Disabled Person Railcard

[bradders1983]

Hi all, first time poster so be kind.

We are off on a trip from Sheffield--> Edinburgh next Wednesday, and as the OH is register blind, we booked the trip stating we had a Disabled Persons Railcard, with the intention of dropping into the station the week before the trip and buying a DPR.

I found out today that you cant buy the Railcard at the station! It can only be done by post!

The form says it takes 10 days for the card to get to us. Is there any way I can fastrack it so it gets to us by the start of next week?

And what will happen if we get on the train and we show the tickets and dont have the DPR? Will we get chucked off the train, or will we have to pay the excess?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[wintonian]

If you put the application in the post now it may still come through in time, but obviously don't buy any discounted tickets until you have received it.

Certainly with renewals they have been very quick with me i.e. ringing them up paying and receiving the card 2 days later in the quickest example.
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In fact you don't atualy need a railcard see: Concessionary fares for visually-impaired people or wheelchair users who do not have a Disabled Persons Railcard

If you are registered as blind or visually impaired and you are travelling with another person, the above concessionary fares apply for both you and your companion. You cannot get a discount if you are travelling on your own. You must show a document confirming your disability when you buy your ticket and when travelling. It must be from a recognised institution, for example, Social Services, your Local Authority, The Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) or St Dunstan's.

The discount is 34% off the anytime standard fare or 50% for a day return.

 

[hairyhandedfool]

If you board the train without a valid railcard you will be asked to pay the full fare for your journey. In most cases you can apply for a refund of the discounted fare with no admin fee if you can provide the valid railcard at the time of the refund application ('Advance' tickets are non refundable).

You can go to a station to change the ticket, however, some ticket types ('Advance' tickets for example) have a fee for changing journey plans.

In future, I would advise sorting things like this out before booking the tickets.
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The discounts for partially sighted/registered blind and Wheelchair users without a Railcard is off of the full Anytime and Anytime Day fares, in the case of Sheffield to Edinburgh it is unlikely this will be worthwhile.

Anytime Return (34% off) = £139.90 (approx)
Off Peak return (full price) = £90.30 (not before 0500 Mon-Fri)

 

[wintonian]

Just realising that you have already have bought the tickets, you will not be able to use them unless (as you are already aware) the railcard arrives in time, so will have to rely on the generosity of the train operator in allowing you a refund on the tickets, this may not be easy if they are cheap advance fares and you are likely to have to pay a £10 admin fee. If they are not the cheap advance fares then you can get a refund anyway minus the £10.

 

[Deerfold]

Just realising that you have already have bought the tickets, you will not be able to use them unless (as you are already aware) the railcard arrives in time, so will have to rely on the generosity of the train operator in allowing you a refund on the tickets, this may not be easy if they are cheap advance fares and you are likely to have to pay a £10 admin fee. If they are not the cheap advance fares then you can get a refund anyway minus the £10.

Cheap advances are not usually refundable at all. They can be *changed* for a £10 admin fee. I don't know if they can be changed from a railcard to non-railcard fare.

 

[bradders1983]

Indeed, I have already bought the tickets on the assumption we could go into Sheffield station and pick up the DPR in the same way I bought my YPR when I was 18!

I have spoken to the people who issue the cards, and they have informed me that if I ask them to bill us for £23 for one year rather than £18, they will send the DPR back out by Next Day Delivery. In turn, I have just sent them the relevant forms by Next Day Delivery.

So if they get it tomorrow afternoon, hopefully it can be processed and in the post back to us no later than Thursday

Here's hoping.

 

[wintonian]

I was thinking that as the OP's partner is registered blind a particularly helpful TOC on a good day might allow the refund.

I think you can only change the date/time on the ticket.
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Ah the next day service is new to me, though as I have said I have allways found them very helpfull.

 

[yTocynnwr]

Don't people registered blind qualify for a discount without a railcard when travelling with a companion anyway?

 

[bradders1983]

I was thinking that as the OP's partner is registered blind a particularly helpful TOC on a good day might allow the refund.

I think you can only change the date/time on the ticket.
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Ah the next day service is new to me, though as I have said I have allways found them very helpfull.

The only problem is their location. AB30 is one of the postcodes the Royal Mail do not guarantee Next Day 1.30pm delivery for, it is actually 5.30pm. So it may add a day onto an already tight turnaround!

 

[wintonian]

Yes see posts #2 & #3.

 

[bradders1983]

Don't people registered blind qualify for a discount without a railcard when travelling with a companion anyway?

Yes, but this doesnt cover cheaper Advance fares (I think?)

 

[yTocynnwr]

Yes see posts #2 & #3.

Oh yes, sorry - trying to be helpful without reading previous advice thoroughly!

 

[wintonian]

The only problem is their location. AB30 is one of the postcodes the Royal Mail do not guarantee Next Day 1.30pm delivery for, it is actually 5.30pm. So it may add a day onto an already tight turnaround!

To me it looks like the OP is traveling on the 20th which is 9 days away so special delivery there and back allowing a day for them to do the application is only 3 days, so plenty of time I would have thought.
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Yes, but this doesnt cover cheaper Advance fares (I think?)

Your right it doesn't only the standard anytime fares.

 

[Oracle]

I have always found the people at the DRC centre very helpful and I would personally have no objection to paying the asking amount by card and asking for the SD return. Having recently applied for my son, I can vouch for their word in the matter but ensure that the written evidence, be it copy of Disability Living Allowance award or other writen evidence is provided. The application form can be downloaded from the website and also you can add card details to the form in order to pay.

I have of course mentioned before that the classes of 'disabilities' has changed since I got my first DRC, although if you have an award it can be renewed even if the class has been removed.

 

[bradders1983]

I have always found the people at the DRC centre very helpful and I would personally have no objection to paying the asking amount by card and asking for the SD return. Having recently applied for my son, I can vouch for their word in the matter but ensure that the written evidence, be it copy of Disability Living Allowance award or other writen evidence is provided. The application form can be downloaded from the website and also you can add card details to the form in order to pay.

I have of course mentioned before that the classes of 'disabilities' has changed since I got my first DRC, although if you have an award it can be renewed even if the class has been removed.

My partner is registered blind and so qualifies that way. Form was sent Next Day delivery at 3pm today, so will get there tomorrow, hopefully will be sent back to me Next Day on Wednesday, Thursday at the latest

 

[hairyhandedfool]

....Your right it doesn't only the standard anytime fares.

Standard/First Anytime/Anytime Day tickets if they are accompanied by another person. I can't recall off the top off my head if the other person qualifies for the discount too, I think they do.

 

[wintonian]

Thats what I ment - I do wish they would re-phase things like; "First Class/Standard Anytime Singles or Returns" to "First Class/Standard Class Anytime Singles or Returns" cause I end up seeing the word standard twice.

And yes you get to take someone with you.

 

[bradders1983]

Well I posted it off at 3pm Monday, it cane back this morning!

Fantastic stuff, and panic over.

Well, kinda. The expiration date on the card (one year)is the 20th October 2011. I don't understand why they have done this, and they must have misunderstand my covering letter saying this I needed it back for that date.

So when is the card valid from? Now, or the 21st October (the day AFTER we travel)? Could an arsey conductor on the 20th declare the card isn't valid until tomorrow and kick us off the train/issue a PN?

 

[John @ home]

when is the card valid from?

My experience is that Railcards delivered by post are always valid for one year and a week (or three years and a week), perhaps a little longer around bank holidays, in order to allow for possible postal delays. The cards do not carry a Valid from date and therefore are valid as soon as they are received.

 

[bradders1983]

My experience is that Railcards delivered by post are always valid for one year and a week (or three years and a week), perhaps a little longer around bank holidays, in order to allow for possible postal delays. The cards do not carry a Valid from date and therefore are valid as soon as they are received.

Great stuff, thanks for that

 

[MikeWh]

That's also my experience as well, and I've used a family card on the day it arrived without any issues as well.