Refused ticket sale at Clapham Jn

[maniacmartin]

Around midday on Friday I was at Clapham Junction's Brighton Yard ticket office. There was one window open and no queue.

I asked for a U12 London to South Bermondsey paper ticket for a journey later in the day that would start at a London Underground station, but the clerk instantly told me that she could not sell the ticket as "this is Clapham Junction, not an underground station".

I thought that perhaps the clerk didn't know how to issue such a ticket, so suggested she tried NLC code 0790, but was told that they are not allowed to sell any tickets whose origin is not Clapham Junction.

In the end I bought the ticket from a Kensington Olympia's ticket office with no hassle.

Do I have any ground for complaint against SWT? I'm at my wit's end with London ticket offices.

 

[MidnightFlyer]

About a month ago I bought a Boundary Zone 2-Wimbledon SDR from the Brighton Yard booking office at Clapham Jn without any hassle - on that basis I'd suggest that it may be to do with the member of staff in question rather than the TOC or the station itself, but I'd say absolutely you have grounds to complain, IIRC (and I'm not sure of the various documents in which this is stated) a booking clerk has to sell you a ticket from and to wherever you request, certainly if you can provide evidence that you intend to travel to the origin. That said however, I'm certain they can't point blank refuse to issue it. I have had trouble in the past with CLJ booking clerks too, but only at the St Johns Hill entrance, and not with regard to ticketing itself.

 

[DavyCrocket]

There was a publication of a mystery shopper ticket purchase of tickets at different stations. Clapham Junction was one where they failed to sell the ticket, Marylebone was the only one that did!
I can't for the life of me recall where I read this though!

 

[richw]

There was a publication of a mystery shopper ticket purchase of tickets at different stations. Clapham Junction was one where they failed to sell the ticket, Marylebone was the only one that did!
I can't for the life of me recall where I read this though!

It was on this forum somewhere

 

[Be3G]

This is the thread: http://www.railforums.co.uk/showthread.php?t=78724

 

[Urban Gateline]

I'm disappointed to hear this, ManiacMartin is most likely referring to a staff member who I frequently work with

Normally those I work with are good at selling tickets from another origin, as I refer ticketless passengers to the ticket office sometimes, however I've not had any from Underground stations so I'm not sure if/what the staff member would have issued in such a case!

One thing in my mind is that the clerk may have been suspicious as to what you were using the aforementioned ticket for, yes it is inexcusable for refusing to issue it, however maybe it would have helped had you explained what you intended to use it for. (I'm not at all saying this is/should be a requirement!)

 

[maniacmartin]

I would have thought that a journey later in the day was adequate explanation. She didn't ask any questions on why I wanted to purchase the ticket, so I didn't go into detail. I usually find that arguing the point is a waste of time, so I just went to another station.

 

[Urban Gateline]

I would have thought that a journey later in the day was adequate explanation. She didn't ask any questions on why I wanted to purchase the ticket, so I didn't go into detail. I usually find that arguing the point is a waste of time, so I just went to another station.

Fair enough, it's definitely not good service on SWT's behalf! If you see an RPI (Not Gateline Assistant) by the Gateline it is worth asking them as most of them will sell tickets!

 

[Be3G]

It's also worth adding (as it's not something that everyone realises) that London Underground ticket offices can sell tickets to National Rail destinations in/around London too, so there might not have been a need to buy this ticket in advance from NR.