Tickets for wrong month purchased in error

[cj1739]

Hi
This is my first post, and would appreciate some advice.
I recently purchased, over the internet, an East Coast advance first class return ticket from London Kings Cross to Edinburgh Waverley. I had to travel out on 17th February and return on the 18th February, (which I have now done).
However, when my tickets were checked during the return journey, it was discovered that I had purchased tickets for the 17th & 18th March in error.
I then recalled that, on my outward journey on 17th February, I had trouble at Kings Cross getting through the gate. An East Coast assistant came over, looked at my ticket, and then used her own swipe card to allow me through the gate and board the train. And when my outward ticket was checked on the train, the inspector didn’t notice that the month was incorrect.
Anyway, when my error was discovered on my return journey, I had to pay an additional £158.15.
I know that it is entirely my fault that I purchased tickets for the wrong month, but do you think that East Coast would consider refunding me part or all of the £158.15? If the assistant at the gate had noticed my error, I may have been able to avoid the extra cost somehow.
Many thanks

 

[bb21]

What additional ticket were you charged for? It's a very strange amount.

 

[island]

What additional ticket were you charged for? It's a very strange amount.

Probably excessed up to an FOS at £208 from a cheap advance single. There's no advance single at £49.85 now but as there is one at a nearby £53.35 I'd wager either the ticket was booked at 2013 prices or an EC web discount applied, or both.

To the OP: You can write in and ask politely, as all that's at stake is the cost of the stamp, but as the guard should in fact have charged you £208 (advance used on wrong train has no value and the passenger would be required to buy a new ticket at the price that would have applied if purchasing immediately prior to boarding) and you got away with it on the outbound journey, you have already received a good outcome.

 

[Urban Gateline]

What additional ticket were you charged for? It's a very strange amount.

The Anytime First Single is either £208 (EC only) or £211.50 (Any permitted). Is it possible that the amount charged was either of the above, minus what the OP paid for the Advance? Maybe the Guard did an Excess fare!

 

[MikeWh]

Probably excessed up to an FOS at £208 from a cheap advance single. There's no advance single at £49.85 now but as there is one at a nearby £53.35 I'd wager either the ticket was booked at 2013 prices or an EC web discount applied, or both.

The Anytime First Single is either £208 (EC only) or £211.50 (Any permitted). Is it possible that the amount charged was either of the above, minus what the OP paid for the Advance? Maybe the Guard did an Excess fare!

Ding!

 

[island]

That matches an excess from one of the advance tiers available (£53.35) to an FOS Any Permitted (£211.50). While the appropriate fare would have been the £208 EC Only fare, as mentioned an excess should not have been issued (or at the very least a change fee of £10 should have been charged).

 

[maniacmartin]

I'd let sleeping dogs lie, given that writing to them would expose that your outbound journey was on an invalid ticket for which you did not buy a new ticket or excess to correct.

 

[EC02]

I think you should try and get a refund for the March ticket. Maybe speak to a ticket office?

 

[yorkie]

It is East Coast policy to give Guards discretion to charge Excess fares. This isn't by any means the only recent example.

Admittedly the fare excessed to was £3 more than it should've been, however they are entitled to charge you the full cost of the cheaper ticket.

I'd let sleeping dogs lie, given that writing to them would expose that your outbound journey was on an invalid ticket for which you did not buy a new ticket or excess to correct.

Agreed.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I think you should try and get a refund for the March ticket. Maybe speak to a ticket office?

No. He was charged an excess, so the cost of the March ticket has already been deducted!
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

...but do you think that East Coast would consider refunding me part or all of the £158.15? If the assistant at the gate had noticed my error, I may have been able to avoid the extra cost somehow.
Many thanks

That is a very interesting concept, I do not think this has yet been tested in court. It is also likely that East Coast would not want such a case to go to court, for fear of a precedent being set. I'm not sure it's wise to pursue this though in this case.

Have you actually handed over the money or been issued an Unpaid Fare Notice?

 

[cj1739]

Hello, and thanks for all the quick responses.
As suggested, I think it's best to "let sleeping dogs lie".
I'll put down to experience and be more careful in future!
Thanks again.

 

[island]

That is a very interesting concept, I do not think this has yet been tested in court. It is also likely that East Coast would not want such a case to go to court, for fear of a precedent being set. I'm not sure it's wise to pursue this though in this case.

The error was discovered on a journey from Edinburgh to London Kings Cross. The platforms East Coast services use at Edinburgh are not barriered.

 

[yorkie]

Good point - so the customer was not let through the ticket gates at the start of their journey!

 

[Haywain]

Good point - so the customer was not let through the ticket gates at the start of their journey!

They were. On the previous journey from London to Edinburgh.

 

[yorkie]

They were. On the previous journey from London to Edinburgh.

Yeah, but they weren't charged for that journey, so the point is arguably moot.

 

[paddington]

The other way of looking at it is the OP now has a "free" ticket to Edinburgh on 17th March! I presume the guard would have withdrawn the "return" ticket since an excess was charged.

 

[island]

He would probably have stamped it. Excess tickets say "valid only with ticket #####" inserting the number of the original ticket.