Virgin's new website

[tony_mac]

Is it just me, or is this seriously messed up?

I looked at a return from Liverpool to Rugby next weekend, the options it is giving me are £39.10 single for each leg if it is entirely on London Midland
(no return fare quoted at all!), or £20.05 single if it includes a leg on Virgin (half the return fare).

Hence the return journey, going on LM, is quoted as £78.20, when it should be £15 (on a London Midland only ticket).

 

[yorkie]

The LM only Super Off Peak return is £14.00 and is valid "by any London Midland train" on Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays. (Source: NFM04).

I think the booking engine you are using (Thetrainline by any chance?) is messed up!

 

[tony_mac]

oh, yes, of course I meant £14 not £15.

It is the booking engine on Virgin's website - almost certainly 'powered' by thetrainline.

They certainly don't want you to take a LM service - not only do they not show London Midland only prices, but you can only get a return ticket if you travel on Virgin.

If you don't travel on Virgin then they will only sell you two singles!

I wonder what sort of sensible repsonse I will get from them.....

 

[yorkie]

You could ask them

1) What are the rules on impartial retailing, that they are obliged to comply with?
2) Do they believe they are complying with those rules?

It would be interesting to read their response!

 

[MKB]

I've been in correspondence with Virgin Trains and Passenger Focus for the past year about some serious over-charging issues on Virgin's website.

They've been aware of the problem for at least 14 months, but continue to charge incorrect prices. I've seen LM services priced at over 4 times the correct fare. They even overcharge on their own services. There are several examples of NUN-EUS off-peak standard returns being charged at the Any Permitted Route fare even when you route directly via RUG.

If I knowingly over-charged like this, I'm quite sure I'd be done for fraud. It beggers belief that VT can get away with it.

 

[tony_mac]

Sorry to bump an old thread - but there is a minor update.

Virgin have told me that because their website says 'Our site is the best place for buying Virgin Trains fares' it means that they don't have to offer any other fares if they don't want to.

They didn't answer the rest of my complaint, and aren't going to read any response I send, so let's see if by any chance Passenger Focus can do anything. (my initial complaint was on November 15th, I think they have had plenty of opportunity)

 

[John @ home]

They ... aren't going to read any response I send

Have they told you this?!

 

[tony_mac]

Sorry, you're right, that should read.

'They aren't going to read any response I send by email.'

As in, they aren't reading any emails at all. That includes direct replies to emails that they send out.