What shall I do?

[jjp667]

So I used to travel on trains a lot but haven’t used them in a few months. My railcard had expired, but I forgot to unselect the ‘16-25 railcard applied’ on the Trainline app when I bought my ticket today. I only realised this when I got on the train, so couldn’t change my ticket. When the inspector asked, I decided to just tell him I accidentally left my railcard at home, because I thought that would be better than saying mine had expired.

Luckily, I didn’t get a fine or anything but I had to buy a new ticket which was almost £50. The inspector said I could get a refund on that if I go online and submit an appeal, showing my railcard. Obviously this is my fault 100%, but I’m a student right now and barely have any money, so I really cannot afford this.

Would it be worth trying to claim this refund online? I could renew my railcard today then upload that, but would they know that I renewed it after I bought the ticket? Or I could use my friend’s railcard, or would they know it’s not mine based on the names tied to the accounts?

I’m guessing the best option would be to just accept it and move on, as I don’t want to submit the appeal then potentially make it worse and receive a fine. Could this happen or do I have nothing to lose by trying?

 

[methecooldude]

If it was a new ticket you purchased, the inspector is probably referring to the one per year allowance for forgotten railcards. However, as your railcard had expired, that is of no use to you.

However, you use the word "appeal" which would only be synonymous with a penalty fare.

Did you have any other paperwork issued to you or just the new ticket? Where were you travelling from/to?

If it was solely the new ticket, I would probably let sleeping dogs lie and either renew your railcard (or swap to the 26-30) if you are still eligible or remove it from any further ticket purchases.

 

[jjp667]

If it was a new ticket you purchased, the inspector is probably referring to the one per year allowance for forgotten railcards. However, as your railcard had expired, that is of no use to you.

However, you use the word "appeal" which would only be synonymous with a penalty fare.

Did you have any other paperwork issued to you or just the new ticket? Where were you travelling from/to?

I bought my ticket earlier this morning. The journey was from Stoke on Trent to Sutton Coldfield. I had a barcode ticket which he scanned and then just asked to see the railcard, so I said I left it at home. I offered to get off the train, and he said that I can get refunded for the new ticket online if I just show my railcard.

There was no paperwork, and he didn’t ask me for any details, just printed me a new ticket and charged me for it

 

[AlterEgo]

What ticket type was the original and how much did it cost?

 

[jjp667]

What ticket type was the original and how much did it cost?

What ticket type was the original and how much did it cost?

Advance single, and it was £13.

 

[AlterEgo]

It's non refundable.

The guard is mistaken; you can only have a penalty fare or a *new* ticket or penalty fare refunded provided you can show the railcard was simply forgotten (that is, you have a valid one but it was left at home). No such provision exists if you let it expire.

 

[jjp667]

It's non refundable.

The guard is mistaken; you can only have a penalty fare or a *new* ticket or penalty fare refunded provided you can show the railcard was simply forgotten (that is, you have a valid one but it was left at home). No such provision exists if you let it expire.

It's non refundable.

The guard is mistaken; you can only have a penalty fare or a *new* ticket or penalty fare refunded provided you can show the railcard was simply forgotten (that is, you have a valid one but it was left at home). No such provision exists if you let it expire.

Yes I meant a refund for the new ticket that I was made to pay, which was an Anytime Day. On the CrossCountry website, it says if I upload an image of the new and old tickets, and my railcard, I can email an appeal to customer.relations@crosscountrytrains.co.uk.

What I was asking is, if I renew my railcard then show it in an email, will they know that I only just renewed it now? Or will the appeal work?

 

[jfollows]

They will know that you renewed it now and an appeal will not work.
If you were reported for prosecution then you will be contacted, come back here if you are, but otherwise I suggest you be “happy” that you only had to pay ~£50. Anything else will cost more. A Penalty Fare is £100 + ticket cost, reduced to £50 + ticket cost for early payment. A report for prosecution will be £hundreds.

 

[jjp667]

They will know that you renewed it now and an appeal will not work.
If you were reported for prosecution then you will be contacted, come back here if you are, but otherwise I suggest you be “happy” that you only had to pay ~£50. Anything else will cost more. A Penalty Fare is £100 + ticket cost, reduced to £50 + ticket cost for early payment. A report for prosecution will be £hundreds.

Yeah definitely, it could have been way worse to be honest and I was fortunate to only have to pay that instead of a fine. I think I should take the loss on it and remember next time to have it renewed lol. Thank you

 

[WesternLancer]

Yeah definitely, it could have been way worse to be honest and I was fortunate to only have to pay that instead of a fine. I think I should take the loss on it and remember next time to have it renewed lol. Thank you

I think you are going to have to write this off.
If you look at other threads on here you can see that this could have ended up worse than it did.

 

[Undiscovered]

From what you've written, the guard has taken your 'excuse' of having left your Railcard at home, at face value, and has sold you the correct, undiscounted ticket. They've also, quite rightly, told you the procedure for claiming back the difference in the new ticket, and the Railcard fare, under the forgotten Railcard policy.

From a pragmatic point of view, it's the least the guard could do. If you'd argued with them, they may well have let you travel, but could possibly have reported you for fare evasion.
It's certainly my approach to ticketing- ask to see Railcard, if none available, sell a new ticket, or 'flag' the account and let revenue protection earn their money.

If I were you, I'd consider myself lucky, let the matter lie, and ensure I purchased correct tickets going forward.