16/17 Railcard - Not Happy!

[Puffing Devil]

That the wisest thing I've heard all week. So true.

Railcards need simplifying. For instance, in Germany it's 25%, 50% or 100% off. But even they complicate matters with different versions for first and second class, different discounts for regional fares systems (sometimes depending on how many zones passed through, etc., etc...).

Assuming that 100% off for a year would cost so much that you could buy the train for less, we could simply have cards for 25% and 50% off, with a lower price level (half price?) for 18-30, PRM, 60+, families, forces, whoever. 4 products, discount everything, any time, price appropriately to break even or encourage travel, according to policy. Photocard for half-price travel 11-18, to stop those trying it on in their mid teens.

I await my job offer from RDG, possibly for a long time...

Whilst this is necessary, the point of the post was the selling of a new RC which made a recently purchased RC a very poor deal.

 

[ThisIsSurbiton]

the point of the post was the selling of a new RC which made a recently purchased RC a very poor deal

Indeed, but things change! I understand the OP's frustration, but for me it's going to happen sometimes.

 

[Haywain]

The complaint here is that the old item was sold without informing the purchaser that an alternative product was available (covering substantially the same contractual period) that would be significantly better, even though the information about that other product was already public knowledge. As such they could purchase the new product then attempt to obtain a refund (possibly pro-rata as some benefit has already been obtained) on the old product from the original retailer, trying to argue the other party unreasonably withheld information in their possession that would have materially affected the decision to enter the contract on the stated terms. (No guarantee that would succeed, but might be worth a try - a consumer rights argument.)

I can't see why this argument would succeed - in every field of commerce new products are launched and there is no chance that any of them (other than emergency sales) happen without being planned and briefed to staff in advance. These will often be advantageous over products purchased ahead of their launch but that is a matter of luck. If this argument is followed through then Northern should be offering refunds to everybody who bought tickets ahead of their 10p promotion - even if they have already part used the tickets!

 

[Llanigraham]

Quite!
I ordered some cars parts from an on-line supplier yesterday, today I get an emails saying they have an offer on this weekend for a % off and free delivery. I won't get any of that because I ordered yesterday. Do I feel aggrieved by this? Not really, that is the way of the world.
Get over it!!

 

[adamskiodp]

It's certainly causing ill will in my household. The rail industry has introduced another railcard that none of us is eligible for.

Agreed! As a 30-60 yr old I have a lot less disposable income than a lot of other people eligible for national rail discounts. Why not just make fares cheaper for everyone, instead of increasing the select ’groups’ of people having another railcard?

 

[RJ]

The railcard system in this country is becoming a mess (like the fares in general) - we now have 16-17, 18-25, 25-30, and 60+. Then add onto that Network railcards, Gold cards, etc.

Why is this a mess?

 

[R G NOW.]

Where is it a mess?.

 

[142blue]

This Railcard was announced some time ago on the news as part of a govt budget

Just enjoy using the 16 - 25 card instead

 

[Puffing Devil]

This Railcard was announced some time ago on the news as part of a govt budget

Just enjoy using the 16 - 25 card instead

Flippant and unhelpful.

The is a National Scheme with some degree of input from the Government. Not to signpost the upcomming availability of the better product to potential buyers in the months before its introduction to allow them to make an informed buying choice is very poor.

Two months out there should have been a banner warning on the 16-25 site before purchase that the 16-17 card would be available to use from 2 September with the associated benefits. Do you still want to purchase? Same for buying from a ticket office.

 

[Wallsendmag]

No this is a Government scheme with some input from the Rail industry

 

[RJ]

11 days ago, someone I know purchased a 16 > 25 Railcard for their 16 year old son. This Railcard is not valid on weekdays before 9.30am and gives one 30% off tickets. Now, a few days later, the 16/17 year old Railcard has been launched which is valid at anytime and gives 50% off tickets. The 16 year old in question uses the trains to go to school. So, now he is stuck with a Railcard that he cannot use to go to school and if he uses it for other journeys, he gets a 30% discount as opposed to 50%. Needless to say, the family are absolutely fuming about this.

I think that the Railways should allow all 16 & 17 year olds who have the 16 > 25 Railcard to use it under the same conditions as if they had purchased this new 16/17 Railcard. Alternatively, they should be allowed to take the 16 > 25 Railcard to a station and get a free swap to the new 16/17 Railcard. (Of course, they could simply allow all 16 > 25 Railcard users to be able to use the trains at anytime & get the 50% discount as most are students or low wage earners).

There's one advantage the 16-25 railcard had over the 16-17 Saver - the former would have been valid for an immediate discount. If there was no intention to use it immediately, or it was deemed to have inferior conditions then it may have been a better option to wait for the 16-17 Saver to become available. News of the railcard becoming available in September 2019 has been circulated since at least January 2019 so there was information out there. As such the discount offered is a reasonable compromise.

The idea of charging under 25s and over 60s £200 railcard a railcard reminds me of the Boots Theory.

A high quality pair of boots that will last a lifetime costs £200. A low quality pair of boots that start letting in water after a year or so costs £40.

Ten years later, the rich man will have spent £200 on boots, even though he could well afford to pay more. The poor man who couldn't afford to pay £200 upfront will have spent £400 on boots, and still have wet feet.

Otherwise known as a false economy!

Unfortunately it's the case that the more spending power you have, the further your money goes. And once you spend beyond a certain level, companies and banks start throwing incentives at you to get your custom! Ironically the effect is the people that need the discount the least get the best discounts.

 

[142blue]

It's life, sometimes something better comes along

 

[hooverboy]

11 days ago, someone I know purchased a 16 > 25 Railcard for their 16 year old son. This Railcard is not valid on weekdays before 9.30am and gives one 30% off tickets. Now, a few days later, the 16/17 year old Railcard has been launched which is valid at anytime and gives 50% off tickets. The 16 year old in question uses the trains to go to school. So, now he is stuck with a Railcard that he cannot use to go to school and if he uses it for other journeys, he gets a 30% discount as opposed to 50%. Needless to say, the family are absolutely fuming about this.

I think that the Railways should allow all 16 & 17 year olds who have the 16 > 25 Railcard to use it under the same conditions as if they had purchased this new 16/17 Railcard. Alternatively, they should be allowed to take the 16 > 25 Railcard to a station and get a free swap to the new 16/17 Railcard. (Of course, they could simply allow all 16 > 25 Railcard users to be able to use the trains at anytime & get the 50% discount as most are students or low wage earners).

if he's using it for school travel then just fork out the extra 30 quid for the new one, you'll make up the outlay in extra savings in probably less than a month.

besides, if he needs to get to school before 9.30,the initial 16-25 railcard wouldn't be valid anyway.