Wrong railcard

[skyhigh]

I preface this by saying that this problem is my own silly fault - I'm not blaming anything other than myself!

I've booked advance tickets for next week, but realised that I've chosen the wrong railcard discount (senior instead of 16-25). Would a ticket office be able to change the discount to the correct one, or will no-one really care? It is the same discount, and I do have a valid 16-25 railcard. I just don't want to take a chance and find I have to buy a new ticket!

I'm not sure how I actually managed to do it, but I have! Any advice would be gratefully received.

 

[185143]

Have you tried tweeting the TOC concerned? I suspect strictly speaking it won't be valid, however some TOCs may apply discretion.

 

[najaB]

I'm not sure how I actually managed to do it, but I have! Any advice would be gratefully received.

If you are starting your journey at a staffed station, speak with the ticket office before boarding. They should be able to either issue a zero-fare excess or endorse your ticket to allow you to travel.

 

[PaxVobiscum]

I had this happen a couple of years ago and realised when I read the confirmation email. I phoned the issuing TOC (EastCoast) website helpline right away and they refunded me eventually, after I had bought replacement tickets with the correct railcard. I was advised to be more careful in future.

 

[yorkie]

Have you collected the ticket yet? What station(s) are you near?
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I had this happen a couple of years ago and realised when I read the confirmation email. I phoned the issuing TOC (EastCoast) website helpline right away and they refunded me eventually, after I had bought replacement tickets with the correct railcard. I was advised to be more careful in future.

I had that once with VTEC, they refused to assist me until I mentioned another complaint which I was considering referring to the ORR/DfT, then they relented and changed the tickets without admin fee. It was for a large group of people so I wanted it to be right. I had to spend a lot of time haggling with them, their poor initial attitude made me determined to win.

 

[skyhigh]

No, not collected the ticket yet. It's a VTEC ticket, I'm reasonably close to Stevenage station so could always go over there.

(As an aside, with the seat sale I could actually just buy a replacement for £5 compared to the £19 the original ticket cost, but I digress!)

 

[Hadders]

No, not collected the ticket yet. It's a VTEC ticket, I'm reasonably close to Stevenage station so could always go over there.

(As an aside, with the seat sale I could actually just buy a replacement for £5 compared to the £19 the original ticket cost, but I digress!)

Pop into the VTEC Travel Centre at Stevenage and I'm pretty sure they'll either excess it for you or simply endorse it for travel.

 

[jon0844]

I got tickets changed at Stevenage having had the wrong discount and it wasn't a problem. This was the, then East Coast office, not the then FCC one.

Ideally getting the ticket endorsed by someone should be quicker and as good.

 

[Hadders]

I've seen tickets endorsed at the VTEC office at Stevenage by stamping the front of the ticket with an official looking stamp.

 

[jon0844]

I've seen tickets endorsed at the VTEC office at Stevenage by stamping the front of the ticket with an official looking stamp.

Fine as long as it doesn't say 'VOID'

 

[Hadders]

Fine as long as it doesn't say 'VOID'

That's what FCC would've done!

 

[jon0844]

That's what FCC would've done!

Yes, hence the importance of going to the right office at Stevenage!!

 

[Hadders]

Yes, hence the importance of going to the right office at Stevenage!!

Quite! I do try to support the VTEC office as the staff there are very competent and I can't think of another station outside London (and possibly Edinburgh and Glasgow) that has two ticket offices run by different companies.

 

[najaB]

...I can't think of another station outside London (and possibly Edinburgh and Glasgow) that has two ticket offices run by different companies.

Preston did (I'm not sure if the Northern office is still open).

 

[jon0844]

Quite! I do try to support the VTEC office as the staff there are very competent and I can't think of another station outside London (and possibly Edinburgh and Glasgow) that has two ticket offices run by different companies.

I wonder if the staff mix outside their respective offices, and what they think of each other!

 

[cool110]

Preston did (I'm not sure if the Northern office is still open).

Not any more, even the Northern TVM has gone.

However one that still does is Liverpool Lime Street (VTWC on main concourse and Merseyrail (MtoGo) underground).

 

[trentside]

I've corrected or endorsed these tickets in the past. As the fare is usually the same it isn't a problem as far as I'm concerned.

I did recently nearly put my foot in it when an older lady presented a 16-25 discounted ticket and started fumbling for a railcard. I was about to tell her she had the wrong discount applied when she produced a 16-25 card, obviously issued to a mature student

 

[bb21]

If the fare were the same (which I assume they were), then simply speak to the guard before you get on (if possible) would be my normal advice. I would be immensely surprised if a guard takes exception to it, and with the exception of a very small minority of guards, discretion will be shown if asked before boarding.

You may find it a bit difficult getting a free excess done. Ticket offices may endorse it, but many will probably just tell you the same.

What is your journey?

 

[skyhigh]

The journey is Stevenage to Leeds. I'll go over to Stevenage tomorrow if I have time and see what they have to say - it's not the closest station to me, but based on prior experience I think I'd have less issues there than the at the local GTR office!

 

[bb21]

I see.

In that case I agree that the ticket office there is worth a try. Both the EC and GN ones seem to have received good reviews on the forum and it is widely reported on the forum that EC ticket offices are pretty good with excessing Railcard issues.

 

[jon0844]

I hope GTR is improving training then. Under FCC, Stevenage wouldn't sell a first class supplement, while just before New Year (under GTR) I couldn't renew my season ticket at Welwyn Garden City because the man didn't know how to do it.

Yes, an annual season.

Throw in the regular problems getting a ticket to Heathrow that isn't for the Heathrow Express and I do sometimes wonder about the level of training staff are given.

When I needed to change a Network Railcard discounted ticket to a Gold Card discounted ticket, the man at the FCC office at Stevenage said I'd be fine. The RPI said I might not be and not to risk it (but didn't offer to endorse it, suggesting I'd need to change it) so that's why I tried at the EC office and got it changed.

Now would being told that I'd be fine by the FCC ticket seller constitute authority? Would he have backed me up when given a PF or worse?

Unfortunately, poorly trained ticket sellers do nothing but help speed up their eventual demise as it's decided that they're better replaced by ticket machines and online sales.

 

[bb21]

Hmm, I am sure that there were a few good reports about the GN ticket office there.

Anyway if not, then at least the EC one is pretty good.

 

[jon0844]

Hmm, I am sure that there were a few good reports about the GN ticket office there.

Anyway if not, then at least the EC one is pretty good.

As with everything, there will be good and bad. I'm just amazed that I always seem to find the bad! I should apologise for giving the impression that everyone at Stevenage was or is useless - but you can only judge on what you encounter on the day.

To be fair, I've had more complex things dealt with at Hatfield and WGC that went fine - and when I do get good (some might argue normal) service, I'll tell the TOC so they can be aware of the good ones.

The difference is usually that the person behind the counter who wasn't necessarily sure about something took an interest and went off to ask a colleague (or phoned up for help) to sort things.

I don't mind having to wait a bit for something out of the ordinary, but once you meet someone who says 'Sorry mate, can't be done/doesn't exist/have to go to another station to get it' then you're stuffed!

 

[Hadders]

I wonder if the staff mix outside their respective offices, and what they think of each other!

As I understand it the space for the VTEC office is rented off GTR and I think the VTEC staff have to access their office via the GTR office.

I've not had a bad experience at the GTR office to be fair although I rarely use it.

 

[skyhigh]

Just to follow up, I got the ticket endorsed with no problem at the VTEC ticket office and travelled today without any issues. Thanks for the advice!

 

[Hadders]

Excellent to hear. I do like getting my more complex ticketing requirements dealt with there!

 

[185143]

The RPI said I might not be

One of the best things Ive read on this forum!
RPI should know. End of.

 

[crehld]

Just to follow up, I got the ticket endorsed with no problem at the VTEC ticket office and travelled today without any issues. Thanks for the advice!

An excellent outcome. I'm glad the ticket office were able to offer a common sense solution for you

 

[jon0844]

One of the best things Ive read on this forum!
RPI should know. End of.

Maybe, but it highlights a big risk for passengers if they don't seek a proper endorsement.

Say you get told by someone it's fine, even getting let through by an RPI, and later encounter a problem.

Despite being given authority, you're still now stuffed because it's your word against theirs. Experience suggests staff may later deny any knowledge, if you can even remember who it was.

I can see why the OP would be so keen to get things sorted, even if you'd hope that nobody actually would prosecute someone who had the wrong discount (if there were no actual benefits, such as having used a card that enabled discounts before 0930 or something) or even give a PF.