16-25 renewal, 7 months before expiry - allowed?

[Bungle]

Sorry if this has been asked before.

I turn 26 next month; at the moment, my 16-25 railcard expires in July 2011. Is there any restriction on when the railcard can be renewed; obviously, if I can buy a new one the day before I turn 26 to get the maximum possible use out of it (as it saves me a fortune) then I will.

The FAQs on the 16-25 website state "You can renew your Railcard up to 30 days in advance of its expiry date (providing there is no break in continuity) online, at a station ticket office or over the phone."

It's a bit ambiguous... does it mean (put in as straightforward terms as possible):

a) "It can only be renewed up to 30 days in advance, we have your details on our system and will prevent you from buying a new one in the same name/address before this 30 day period", i.e. if it expires more than 30 days before you're 26, tough, you're stuck with the expiry date;

or

b) It can be renewed 30 days in advance and by doing so will preserve the expiry date (for example, a railcard expiring on 31st July 2010, renewed on 10th July 2010, will be valid until 31st July 2011); but if you want to renew it before then, you may do so and the new expiry date will be one year from the date of renewal, (i.e. surrendering the old one and buying a new one, rather than 'renewing'.)

Basically, mine expires in July 2011, I want to renew it (or effectively, hand it back and buy a new one) in November 2010 so it now expires in November 2011. Is this allowed?

I think the b) case is correct, but the terminology isn't quite clear. I'd be glad if anyone could clear this one up. Cheers.

 

[yorkie]

Yes it is allowed

The same applies with Family Railcards, a 16 year old could potentially be using child fam discounted tickets up to the day before their 17th birthday.

 

[Bungle]

Thanks a lot for the quick reply - much appreciated.

Why we can't have a system like in Switzerland (where I work) where anyone can pay 150CHF and then have half-fare tickets all year round, non-age-restricted, is beyond me.

Actually that's probaby one for the nationalisation v privatisation debate. Can't see many of these private bus companies letting people pay a relatively low flat fee for a year round 50% discount!

 

[yorkie]

Because the 'powers that be' in this country want to put people off travelling by train and encourage us to get cars instead.

 

[John @ home]

My understanding is that by buying a 16-25 Railcard the day before your 26th birthday you would not be renewing an existing card but would be buying a new additional card expiring two days before your 27th birthday. I can see nothing to suggest that this is not allowed. You wouldn't need to hand back an existing card.

 

[jopsuk]

Thanks a lot for the quick reply - much appreciated.

Why we can't have a system like in Switzerland (where I work) where anyone can pay 150CHF and then have half-fare tickets all year round, non-age-restricted, is beyond me.

Actually that's probaby one for the nationalisation v privatisation debate. Can't see many of these private bus companies letting people pay a relatively low flat fee for a year round 50% discount!

Of course, for travel in a very loosely defined "South East" area, such a card exists (not 50%, admittedly- but only £24). Loose, as it is the only time Weymouth and Exeter get described as being in the "South East".

 

[button_boxer]

If you renew within the last 30 days of validity your renewed card will be valid until 12 months after the expiry date of the previous card. You can renew earlier if you like but then the new card is only valid for 12 months from the renewal date (rather than from the previous expiry date). I did exactly what you propose just before I turned 26 and nobody had a problem with it.

 

[cuccir]

If you renew within the last 30 days of validity your renewed card will be valid until 12 months after the expiry date of the previous card. You can renew earlier if you like but then the new card is only valid for 12 months from the renewal date (rather than from the previous expiry date). I did exactly what you propose just before I turned 26 and nobody had a problem with it.

So if you get the purchasing dates correct, it's possible, the day before turning 26, to renew a railcard which is due to expire 30 days later and to have the card run up to being 27 and 29 days? Nice way to squeeze an extra month out of the thing!

 

[thefab444]

Why we can't have a system like in Switzerland (where I work) where anyone can pay 150CHF and then have half-fare tickets all year round, non-age-restricted, is beyond me.

In Germany you can get as year's ALR for £3,300, which would cost about £11,000 here!

 

[Jekteir]

Hi, I was just wondering -- how did you manage to renew the card? I've logged into their website, and for my card it says:

* Card sent 10/03/2010
* Renewable from 15/02/2011
* Expires 15/03/2011

And it won't let me renew it. It'll either let me 'Replace' it, in which case I have to claim it's lost and pay a fiver for a replacement (which will clearly expire at the same date as the original card), or Buy New Card.

So I also tried Buy New Card -- and when you get to the identity verification stage (passport or driver's license), it says, 'Card already registered under that name.'

If you go to an office in person, will they do this for you?

Many thanks.

 

[bnm]

Of course, for travel in a very loosely defined "South East" area, such a card exists (not 50%, admittedly- but only £24). Loose, as it is the only time Weymouth and Exeter get described as being in the "South East".

....or indeed Worcester!! To be fair though ATOC now refer to the area of validity as the Network Railcard Area.

 

[button_boxer]

Hi, I was just wondering -- how did you manage to renew the card?

I did mine in person at a station (in fact I'm not sure the online application process even existed back when I was eligible...).