Excessing 'Day' return to Open return

[itsjamierawr]

Last week I unfortunately missed the last train home from Charing Cross by seconds (typical) and to complicate things I only had a Super Off Peak Day Return Not HS1 (£14.80 with 16-25 Railcard) from Canterbury Stns - London Terminals.

The ticket office at CHX wasn't open so instead I headed back out and spent the night on a friend's sofa. I've done the same thing a couple of times before and the next day I've usually gone to the ticket office asked for it to be changed/excessed to an open return and after they tap on their computer a lot I get charged the difference in price up to the off peak open return not HS1 fare (I think this costs £19.40) so I usually pay about £4-5.

This time however, I went up to the ticket office in Victoria and I get told "I can't do this as this ticket is from yesterday" so instead I buy a whole new day ticket (which was actually the wrong one as she issued me with a day return but kept the outbound portion instead). I'm just wondering if the ticket office was right and in the past I've been somewhat lucky, or they were wrong and you can get a day ticket excessed?

 

[Merseysider]

You have been lucky in the past. Notwithstanding the discretion you've been shown, or perhaps the staff having a half-understanding of the excess rules; a ticket should not be excessed once it has expired.

In future I would recommend buying the 'open' return anyway, as although it costs more, you are covered in the event of unfortunate circumstances.

 

[tractakid]

If you did miss the last train, would the best thing to do is to find an open ticket office, such as Waterloo, before 0429? Waterloo is open 24hrs, I believe.

 

[itsjamierawr]

If you did miss the last train, would the best thing to do is to find an open ticket office, such as Waterloo, before 0429? Waterloo is open 24hrs, I believe.

Ahh I didn't know that was open 24 hours, ironically we ended up walking over there to get the jubilee line - I'll remember that for future reference!