Season Tickets and Photocards

[dmacw]

This is all hypothetical, say someone is travelling with a season ticket and has forgotten their photocard, what is the procedure?

I've had a look at a couple of TOC's (in the South East where Penalty Fares apply)

FGW state:

Don’t forget your photocard
If you have a valid photocard to go with your Season Ticket, don’t forget it. Board a train without it and your ticket is not valid. In some cases, you will have to pay the full fare. You may also have to pay a penalty fare and will not be eligible for
a refund.

http://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/~/media/Buy%20before%20you%20Board.ashx

FCC state:

What should I do if I have forgotten my Season Ticket and / or photocard?

There are times when customers do leave their season tickets at home, at FCC we understand the frustration this can cause.

When you arrive at the station you should (before boarding a train) purchase a ticket for the journey you are undertaking. Keep the tickets because you can claim a full refund on production of your valid season ticket, at the ticket office where you purchased your season ticket.

Note: Only two such refund applications will be considered in a 12 month period and you may be charged an administration fee.

What if I discover that I have forgotten my Season Ticket and / or photocard once I have boarded the train?

If you board a train without a valid ticket and are approached by one of our Revenue Protection Inspectors you will be asked to provide your personal details i.e. name, address etc - which will be verified with a quick telephone call.

You will then be asked to either pay the standard single fare for your journey (which will be refunded on production of your valid season ticket), if you have no money then it will be a 'nil paid' penalty fare.

You must then send a copy of your valid season ticket to the address shown on the penalty fare. If you fail to do this within 21 days of receipt of the penalty fare you will be asked to pay the full amount (which will be twice the standard day single or £20, whichever is the greater) for the journey undertaken.

http://www.firstcapitalconnect.co.uk/tickets-and-fares/peak-tickets/penalty-fares/

But what happens if you have the ticket but not the photocard?

I was under the impression that if you didn't have a photocard, it wasn't a valid ticket and the ticket could be withdrawn. (say by a Guard/Conductor) If you had genuinely forgotten your photocard, and you could produce it at a later date would that be allowed? Could you get the ticket replaced at no cost?

 

[island]

I would say it is dealt with the same way as a forgotten season ticket, but that is just me speculating.

 

[rdwarr]

I thought everybody kept their season ticket with their photocard in one of those plastic wallets they give you. Why would anybody not to that?

 

[Greenback]

I don't know anyone who doesn't keep their photcard and season together, but amongst all of the commuters in the country there are bound to be some who keep them separate and forget the photocard as a result!

I agree with island - no photcard means you don't have a valid ticket, just as if you have forgotten the season itself.

 

[LexyBoy]

Covered in the NRCoC:

35. Season Ticket or photocard unavailable for inspection
If you do not show a Season Ticket, or any photocard required with a Season Ticket, when asked by staff or agents of a Train Company, you will be treated as having joined a train without a ticket and Condition 2 or 4 will apply.
If, subsequently, you present at the office where the Season Ticket was issued.
(a) the Season Ticket;
(b) the photocard, if required; and
(c) the additional tickets you have purchased or any Penalty Fares notices, the relevant Train Company may, at its discretion, refund any fares paid in accordance with Condition 2 or 4 less a reasonable administration charge (not exceeding £10). No more than two such claims will be considered in any 12 month period regardless of the number of Season Tickets purchased in that time.

I thought everybody kept their season ticket with their photocard in one of those plastic wallets they give you. Why would anybody not to that?

Some people (unwisely) keep their Season ticket and photocard in their wallet. In this case one can imagine misplacing one part and not the other.

 

[island]

Some people (unwisely) keep their Season ticket and photocard in their wallet. In this case one can imagine misplacing one part and not the other.

What is unwise about keeping your season ticket and Photocard in something which you habitually pick up as you leave the house?

I never use the plastic season ticket wallet as it's too big for my (money) wallet.

 

[SAPhil]

Towards the end of a year's use the season ticket wallets can be in a bad state of repair! I have managed to do exactly what the OP describes, presumably the photocard fell out of the wallet when I was going through my pockets looking for directions to a hotel I was trying to find! The first time I noticed it was missing was on my return journey a few days later. I was aware that my season ticket would not be valid but decided to risk it and hope that if my ticket was checked that the inspector would be understanding. Fortunately, (given I use FCC ) there were no checks and I was able to get a new photocard/ticket the next morning. I was a bit worried during the journey though!

 

[LexyBoy]

What is unwise about keeping your season ticket and Photocard in something which you habitually pick up as you leave the house?

Well, different people have different habits, but personally I'd not want to do this because if you get on a train with neither money nor ticket then this "proves" that you intended to avoid paying your fare, which could lead to things getting awkward. I also forget my wallet much more frequently than my season ticket (which stays in a pocket).

 

[Be3G]

Something I do, which a number of people have commented on as being a good idea (hence I thought it'd be worth mentioning here), is use a wallet case for my iPhone. In it I keep my Oyster and £35 of cash (one each of £5/10/20 notes), but the cash is only to be used as a backup, so I always have my main wallet with me too. That way, should I lose my main wallet, I still have the means to get myself out of a sticky situation.

If anyone fancies doing that, this is the case I use, although other brands/styles are available too.

 

[LexyBoy]

I keep a note behind my photocard

 

[Airlink]

What if it's an "Impersonal Season Ticket"?

 

[island]

As I understand it, these are issued to companies for use of their employees (one at a time) and the employee is, again as I understand it, required to produce a staff ID card or letter of authorization from the employer.

 

[GodAtum]

Imagine having a £1000s season ticket and you forgot your photocard, you would eb livid if you where fined!

 

[island]

But you won't be fined for forgetting your photocard.

 

[yorkie]

There are some fake Travelcard Seasons going around (made in Romania) that do not have photocards to accompany them, so RPIs may be suspicious of any matching that description as they could be fake. They work the barriers and look convincing. I was shown a photo of one and I couldn't tell it was fake.

 

[34D]

I thought everybody kept their season ticket with their photocard in one of those plastic wallets they give you. Why would anybody not to that?

Perhaps because they have lent the season ticket part to their wife, who has her own photocard.... (Suggestion only, not aimed at any posters on this thread).