YP Railcard/Anytime Return

[Emphyrio]

Hello,

A couple of weeks ago I made the journey from Bentham to Durham, leaving Bentham at 7:39am. This is an unstaffed station. However, when purchasing my ticket on the train, I was told that I could not use my 16-25 Railcard as it was before 10am (the cost was just over £49). However, on looking at a number of websites, including Northern Rail and thetrainline, it seems to show that I can in fact buy an 'anytime return' ticket for £32.85. Could you please advise on this discrepancy?

Does this mean that I can use my 16-25 railcard when purchasing an anytime return in advance, e.g. over the internet, but not if I was purchasing it on the train?

Many thanks,

 

[clagmonster]

In this case, I believe that the guard has made a mistake. YP railcards have a minimum fare of £12 when used before 10:00 on weekdays in months that aren't July or August, but beyond that they can be used on any second class ticket. When the booking office is unstaffed, you can purchase discounted tickets from the guard on the train.

 

[mikeg]

You should have been able to use your railcard. Before 10am a minimum fare of 12 pounds applies, so on some fares there will be no saving, but this isn't the case with your fare. A letter to the appropriate train operating company may be in order.
Edit: I see Clagmonster got there before me. I would write them a letter of complaint.

 

[Max]

Unfortunately you were mis-sold your ticket. The person you came across on the train confused the minimum fare rule with the misconception that you can't use your 16-25 Railcard at all before 10am M-F. Indeed, you should have been sold the quoted anytime return with railcard discount. Write to Northern Rail explaining the situation and with a photocopy of your ticket and you will most likely be refunded the difference.

 

[YorkshireBear]

was it a natwest railcard? as they are not valid before 9 i believe?

 

[John @ home]

was it a natwest railcard? as they are not valid before 9 i believe?

I can't find that restriction in the terms and conditions:

6. A minimum fare applies for all journeys made at or before 10am Monday to Friday. If you travel regularly before 10am then a weekly or monthly season ticket may be more appropriate (Railcard discount will not apply). However there is no minimum fare in July or August, on Public Holidays, and at weekends.

http://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/online

 

[Mojo]

You should write to the Toc requesting a full refund and compensation for any work you've had to do in getting your money back.

 

[mikeg]

was it a natwest railcard? as they are not valid before 9 i believe

I never had problems using mine before 9am nor was I made aware of such a restriction.

 

[bnm]

The T&Cs for the NatWest 16-25 Railcard are the same as the 'normal' one.

 

[YorkshireBear]

k fair enough the question mark on the end was id heard it but wasnt entirely sure whether its true

 

[yorkie]

I was told that I could not use my 16-25 Railcard as it was before 10am (the cost was just over £49).

Welcome to the forum Before I advise, I'd like to know what happened next? Did you pay for the higher priced ticket, or abandon your journey? Did you ask the guard to check the conditions? If so, did the guard check or refuse to? If you did travel and were sold the higher priced ticket, did you pay there and then or get an unpaid fare notice? (I always advise the latter - it is much harder to get money back than it is to appeal against them taking money from you).

Anyway whatever happened I am sure we can find a way forward.

 

[Flamingo]

YP railcards: £12 minimum fare before 9am except July and August, can't be used on 1st class tickets except for ADVANCED tickets, NATWEST railcards are the same as everybody else, (but showing a NATWEST bankcard saying "I must have a railcard, I have a NATWEST account" doesn't count!)

Letter to the TOC should sort it out.

edited to add - 9am in FGW and ARRIVA land!

 

[southerner2174]

***Minimum fare applies before 10am Mon-Fri, not 9am

 

[Emphyrio]

Many thanks for the replies - I kind of thought that this was the case, but I didn't really know much about the conditions when purchasing the ticket (it was only after looking at the website etc that I realised I should have been correct.

I did contact Northern Rail asking whether they were correct to have charged me the amount that they did, and received the following response:


Thank you for your e-mail, which I received recently.

The terms and conditions of the 16-25 young person’s railcard stipulate that the card cannot be used before 10.00am.

I have checks the Northern rail website, Bentham to York via Leeds, departing Bentham at 07.39. I included the 16-25 young person’s railcard. The price of an Anytime Return is £49.80 as the website doesn’t take the railcard into consideration as it cannot be used before 10.00am. I am unable to comment on the other websites.

Thank you for taking the time to contact me regarding this matter.



I forgot about the matter for couple of weeks while dealing with other concerns but I then came back to it - and wrote back to them attaching the screen print. Today I was lucky enough to receive the following response:



I would like to clarify comments made by a colleague below as I fear that there may be a confusing message.

If a journey is made before 10am Monday to Friday, a £12 minimum fare applies. Travelling from Bentham to York or Durham however, the cost has exceeded the £12.00 minimum fare and you are therefore able to use your 16 – 25 card when purchasing a ticket. Please accept my apologies for any information that was sadly incorrect. Please also note that there is no minimum fare on Public Holidays and during July or August.

The ticket price shown on your attachment is £32.85 which is the correct price for an anytime ticket available with a 16-25 Railcard from Bentham to Durham. This ticket is available on the day of travel. Simply go to any ticket office if one is available prior to boarding the train and you will be able to purchase this ticket. If there isn't a ticket office available then the same price ticket is available from the train Conductor.

I hope this has clarified matters for you



I'm going to write a letter based on this information and see if I can get a refund - will let you know how things go.