Can I change my ticket?

[SammyJ]

Hi all, just a quick one.

I got an advance ticket from Edinburgh to Laindon but have been asked if can go to Billericay instead as its easier.

Is there anyway I can change this or will it just be easier to buy a London -Billericay ticket instead?

 

[yorkie]

You cannot change the destination/origin of a ticket.

Advance fares are non-refundable.

It's all explained in the Advance T&Cs:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/advance_conditions.html

Changing the time or date of travel

• Changes to time or date of travel must be arranged before departure of the first reserved train printed on the ticket, after which the ticket has no value and a new one must be purchased. You will need to present the ticket(s) and reservation(s) when you request a change.​
• Changes to tickets cannot be made on-board the train. If you board a train without a ticket and reservation for that service, a new ticket must be purchased. Depending on the Train Company you are travelling with, you may be liable to a Penalty Fare if you board the train with an invalid ticket.
  ​
• The origin, destination and Train Company or route shown on the ticket(s) must remain the same.​
• The difference between the price paid and cost of the next suitable fare for your journey is payable, plus a £10 administration fee per person, per single ticket for each change to a journey. If you change to a train on which a cheaper fare is available, the difference will not be refunded.​

Refunds

• Your ticket is non-refundable.​

 

[telstarbox]

I think I know the answer to this but strictly speaking, if you have a TOC + Connections ticket (the OP's ticket is either EC & CONNECTIONS or VWC & CONNECTIONS), are you obliged to use the full 'Connections' part of the ticket from/to the printed origin/destination before or after your reserved train(s)?

 

[ATW Alex 101]

Your best bet is a Walk up off peak day return Laindon-Billericay

 

[gnolife]

Your best bet is a Walk up off peak day return Laindon-Billericay

Not really - Laindon is on the c2c route from Fenchurch St. Billericay is on the London Liverpool Street - Southend Vic route. The OP isn't really going to be wanting to travel through Southend or do a return trip from Laindon to Fenchurch St.

 

[telstarbox]

Although this ticket (£7 SDR) is cheaper than a London-Billericay ticket (£11.80 SDS), this option would add over an hour to the OP's journey compared to buying a new ticket from London.

 

[yorkie]

I think I know the answer to this but strictly speaking....

... break of journey is not permitted on Advance tickets. I am not necessarily saying that it is either enforceable or enforced in every situation but we can't be seen to be recommending breaching the T&Cs of the ticket. If the T&Cs are unclear, then that's a different matter, but in this case they are clear.