Why not cash refunds for delay repay

[Hellfire]

Isn't it time TOCs started offering the alternative of money refunds for delay repay rather than travel vouchers?

I have collected quite a few vouchers due to various delays. I can't redeem them online, I can't redeem that at my local station because it is unstaffed. The only way I can do it is over the phone, in which case I have to give 14 days notice so I can send them the vouchers before they return the tickets, or make a 30 mile round trip to the nearest station that has a ticket office.

Given that I have already suffered the inconvenience that triggered the delay repay, I seem to have to go to a lot more inconvenience to redeem the vouchers....and that assumes I want to use them to travel anyway.

Refunds could be made by bank transfer or PayPal, no need for the expense of issuing cheques.

 

[najaB]

Refunds could be made by bank transfer or PayPal, no need for the expense of issuing cheques.

In exceptional circumstances, some TOC's have been known to issue compensation by bank transfer. Refunds should be paid by the same method as used to buy the ticket.

 

[Bletchleyite]

LM do sometimes issue online booking credits. Perhaps that should be the default.

Neil

 

[TUC]

As is regularly discussed, at the very least in this day and age, there is no reason why RTVs should not be redeemable online. I redeem Tesco Clubcard vouchers by typing the voucher number into the website. There is no reason why the rail industry could not facilitate the same approach.

 

[Bletchleyite]

As is regularly discussed, at the very least in this day and age, there is no reason why RTVs should not be redeemable online. I redeem Tesco Clubcard vouchers by typing the voucher number into the website. There is no reason why the rail industry could not facilitate the same approach.

Indeed, that would reduce the faff for those who only have access to TVMs at the time they wish to travel (or at all).

Neil

 

[westv]

As a matter of interest what happens to all the money that TOCs get from Network Rail but which isn't passed on to passengers for whatever reason? Is it just added to their profits?

 

[TheEdge]

As a matter of interest what happens to all the money that TOCs get from Network Rail but which isn't passed on to passengers for whatever reason? Is it just added to their profits?

Its added to the big money pile the Directors of each TOC use to fund their annual "Ticket Loophole Closing, Crack and Bollinger" party. Many of them look like this...

 

[455driver]

As is regularly discussed, at the very least in this day and age, there is no reason why RTVs should not be redeemable online. I redeem Tesco Clubcard vouchers by typing the voucher number into the website. There is no reason why the rail industry could not facilitate the same approach.

And then take the same RTV and use it on the train!
The guards Avantix is offline so no reasonable way for the guard to check whether the RTV has been redeemed previously.

Is there anywhere you can use Tesco vouchers offline?

 

[westv]

And then take the same RTV and use it on the train!
The guards Avantix is offline so no reasonable way for the guard to check whether the RTV has been redeemed previously.

Is there anywhere you can use Tesco vouchers offline?

Well the TOC can just offer an online code or an offline voucher.

 

[185143]

As is regularly discussed, at the very least in this day and age, there is no reason why RTVs should not be redeemable online. I redeem Tesco Clubcard vouchers by typing the voucher number into the website. There is no reason why the rail industry could not facilitate the same approach.

And then take the same RTV and use it on the train!
The guards Avantix is offline so no reasonable way for the guard to check whether the RTV has been redeemed previously.

Is there anywhere you can use Tesco vouchers offline?

but don't forget by filling in the delay repay form you are giving the TOC your details! Although, I can easily see where you are coming from and I'm sure people would do it!

 

[cool110]

Is there anywhere you can use Tesco vouchers offline?

Yes, but all the checkouts can go online and lookup that the vouchers are still valid.

 

[TUC]

Well the TOC can just offer an online code or an offline voucher.

I agree. That would be a very simple solution.

 

[bb21]

I agree. That would be a very simple solution.

Some, such as Southern, already do, so it is not impossible.

 

[Bishopstone]

Southern send me vouchers for Delay Repay (they do offer alternatives, however), but for a First Class declassification claim, I was quite surprised to hear they will be sending me a cheque.

Now I need to find the nearest bank branch that hasn't been closed....

 

[maniacmartin]

Some, such as Southern, already do, so it is not impossible.

Southern give you exact amount if you get an evoucher, such as £1.61. If you request a paper voucher itll be rounded up to £1.70.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Now I need to find the nearest bank branch that hasn't been closed....

If you don't mind paying for a stamp and the risk of it getting lost, you can post the cheque to your bank, enclosing your soft code and account number. It's never failed me.

 

[Kristofferson]

You can swap RTVs for a cheque if the total value exceeds £30 with any TOC combination I believe. If you're commuting, that adds up pretty quickly!

 

[DEE-DE]

I think Deutsche Bahn offer some scratchcard vouchers. Can't remember what these are for though. Basically, if you scratch it, it will reveal the online-code. If this has been done the voucher cannot be used offline anymore.

 

[Abpj17]

You can swap RTVs for a cheque if the total value exceeds £30 with any TOC combination I believe. If you're commuting, that adds up pretty quickly!

Really? Do you have a public source?

 

[CockneySparrow]

Isn't it time TOCs started offering the alternative of money refunds for delay repay rather than travel vouchers?

I have collected quite a few vouchers due to various delays. I can't redeem them online, I can't redeem that at my local station because it is unstaffed. The only way I can do it is over the phone, in which case I have to give 14 days notice so I can send them the vouchers before they return the tickets, or make a 30 mile round trip to the nearest station that has a ticket office.

Given that I have already suffered the inconvenience that triggered the delay repay, I seem to have to go to a lot more inconvenience to redeem the vouchers....and that assumes I want to use them to travel anyway.

Refunds could be made by bank transfer or PayPal, no need for the expense of issuing cheques.

Why would they want to do that, by issuing a RTV they still have your money

 

[Kristofferson]

Ah, its a London Midland thing! I assumed it was across all TOCs...

 

[DaveNewcastle]

As is regularly discussed, at the very least in this day and age, there is no reason why RTVs should not be redeemable online.

We're confusing two issues here.

One is the technological facility to repay a transaction - it's immaterials whether it is cash over the counter, a Bank Transfer, PayPal refund etc.

The other is the concept of any financial transaction at all. A repayment in RTVs isn't a repayment. It is a voucher with very limited uses, largely for travel on other services.

, , , , Given that I have already suffered the inconvenience that triggered the delay repay, . . . .

. . .and the rail operator has already suffered exactly the same delay, to their train (and perhaps also to its next working), to their crew (and perhaps also to their next working). Now I'm not arguing that passengers have no entitlement to compensation, not at all. But only that the argument "that I've already suffered" cannot be taken as an additional loss over and above the recognition that a compensatory allowance will be made.
i.e. we can't argue for a compensation following a delay, and then argue for a further offer in response to exactly the same delay.

Still, I guess that no matter how generous the rail industry is in comparison with other modes of transport, or in absolute terms without any comparison, people will still want more.

 

[Be3G]

For the benefit of Hellfire, I will point out that:

• RTVs are inarguably valid to purchase a ticket on board a train if there were no ticket purchasing facilities at the starting station;
• RTVs may be valid to use on board a train if there were ticketing facilities at the starting station but they didn't accept RTV payments (e.g. a ticket vending machine). There have however been many debates about whether it's the passenger's right to choose their payment method if only limited methods are available before boarding the train and the passenger's chosen one isn't one of them.
• Further to the above point, if there is no facility to buy on board the train, it may be permissible to buy the ticket at the earliest opportunity (e.g. ticket office at interchange or destination station) but, as per the above, there're arguments against this.

Now, where's my can opener…

 

[bb21]

Now, where's my can opener…

You don't need it. You've already done the job it was meant for.

 

[RJ]

Indeed, that would reduce the faff for those who only have access to TVMs at the time they wish to travel (or at all).

Neil

Not so useful for those who'd like to use discounts not offered online - Priv, Job Centre Plus, Senior Railsave to name but a few.

 

[Bletchleyite]

You don't need it. You've already done the job it was meant for.

FWIW the implication here:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/45185.aspx#vouchers

is that RTVs are only usable at staffed stations and telesales, not on board. Which is what I long thought was the case.

Neil

 

[talltim]

They can be exchanged for ticket(s) to travel on National Rail services.

This (poorly worded) line says that they can be exchanged on National Rail services (trains) for ticket(s) to travel!

 

[najaB]

FWIW the implication here... ...is that RTVs are only usable at staffed stations and telesales, not on board.

While that arguably may be implied, it is not true.

 

[Hellfire]

Why would they want to do that, by issuing a RTV they still have your money

Yes, silly me. I almost thought for a moment that TOC's might actually give some thought to their customers....particularly as, in the case of the many delays caused by lineside equipment problems, and overhead wire issues, they get the money back from Network Rail anyway.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

i.e. we can't argue for a compensation following a delay, and then argue for a further offer in response to exactly the same delay.

I don't recall asking for a further offer in addition to the RTV. What I am asking is why,for many passengers, it is made so inconvenient to actually redeem those vouchers and why, in this electronic age, they are still posting out bits of printed paper.

As for the generous compensation compared with other transport operators a great deal of it is reclaimed from Network Rail, a publicly owned company

 

[bb21]

FWIW the implication here:

http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_fares/ticket_types/45185.aspx#vouchers

is that RTVs are only usable at staffed stations and telesales, not on board. Which is what I long thought was the case.

Neil

Well, the back of the RTVs I currently have say "You can use this voucher at any station or rail-appointed Travel Agent as full or part payment for travel on services of the principle Train Companies, subject to any notes shown overleaf."

Have they changed the wording? I must say that I never paid close attention to it.

This (poorly worded) line says that they can be exchanged on National Rail services (trains) for ticket(s) to travel!

Where does it say that? It appears to say "They can be exchanged for ticket(s) to travel on National Rail services." on my screen.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Well, the back of the RTVs I currently have say "You can use this voucher at any station or rail-appointed Travel Agent as full or part payment for travel on services of the principle Train Companies, subject to any notes shown overleaf."

Have they changed the wording? I must say that I never paid close attention to it.

I don't know, but it might be down to reading. Using them on the train is not in my view using them at the station, IYSWIM.

I guess people on here have successfully paid using them on the train?

Neil