When can I start using my Senior Railcard?

[Goldfish62]

I've just received my first senior railcard in the post. I applied bang on the two weeks before my 60th birthday and therefore have almost a couple of weeks to go before reaching that milestone.

There is only an expiry date, being one year and one week after my 60th, but no start date. The conditions on the attached letter state it is only valid when signed on the back, but nothing about start date.

Question: can I start using it now even though it's a few days before I'm 60?

Many thanks in advance.

 

[AlterEgo]

You can use it straight away; it is valid as soon as you get it. There is no condition requiring you to be of age to *use it*, only buy it, which the railcard company has waived.

And happy birthday for a few days' time, of course!

 

[AM9]

I've just received my first senior railcard in the post. I applied bang on the two weeks before my 60th birthday and therefore have almost a couple of weeks to go before reaching that milestone.

There is only an expiry date, being one year and one week after my 60th, but no start date. The conditions on the attached letter state it is only valid when signed on the back, but nothing about start date.

Question: can I start using it now even though it's a few days before I'm 60?

Many thanks in advance.

From the senior-railcard.co.uk website:
"You can buy one up to two weeks before your 60th birthday if you buy online, but it’ll only be valid from your birthday onwards."
So officially you cannot use a ticket discounted by it before your 60th birthday.

 

[Goldfish62]

You can use it straight away; it is valid as soon as you get it. There is no condition requiring you to be of age to *use it*, only buy it, which the railcard company has waived.

And happy birthday for a few days' time, of course!

Many thanks indeed!

 

[Howardh]

From the senior-railcard.co.uk website:
"You can buy one up to two weeks before your 60th birthday if you buy online, but it’ll only be valid from your birthday onwards."
So officially you cannot use a ticket discounted by it before your 60th birthday.

I asked this when I got mine when I passed 60 and that was the answer at the time, 0001 on your birthday! So I used on that day naturally!

 

[swt_passenger]

You can use it straight away; it is valid as soon as you get it. There is no condition requiring you to be of age to *use it*, only buy it, which the railcard company has waived.

And happy birthday for a few days' time, of course!

Risky. Only needs an onboard inspection to notice the date of expiry is over 3 years away. Then we’ll suddenly be discussing it in the disputes section…

 

[Goldfish62]

Risky. Only needs an onboard inspection to notice the date of expiry is over 3 years away. Then we’ll suddenly be discussing it in the disputes section…

It's not over three years away, it's one year and one week after my birthday, so obviously a period of grace to allow for renewal is added on anyway.

 

[Benjwri]

From the senior-railcard.co.uk website:
"You can buy one up to two weeks before your 60th birthday if you buy online, but it’ll only be valid from your birthday onwards."
So officially you cannot use a ticket discounted by it before your 60th birthday.

This is correct, condition 4.1 of the Terms and Conditions states:

You must be aged 60 years or over to purchase a Senior Railcard.

I’m unsure though what issues you could face in the very unlikely chance you are caught. Whether it’s a criminal issue which they could claim you didn’t have a valid railcard for, or if they would just be able to terminate your railcard.

 

[Howardh]

"You must be aged 60 years or over to purchase a Senior Railcard".


I bought mine several days before so I could use it on my birthday. Have the rules changed since then (2018)?

 

[Goldfish62]

This is correct, condition 4.1 of the Terms and Conditions states:

I’m unsure though what issues you could face in the very unlikely chance you are caught. Whether it’s a criminal issue which they could claim you didn’t have a valid railcard for, or if they would just be able to terminate your railcard.

OK, thanks for all the advice.

My post was never intended as "can I get away with it". It was simply to see if I could legitimately use it, because nothing in the conditions sent with it indicated otherwise.

I shall wait until my birthday.

I would add though that Condition 4.1 is nonsense because you can purchased it when you're 59 years and 50 weeks old.

 

[AlterEgo]

Risky. Only needs an onboard inspection to notice the date of expiry is over 3 years away. Then we’ll suddenly be discussing it in the disputes section…

It's still a valid railcard. No railcard is invalid when issued.

There is clearly no condition prohibiting its use by the OP.

 

[Darandio]

I would add though that Condition 4.1 is nonsense because you can purchased it when you're 59 years and 50 weeks old.

There's a two week grace period when purchasing online, obviously to make sure it arrives in time. You aren't allowed to purchase one at a ticket office until the day of your birthday.

I'm with @AlterEgo here though. To anyone inspecting it's a perfectly valid railcard with a valid expiry date, nobody will be any the wiser about your age.

 

[Snow1964]

It's not over three years away, it's one year and one week after my birthday, so obviously a period of grace to allow for renewal is added on anyway.

I suspect the period of grace only applies to first one, much like car tax where you buy first one for 53 weeks, but subsequent ones are limited to 12 months from expiry of previous one.

It was more an issuing and delivery time when issued from a remote location, rather than a period of grace, because early purchase was never possible if you bought it in person.

 

[Goldfish62]

There's a two week grace period when purchasing online, obviously to make sure it arrives in time. You aren't allowed to purchase one at a ticket office until the day of your birthday.

I'm with @AlterEgo here though. To anyone inspecting it's a perfectly valid railcard with a valid expiry date, nobody will be any the wiser about your age.

Thanks. While I'm grateful for all the responses, yours and @AlterEgo's make most sense.

A similarish issue has been when I've renewed my annual gold card in the past, a few days before expiry. A new one with an expiry date 12 months after the original one is issued and the original retained by the booking office. I've therefore used the new ticket outside the 12 month window and it's never been queried.

Anyway, just to be on the safe side, I'm now sat on a train having bought a ticket without railcard.

 

[Howardh]

There's a two week grace period when purchasing online, obviously to make sure it arrives in time. You aren't allowed to purchase one at a ticket office until the day of your birthday.

Ah, that explains why I got mine before my birthday, thanks!

 

[weepingwillowb]

You could buy an advance ticket with it now, as long as the day of travel was on your birthday or after.

Happy birthday, and if you're like I was when I got my first senior railcard you'll be going on lots of rail journeys in the next year.

 

[davews]

Technically it is invalid until your birthday but the average ticket inspector is unlikely to know that. When I have renewed mine (online, 3 years) I have been told by the ticket office that I can use the new one immediately I receive it.

 

[AlterEgo]

Technically it is invalid until your birthday

On what technicaility?

 

[1D54]

Happy birthday, and if you're like I was when I got my first senior railcard you'll be going on lots of rail journeys in the next year.

Got my first Senior on 31/10 and was really looking forward to some great trips in the next year but now I'm not at all sure planning and buying advance tickets will be a good idea

 

[Haywain]

Got my first Senior on 31/10 and was really looking forward to some great trips in the next year but now I'm not at all sure planning and buying advance tickets will be a good idea

Why?

 

[1D54]

Industrial action is causing havoc with me following my local non league club and i am not a month into the use of it yet. Really hoping things get sorted before summer so i can hit the rails every Saturday.

 

[Goldfish62]

You could buy an advance ticket with it now, as long as the day of travel was on your birthday or after.

Happy birthday, and if you're like I was when I got my first senior railcard you'll be going on lots of rail journeys in the next year.

Thanks, and I will be! Including, maybe, that long awaited national rail rover trip.

 

[TheManOnThe172]

Beware that TfL seem unable to add a Railcard to an Oyster if expiry is more than 3 years 0 days ahead.

 

[Goldfish62]

Beware that TfL seem unable to add a Railcard to an Oyster if expiry is more than 3 years 0 days ahead.

Not a problem for me as I have a one year card.

 

[Howardh]

Got my first Senior on 31/10 and was really looking forward to some great trips in the next year but now I'm not at all sure planning and buying advance tickets will be a good idea

My thoughts. The strikes called in January, luckily, are outside my pre-booked holiday (Bolton/Brighton) and I didn't fancy nine hours on coaches or extra night's accommodation, even if you are allowed to transfer the ticket to the previous day. So I can book and advance with some certainty for that. However...February/March - will I hit strike days? So can't even book a holiday in the UK until I know. Hopefully be over by then so I can get back to worrying about Avanti and TPE....

 

[Haywain]

However...February/March - will I hit strike days? So can't even book a holiday in the UK until I know.

The trade unions are required to give a minimum of 14 days notice of strike action, so whether you could be affected in February or March is something we can’t know, unfortunately.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Risky. Only needs an onboard inspection to notice the date of expiry is over 3 years away. Then we’ll suddenly be discussing it in the disputes section…

It is normal for online bought first Railcards (rather than renewals) to have an extra couple of weeks on their validity to take into account the possibility of postal delays.

 

[Howardh]

The trade unions are required to give a minimum of 14 days notice of strike action, so whether you could be affected in February or March is something we can’t know, unfortunately.

I know. I'm glad of the notice and also glad they've informed us of the January dates. I don't think they can alter them, maybe add to them with 2 weeks notice?

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 24 Nov 2022 ==

It is normal for online bought first Railcards (rather than renewals) to have an extra couple of weeks on their validity to take into account the possibility of postal delays.

It's possible, theoretically (or pedantically!), to have to pay standard fare out but r/c discount on a return if you travel outbound before your birthday and back after!

 

[Haywain]

I don't think they can alter them, maybe add to them with 2 weeks notice?

They can add to them with two weeks notice, but they can reduce the strike hours or call off the strike with as little notice as they wish.

 

[Howardh]

They can add to them with two weeks notice, but they can reduce the strike hours or call off the strike with as little notice as they wish.

Yeah, fingers crossed they don't add, and the strikes get cancelled.