Trouble signing railcard

[Via Bank]

I've just renewed my (station-issued) 16-25 Railcard over the Internet, and it arrived in the post today.

I've had quite a lot of trouble signing the back of it: since it seems to be made of shiny plastic, biros will produce a faint mark (if any) and gel and friction pens simply rest on the surface, and rub off on contact - even if given a chance to dry.

I was thinking of getting around this by trimming an address label to the size of the signature field, sticking that on and signing it: can anyone envisage a problem with this? And has anyone with a Railcard on similar (white, reflective plastic) stock had similar problems?

 

[mathmo]

I managed to sign mine (issued a couple of months ago online) with a biro - it's faint but clear enough. Anyway, I've never ever had the signature on my railcard checked, so just make some sort of mark and it'll be fine.

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Are you sure that you're trying to write on the correct part of the card?

. . . it seems to be made of shiny plastic,
. . . white, reflective plastic

Although the card is indeed made of shiny white plastic, there is (or certainly there should be) a thin white strip across the back which is a duller, matt finish - that's the signature strip. It should be easy to write on that (unless its become greasy from handling already!).

If for some reason it was manufactured WITHOUT a signature strip then I suggest you notify the RailCard Issuing Office and ask for a re-issue. The reason for this is that a card without a strip at all looks a lot more suspicous than one that simply hasn't been signed, it might be taken to suggest that the strip had been removed deliberately for some fraudulent intention!

 

[route101]

Just looked at my Railcard and i havent signed it . And the date is wearing away too.

 

[Via Bank]

Are you sure that you're trying to write on the correct part of the card?Although the card is indeed made of shiny white plastic, there is (or certainly there should be) a thin white strip across the back which is a duller, matt finish - that's the signature strip. It should be easy to write on that (unless its become greasy from handling already!).

If for some reason it was manufactured WITHOUT a signature strip then I suggest you notify the RailCard Issuing Office and ask for a re-issue. The reason for this is that a card without a strip at all looks a lot more suspicous than one that simply hasn't been signed, it might be taken to suggest that the strip had been removed deliberately for some fraudulent intention!

I've managed to make some (faint, incoherent) marks on it, and yes, I am attempting to sign the rectangle on the back with the matte finish (marked "authorised signature.") However, there seems to be no difference in the actual texture of it in comparison to the rest of the card.

I've emailed the issuing office and ask them if it's acceptable to stick an address label there as a stop-gap, and if not could I have a re-issue please. It's not that urgent - my present one doesn't run out until Saturday and I can't imagine being challenged on it (although I'd sooner be safe than sorry.)

On a side-note, can anyone suggest a ticket office where I can get a better ticket wallet than the pitifully flimsy ones SWT issue? Ideally I'd want something like an Oyster card wallet - I would use mine, but it's already full with my Oyster card and bus ticket.

 

[Daniel]

On a side-note, can anyone suggest a ticket office where I can get a better ticket wallet than the pitifully flimsy ones SWT issue? Ideally I'd want something like an Oyster card wallet - I would use mine, but it's already full with my Oyster card and bus ticket.

Any LU ticket office? ^.^

Where abouts do you live, then people can suggest your nearest!

 

[W-on-Sea]

c2c do white-coloured Oyster-style wallets, if you're ever near Fenchurch Street or beyond!

 

[Via Bank]

Any LU ticket office? ^.^

Where abouts do you live, then people can suggest your nearest!

Oops

I live in Camberley, although I have a season between Farnborough and Woking and can realistically go as far as Reading and London (not specifically to collect a ticket wallet, of course, but picking one up in passing while I'm doing something else.)

I've heard good things about Paddington doing National Rail-branded ones, so I might try there when I'm next in London. It's just something I'd like to do at some point in the future - my present Railcard wallet is on its last legs, and SWT's wallets are rather plasticky and nasty.

Thanks for your help, everyone!

 

[Daniel]

Seeing as I'm feeling all Christmassy )), if you want, you can PM me your address, and I can post you a bunch of the LU ones. My offices have both the IKEA and Black Oyster (both two-windowed) cases, if you'd like some.

Obviously for the three-windowed blue NR ones, you need an NR station!

 

[Via Bank]

Seeing as I'm feeling all Christmassy )), if you want, you can PM me your address, and I can post you a bunch of the LU ones. My offices have both the IKEA and Black Oyster (both two-windowed) cases, if you'd like some.

Obviously for the three-windowed blue NR ones, you need an NR station!

Nah, I'm fine. Thanks for the offer, though

I'll ask about it next time I'm at an NR station.Theoretically, I could probably get another Oyster one if I paid £5 for a card from the machines, took the wallet, and then handed in the card to get the dosh back.

If it comes to it, I'll manage with the SWT three-window one (albeit reduced to two windows.) Thanks again for the offer, but save yourself the postage. :P

 

[Daniel]

Okay! If you're planning on getting a card from the machine, do it quickly, as they're being removed. Change is on the horizon.. and the deposit is going up too :]

 

[DaveNewcastle]

. . . . yes, I am attempting to sign the rectangle on the back with the matte finish (marked "authorised signature.") However, there seems to be no difference in the actual texture of it in comparison to the rest of the card. . . .

That just doesn't seem right.
The signature strip is definitey manufactured wth a different texture (which is a rather good way of defining it. Slightly duller, less reflective, and vaguely off-white towards the yellow spectrum).
I have just tried experimenting and a randomly picked biro will hardly mark the main area of the card (which is what you're describing) and clearly marks the matt strip. So I feel more confident now in proposing that, either, the card has a manufacturing defect (and should be replaced), or, the sig, strip has become contaminated with some oily or impervious substance which might be removable with detergent or solvent, but still might be dealt with adequately by replacement.
Good luck!

 

[transportphoto]

Have you tried signing it with a permanent/CD Marker pen?

 

[Via Bank]

I've had a reply from the Railcard Issuing Office, and they've sent me a replacement card in the post.

I'll definitely try with a CD marker pen when it arrives - it's rather stupid of me that I didn't think of that before.