Renewing senior railcard

[taxidave]

My senior railcard runs out at the end of this month and I would like to renew it for 3 years but this option is only available on-line according to the National Rail website. My problem is that when I go to the renewal pages of the website it asks for some details, one of which is "existing card number" and that is the problem, the number and indeed all other numbers on it are so faded I cannot read them. I cannot even read the "valid until" date and that is written in a much bigger type face.
Should I.....
a) just renew for a year at the station
b) ask the station staff if they can help me
c) carry on using the card because if I cannot read the expiry date neither can any railway staff.

 

[Paul Kelly]

You cannot renew a station-bought card on the railcard website. But why not just buy a new 3-year one?

 

[33011]

My senior railcard runs out at the end of this month and I would like to renew it for 3 years but this option is only available on-line according to the National Rail website. My problem is that when I go to the renewal pages of the website it asks for some details, one of which is "existing card number" and that is the problem, the number and indeed all other numbers on it are so faded I cannot read them. I cannot even read the "valid until" date and that is written in a much bigger type face.
Should I.....
a) just renew for a year at the station
b) ask the station staff if they can help me
c) carry on using the card because if I cannot read the expiry date neither can any railway staff.

You should have a receipt with the expiry date on it. you are correct you can only buy a 3 year one on line. If you continue using the Railcard without a readable date you leave yourself open to fraud. If however your railcard is still in date but cannot read the date take it back to the ticket office with your receipt they will replace it free of charge. you may have to fill out a form though.

 

[taxidave]

You cannot renew a station-bought card on the railcard website. But why not just buy a new 3-year one?

I was hoping I would not have to dig out my driving licence or passport which are needed if I buy as new rather than a renewal.

 

[nicobobinus]

Is the ink on the railcard thermal? If you're careful about it, a lighter flame held 3-4 inches under the railcard (print side facing up) should see the characters burn back in negative. I tend to find myself doing this around 7-8 months into the validity of my YP railcards..

 

[ainsworth74]

Is the ink on the railcard thermal? If you're careful about it, a lighter flame held 3-4 inches under the railcard (print side facing up) should see the characters burn back in negative. I tend to find myself doing this around 7-8 months into the validity of my YP railcards..

That does work (and it's very funny to see the odd guard do it to a passengers ticket/railcard) but it is most certainly not the recommended way of dealing with a faded ticket/railcard and only works on station issued railcards.

 

[Wyvern]

You cannot renew a station-bought card on the railcard website. But why not just buy a new 3-year one?

Are you sure. I'm sure I did this year.

(unless I actually bought a new one?)

 

[island]

You should have a receipt with the expiry date on it. you are correct you can only buy a 3 year one on line. If you continue using the Railcard without a readable date you leave yourself open to fraud. If however your railcard is still in date but cannot read the date take it back to the ticket office with your receipt they will replace it free of charge. you may have to fill out a form though.

Assuming the magstripe is readable; otherwise you'll need the slip of paper that passes for a receipt which you got with the card.