FGW Woes

[sonic2009]

Hi all

I was travelling on the 17th July from Paddington to Reading using a 1st Off Peak Day Travelcard Eastbourne - London Z1-6 + BZ6 - Reading 1st Off Peak Day return.

I tried to board the 1800 Bristol service, and was denied boarding at the gateline. I was told the ticket was not valid until 1915, i said that im sure its valid but left it at that.

I have since emailed FGW to see who was correct, they have upheld the advice of the gateline staff, stating that the travelcard carries a J9 restriction, yet it doesnt it carries a C0 instead.

Can anyone offer some advice on whether i should of been allowed to board?

 

[najaB]

Can anyone offer some advice on whether i should of been allowed to board?

I can't offer any specific advice but based on this thread, I wouldn't be surprised if they were wrong.

 

[bb21]

Restriction code W1 applies to the BZ6 ticket and no restriction applies on the Travelcard, so refusal was most definitely incorrect.

 

[gray1404]

Is there anything we on mass as a forum community can do about this? It is simply a reoccuring issue time and time again that passengers with valid tickets are being denied travel at Paddington by gateline staff? Shame on them and shame on FGW for not applying ticket restrictions correctly. This needs sorting once and for all.

 

[razor89]

Restriction code W1 applies to the BZ6 ticket and no restriction applies on the Travelcard, so refusal was most definitely incorrect.

W1 applies if the OP has got his ticket the "right" way round, but if it was Reading - BZ6 1st Off Peak RTN then the restriction code is C7 and not valid. I might have suggested that this could have been the source of the confusion until I read the part about the J9 restriction...

 

[Greenback]

I think that FGW have got it wrong. I'd point out tot hem that the Travelcard restriction is not what they claim, but is C0.

 

[Hadders]

The restriction of the travelcard would only be relevant if the OP was returning to Eastbourne. Off-peak day travelcards are valid within the zones after 0930 with no evening peak restriction.

 

[Greenback]

I think that FGW is basing its case on the Travelcard restriction, and their mistake needs to be pointed out. It wouldn't hurt to point out that it's irrelevant anyway, though!

 

[sarahj]

The restriction of the travelcard would only be relevant if the OP was returning to Eastbourne. Off-peak day travelcards are valid within the zones after 0930 with no evening peak restriction.

For an OP TC there is no restriction on returning to Eastbourne. Once they have arrived in london after 9.55, they are free to return any time they want. It's only the ones marked Super Off peak (for the same type, eg EBN to Zones 1-6*) that have the return restriction, and thats not available as a first class option.


*to get past the person who will say, but some super off peaks are valid between 16.15 and 19.15.

 

[reb0118]

..... should of been allowed...

No, you should not of been allowed but you definitely should have been allowed to travel with your valid ticket.

 

[talldave]

For an OP TC there is no restriction on returning to Eastbourne. Once they have arrived in london after 9.55, they are free to return any time they want. It's only the ones marked Super Off peak (for the same type, eg EBN to Zones 1-6*) that have the return restriction, and thats not available as a first class option.


*to get past the person who will say, but some super off peaks are valid between 16.15 and 19.15.

For C0 shouldn't that be "at, or after, 09:50"?

 

[bnm]

And so it continues with the muppets (managed by even worse muppets) on Paddington's gateline.

You have been denied travel with perfectly valid tickets. It took me less than two minutes to confirm the validity of your tickets. Do be prepared for FGW to take many months to confirm you were in the right though. They, and their Paddington gateline staff, are obstinate bar stewards.

Keep complaining, demanding (not asking for) compensation for the delay to your journey, then escalating if necessary...

My woes are with London Travelwatch at the moment.

 

[sarahj]

For C0 shouldn't that be "at, or after, 09:50"?

Forget the actual exact time. I know its NOT valid on the 08.45 from Brighton, but valid on the 08.52 from Hove (08.15 from Lit) and I think its the 08.51 from Lewes.

 

[talldave]

Forget the actual exact time. I know its NOT valid on the 08.45 from Brighton, but valid on the 08.52 from Hove (08.15 from Lit) and I think its the 08.51 from Lewes.

It's also valid on the 09:20 Gatwick Express, but having once upon a time managed to get it correct on the desktop website and wrong on the mobile website, the muppets responsible for the GatEx website now have it consistently wrong again. If the company can't even understand C0, how are punters meant to?