Refund for overcrowded train - impossible to board - paper ticket

[robspaceman]

I bought a paper day return from Lea Bridge to Roydon from the ticket machines at (unstaffed) Lea Bridge yesterday. The trains are usually direct but I guess due to engineering works a change was required at Tottenham Hale. However when the train arrived at Lea Bridge it was crush loaded with Spurs fans and impossible to board. So the connection at TH would have been missed and there was not another train from TH to Roydon for another hour. I chose not to travel as my journey was time-critical so I had to drive instead.

I'm attempting to claim a refund from Greater Anglia but they only seem to have options for people who bought online, or in person at a station, or by phone. Since Lea Bridge is unstaffed do I have to go down the postal route? Seems a bit cumbersome in this day and age.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Er, you did buy in person at the station. You can do that by way of a booking office or a TVM depending on what is offered there.

 

[robspaceman]

You can get refunds at a ticket machine with no staff present? I didn't know that! Thanks

 

[LowLevel]

You can get refunds at a ticket machine with no staff present? I didn't know that! Thanks

No - you need to select that you bought in person at the station - should be something they can deal with via the usual email or similar.

 

[robspaceman]

Thanks - but the refunds page says you have to go in person if you bought at a station: 'Bring your ticket with you to our station ticket offices. If you’re not able to you can return your tickets with a covering letter, including your booking reference, a contact telephone number and email address if you have one.'

I tried the online route and I can't claim a refund because I have no journey history (because I didn't buy online)

 

[Benjwri]

You can bring it to another Greater Anglia station that does have a ticket office, otherwise you’ll have to post it unfortunately.

 

[redreni]

Thanks - but the refunds page says you have to go in person if you bought at a station: 'Bring your ticket with you to our station ticket offices. If you’re not able to you can return your tickets with a covering letter, including your booking reference, a contact telephone number and email address if you have one.'

I tried the online route and I can't claim a refund because I have no journey history (because I didn't buy online)

You can do it by post as you've mentioned. The alternative is go to a Greater Anglia ticket office. I appreciate there isn't one at Lea Bridge, but there are others.

The postal option may seem anachronistic but it's a Freepost address, so all you need is pen, paper and an envelope.

If neither of those is convenient you could email customer relations.

 

[robspaceman]

OK no prob, thanks for confirming!