Convert Rail Travel Vouchers into Cash

[800Travel]

Hi,

I vaguely remember seeing a thread in which someone was able to convert a GTR voucher into cash by swapping it at a ticket office.

Does anyone know of any ways to convert a Cross Country rail travel voucher into cash please that doesn't involve contacting Cross Country themselves to request an alternative payment method?

Thank you

 

[_toommm_]

I dont believe you can - I think it's a special thing GTR do with their RTVs.

 

[Jan Mayen]

GTR certainly did for me yesterday. I'd rather they had actually just charged me less on my credit card, but I'm sure I'll find a use for the coins

 

[gray1404]

Cross Country RTVs need to be used for a purchase at a ticket office.

The only other alternative would be asking XC Customer Services if they will provide an alternative. However this is at their discretion and would involve you returning the voucher to them.

 

[David57]

A recent experience was at LNWR's Long Buckby ticket office, unusually open!

I presented The clerk with a RTV as part payment, but they couldn't find a way on their system to enter them, so was asked if I didn't mind having them in cash, and paid full price for the ticket...

 

[stadler]

I believe that GTR (GX/GN/SN/TL) and Southeastern and Scotrail are the only three TOCs that do cashable vouchers. The rest just do standard rail travel vouchers that can be used for ticket purchases. Hopefully if GBR ever happens they introduce a standard system where cashable vouchers are available for any TOCs. It would certainly be useful if these cashable vouchers were done by more TOCs.

 

[transportphoto]

GTR certainly did for me yesterday. I'd rather they had actually just charged me less on my credit card, but I'm sure I'll find a use for the coins

A recent experience was at LNWR's Long Buckby ticket office, unusually open!

I presented The clerk with a RTV as part payment, but they couldn't find a way on their system to enter them, so was asked if I didn't mind having them in cash, and paid full price for the ticket...

An inability to process part payment by voucher is slightly worrying for a Ticket Office. I’m hoping it’s skill fade rather than training!

 

[gray1404]

Northern give.you.a choice of compensation methods. One is a rail travel voucher and another is a cashable voucher. So I assume a Northern RTV can only be used for a purchase and a cashable voucher can only be used in exchange for cash and at a Northern station.

 

[Andy Pacer]

An inability to process part payment by voucher is slightly worrying for a Ticket Office. I’m hoping it’s skill fade rather than training!

Was happening to me the majority of times which is why in the end I gave up with RTVs.

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

A recent experience was at LNWR's Long Buckby ticket office, unusually open!

I presented The clerk with a RTV as part payment, but they couldn't find a way on their system to enter them, so was asked if I didn't mind having them in cash, and paid full price for the ticket...

No way! Exactly the same thing happened to me at Long Buckby ticket office a couple of months ago. I was very surprised when she handed me cash.

 

[DelW]

I believe that GTR (GX/GN/SN/TL) and Southeastern and Scotrail are the only three TOCs that do cashable vouchers. The rest just do standard rail travel vouchers that can be used for ticket purchases. Hopefully if GBR ever happens they introduce a standard system where cashable vouchers are available for any TOCs. It would certainly be useful if these cashable vouchers were done by more TOCs.

Especially as RTVs aren't always issued in convenient values.

I recently had RTVs for a £28.65 delay repay payment. They came as an A4 sheet of four vouchers, value £25, £3.65, void and void. Which would be okay except that as almost all my ticket purchases are below £20, I'd much rather have had (say) £10, £10, £5 and £3.65. I have a trip planned in the summer for which my ticket will be >£50, so I'll have to keep the £25 one until then (and then remember to use it).

 

[island]

This stems from the fact that TOCs became obliged some years ago to offer a "cash option" for DelayRepay payments, and these "cashable vouchers" were one of the "cash options" allowed, alongside other options including BACS transfer, cheque, and probably others I'm not remembering. As others mention above, a minority of TOCs issue(d) them – I am not sure any still do; Southeastern mainly does BACS transfer now. Only vouchers endorsed as exchangeable for cash can be so exchanged. The vouchers I have had only permitted encashment at a booking office of the issuing TOC and then only within 4 weeks of issue, though they were valid for twelve months for the purchase of fares.

CrossCountry neither issues cashable vouchers nor has any booking offices.

 

[Sonic1234]

This stems from the fact that TOCs became obliged some years ago to offer a "cash option" for DelayRepay payments, and these "cashable vouchers" were one of the "cash options" allowed, alongside other options including BACS transfer, cheque, and probably others I'm not remembering.

GTR customer relations don't have the authority to issue cheques or BACS transfers, so if you contact them and they decide you're due a refund or a payment they'll issue one of these vouchers. I assume their customer relations is outsourced, as it is located in Derby.

You can get a BACS transfer via the delay repay form for GTR

 

[island]

Not sure whether this is better or worse than Avanti who will pay out by cheque.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not sure whether this is better or worse than Avanti who will pay out by cheque.

Avanti will also do BACS transfer which is what I have always used.

 

[Joey Beauchamp]

This stems from the fact that TOCs became obliged some years ago to offer a "cash option" for DelayRepay payments, and these "cashable vouchers" were one of the "cash options" allowed, alongside other options including BACS transfer, cheque, and probably others I'm not remembering. As others mention above, a minority of TOCs issue(d) them – I am not sure any still do; Southeastern mainly does BACS transfer now. Only vouchers endorsed as exchangeable for cash can be so exchanged. The vouchers I have had only permitted encashment at a booking office of the issuing TOC and then only within 4 weeks of issue, though they were valid for twelve months for the purchase of fares.

CrossCountry neither issues cashable vouchers nor has any booking offices.

I didn't ask for a Rail Travel Voucher - I was just pushing LNR for compensation after the delay repay window had run out and it unexpectedly turned up in the post. I usually request BACS as I find it easiest.

I also didn't request or expect to be handed cash at the ticket office - I tried to use the voucher as part-payment for a rail ticket.