I could've given them the numbers to about 5 ranks in the local area off the top of my head). In the end I called an Uber and thanked the Passenger Assist guy for really trying his best with multiple calls back and forth to help me out. He told me to claim the fare back the next day. That might have been a little naive of him because all phone lines he gave me lead to the old "email the operator" scenario.

So I did, and they have got back to me, and asked for receipts, etc. I told them in my email that I am not prepared to send my bank details over an insecure email - because, you know... basic common sense and all that - and I would accept Rail Vouchers if need be. They're claiming I have to send my bank details over email. I've just replied telling them that I will not do that and I am happy to share bank details over a secure method of payment, be that phone or whatever.

I'm just wondering what my rights are if they insist on email correspondence for payment when they get back to me

Thanks!

 

[AlterEgo]

There's no issue sending your bank account nunber and sort code by email. It's on every cheque you've ever written. You could ask them for a cheque if you prefer? (Then you will be able to see their bank details!)

It is extremely normal to give your bank account nunber and sort code over email.

 

[Angmering1974]

It is extremely normal to give your bank account nunber and sort code over email.

No it's not.

What an absolute cherry-on-the-cake that they're being so obstructive at the last mile. Very typical of most UK organisations to bury people in procedural nonsense and red tape in order to deny customer service. It's by design.

OP: As you pointed out, they have alternatives: vouchers, sending you a cheque etc. I'd stand your ground. You're the aggrieved party here, not them.

 

[AlterEgo]

No it's not.

Yes it is. It's how I get paid dozens of times a year. It's how most sole traders and small businesses do a lot of trade. It's how I've been refunded plenty of times too. It's how I paid my plumber. Etc etc.

Enjoy being performatively obstructive if you like but it's easier to just tell them your bank account and sort code to get the money quickly. It isn't a magic code to having everything stolen from you.

 

[MHS1979]

Just because you do it every day doesn't mean it's safe, as Jeremy Clarkson swiftly found out when he posted his details publicly because he too thought it was perfectly secure: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7174760.stm

Moral of the story: Guard your personal financial details, because you have no clue how creative and sneaky criminals can be.

 

[blimmo]

Luckily the direct debit guarantee means that your bank will just repay any money paid by a direct debit so there really is no risk. Also this doesn't happen unless you're Jeremy Clarkson and post it on twitter.

 

[AlterEgo]

Just because you do it every day doesn't mean it's safe, as Jeremy Clarkson swiftly found out when he posted his details publicly because he too thought it was perfectly secure: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7174760.stm

Moral of the story: Guard your personal financial details, because you have no clue how creative and sneaky criminals can be.

Yes he posted it to millions of people, and one person donated the money to charity by setting up a direct debit...nearly 20 years ago.

I think if you send your bank account number and sort code to someone who is about to pay you money you are actually due then you'll be fine.

 

[yorkie]

Luckily the direct debit guarantee means that your bank will just repay any money paid by a direct debit so there really is no risk. Also this doesn't happen unless you're Jeremy Clarkson and post it on twitter.

Indeed.

The comparison would be @MHS1979 posting their bank details and details of how to find their address to a huge audience and being as disliked as Jeremy Clarkson.

@MHS1979 There is absolutely no issue sending WMT your bank details.

 

[whirlybird]

Just because you do it every day doesn't mean it's safe, as Jeremy Clarkson swiftly found out when he posted his details publicly because he too thought it was perfectly secure: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7174760.stm

Moral of the story: Guard your personal financial details, because you have no clue how creative and sneaky criminals can be.

An approach to mitigate this risk is to provide the details of a savings account -- i.e. one that can't be used for direct debits.

 

[Angmering1974]

Enjoy being performatively obstructive if you like but it's easier to just tell them your bank account and sort code to get the money quickly. It isn't a magic code to having everything stolen from you.

Performativity obstructive lol. Give over

 

[davecres]

As Thread title a trainload of people were left out in the cold back in November as the last train from Birmingham to Rugeley Trent Valley (might've been Hednesford for that journy IIRC) got cut short at Walsall and no replacement bus service arrived (and this must be the five-hundredth time that's happened by now) - It was stated at New Street when I asked that there would be a replacement on.

Anyway, this has happened to me over the years so many times now (we're easily in double figures for this) that I have decided I'm not gonna take this anymore and phoned Passenger Assist who attemped to get me a taxi but couldn't figure it out (presumably there's procedural hoops there that made it difficult as I could've given them the numbers to about 5 ranks in the local area off the top of my head). In the end I called an Uber and thanked the Passenger Assist guy for really trying his best with multiple calls back and forth to help me out. He told me to claim the fare back the next day. That might have been a little naive of him because all phone lines he gave me lead to the old "email the operator" scenario.

So I did, and they have got back to me, and asked for receipts, etc. I told them in my email that I am not prepared to send my bank details over an insecure email - because, you know... basic common sense and all that - and I would accept Rail Vouchers if need be. They're claiming I have to send my bank details over email. I've just replied telling them that I will not do that and I am happy to share bank details over a secure method of payment, be that phone or whatever.

I'm just wondering what my rights are if they insist on email correspondence for payment when they get back to me

Thanks!

On the delay repay online form they ask for bank details. There is an option in the reasons for train cancelled which effectively it was beyond Walsall.

 

[SuspectUsual]

I am happy to share bank details over a secure method of payment, be that phone or whatever.

You think reading your card details out over the phone to a random in an office is safer than putting them in an email?

 

[Hadders]

You think reading your card details out over the phone to a random in an office is safer than putting them in an email?

Card details is different to sort code and account number.

People have been handing their sort code and account numbers out on pieces of paper for decades - they’re called cheques. You can’t make a payment using only the sort code and account number, but you can set up a direct debit, and direct debits are covered by the direct debit guarantee.

A card number (ie the 16-digit number on a credit or debit card is a bit different) can be used to make a payment and I wouldn’t read this number, the card expiry and cvv number out in public as it enables payment to be made.

A bank will refund a fraudulent card payment but if you’ve disclosed your card number and security details in public then the bank could argue that you’ve been negligent and refuse to reimburse you.

 

[styles]

Card details is different to sort code and account number.

People have been handing their sort code and account numbers out on pieces of paper for decades - they’re called cheques. You can’t make a payment using only the sort code and account number, but you can set up a direct debit, and direct debits are covered by the direct debit guarantee.

A card number (ie the 16-digit number on a credit or debit card is a bit different) can be used to make a payment and I wouldn’t read this number, the card expiry and cvv number out in public as it enables payment to be made.

A bank will refund a fraudulent card payment but if you’ve disclosed your card number and security details in public then the bank could argue that you’ve been negligent and refuse to reimburse you.

Just to add to this, PCI-DSS regulations will in many cases prohibit the transfer and almost always the storing of the 16 digit PAN / card number.

You should never send the PAN to untrusted bodies, and bodies receiving it for legitimate purposes should use it for those purposes then destroy it immediately after,breathing only a few digits of the BIN and the last four digits of the PAN.

If somebody texts you asking for a 16 digit card number block and report.