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Virgin Traveller renewal problems

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drinker

Member
Joined
6 Jun 2010
Messages
8
Hi,
I have held a Virgin Traveller card for a number of years now as has my wife too.

In previous years the card was automatically renewed if you had made the required number of Virgin trips booked through the Virgin website.

In January this year my wifes card was not automatically renewed nor was she sent any reminder (as per the blurb on the Virgin web site). When she contected Virgin Traveller Club she was told to send her tickets in. We argued that the website clearly states that this isn't necessary. After about 6 weeks of tooing and frowing they eventually backed down and sent the new card based on the trips booked through their website. The reason why we couldn't send them the physical tickets is because they had been sent to our accountant.

Now my membership renewal time has come and again I have received nothing from VTC. I will call them but I'm preparing myself for another battle. Has anyone else experienced this problem this year?

Quoting the VTC webpage:-

Renew your membership
Some things are too good to end. Traveller membership is for a year but don't worry, renewing your Traveller membership is easy. Here's how it works:

You have to renew annually. We'll write to you towards the end of your membership to remind you.
The qualification criteria is the same for new members - 8 First Class return or 16 First Class single journeys on Virgin Trains routes within a consecutive 3-month period.
You can renew automatically by booking tickets through our website. Just over a month before your expiry date, we'll look at your account to see if you've made sufficient journeys. If you have, you'll be renewed automatically and you won't have to do a thing.
If you buy your tickets over the phone or at the station, you need to re-apply by post.
 
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Olympian

Member
Joined
12 May 2009
Messages
278
I never got any renewal information in the post this year either for expiry at end of August, and they couldn't explain why not when I rang them a couple of weeks ago.

I didin't automatically qualify through bookings made on the Virgintrains website, since I have tickets booked on other TOC websites and bought at stations, so have posted my tickets to them as in previous years.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
...and have just received my new membership card and car park pass in this morning's post.
 

MKB

Member
Joined
15 Oct 2008
Messages
666
Also, be aware that contrary to what http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/traveller/terms-conditions/ says, the minimum amount for the various qualifying tickets have rocketed. For example, only First Open Returns > £100 are now eligible, not the £70 still being quoted on the website.

You also now have to carry photo id, but VT tell me that this can be absolutely anything with your name and photo on, not just a passport or new-style driving licence. That seems to be a crazy policy as it would be dead easy for a fraudster to knock up a fake card with a photo, bit of card and a laminating machine. Why don't they just put our photo on the Traveller card, or is that just too obvious?
 

Olympian

Member
Joined
12 May 2009
Messages
278
Also, be aware that contrary to what http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/traveller/terms-conditions/ says, the minimum amount for the various qualifying tickets have rocketed. For example, only First Open Returns > £100 are now eligible, not the £70 still being quoted on the website.

You also now have to carry photo id, but VT tell me that this can be absolutely anything with your name and photo on, not just a passport or new-style driving licence. That seems to be a crazy policy as it would be dead easy for a fraudster to knock up a fake card with a photo, bit of card and a laminating machine. Why don't they just put our photo on the Traveller card, or is that just too obvious?
Must have only just changed the requirements then as I re-qualified this year with an £88 return amongst various other tickets. And there's no mention of it on their own website as you've already pointed out. So what is your source for the new £100 minimum?

The requirement for secondary ID has always been in place for the few years that I've beeen a member, but it certaintly seems to be enforced more nowadays. I agree that photos on Traveller cards would resolve it...
 

MKB

Member
Joined
15 Oct 2008
Messages
666
Must have only just changed the requirements then as I re-qualified this year with an £88 return amongst various other tickets. And there's no mention of it on their own website as you've already pointed out. So what is your source for the new £100 minimum?

The requirement for secondary ID has always been in place for the few years that I've beeen a member, but it certaintly seems to be enforced more nowadays. I agree that photos on Traveller cards would resolve it...

My source is the letter that VT have sent to all members last week. Secondary id did not previously have to include a photo. A credit card, for example, was deemed sufficient. The photo requirement is new.
 
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