The way you get shafted by the train companies if you can't/don't want to travel
Just looked up ticket prices to Chesterfield next Saturday by way of an example.
If you book "advanced" tickets you can get a single there and back for a total of £46 - but you can't change your mind (edit: apparently you can change your mind - but only in advance. Not much use today!) or get a refund. If you get one of the "Anytime" tickets (which is flexible in terms of timing and you are able to get a refund on) it will cost you £104 - EACH WAY!!!
Absolutely shocking.
0
Comments
I'm out of pocket aswell but thats the way it goes.
From the national rail site...
*
Changes to time or date of travel must be arranged before departure of the first reserved train printed on the ticket, after which the ticket has no value and a new one must be purchased. You will need to present the ticket(s) and reservation(s) when you request a change.
*
Changes to tickets cannot be made on-board the train. If you board a train without a ticket and reservation for that service, a new ticket must be purchased. Depending on the Train Company you are travelling with, you may be liable to a Penalty Fare if you board the train with an invalid ticket.
*
The origin, destination and Train Company or route shown on the ticket(s) must remain the same.
*
The difference between the price paid and cost of the next suitable fare for your journey is payable, plus a £10 administration fee per person, per single ticket for each change to a journey. If you change to a train on which a cheaper fare is available, the difference will not be refunded.
Refunds
*
Your ticket is non-refundable.
*
If the train you purchased a ticket for is cancelled or delayed by more than 60 minutes, special arrangements will be made to accommodate you on another train (although a seat cannot be guaranteed). If, as a result, you decide not to travel, a refund will be offered on completely unused tickets and you will not be charged an administration fee.
I guess it's a trick that people have picked up on from the likes of Easyjet - make some of your tickets ridiculously expensive so the "cheap" ones look even cheaper (even though you have to take a gamble on the refund point).
You wont get a refund if, like today, you decide not to travel if the game gets called off. And yes, you might be able to get the tickets changed for the rearranged date if you do this in advance of your first journey, but that doesn't help much either in circumstances like today, does it?
But they are the terms when you book, if you don't like them then don't book.
I've booked tickets and they are providing the service, all in good faith, but its my choice that I don't want to travel anymore.
Doesn't make it right though, does it?
300 miles vs 4,000 miles.
Something wrong surely?
Ok I agree with that.
I was done by one of their ticket nazi's £20 for travelling without the correct ticket even though the station i travelled from had no way of buying a ticket. I was so angry but there was nothing i could do as the ticket woman started talking about getting the police involved. When I wrote and appealed i got a letter back with a £17 refund saying it was their error afterall, no apology and £3 deducted from what they had charged me even though it was their error. Wankers the lot of them.
My Faith in British rail has been restored. If I had purchased my ticket for Chesterfield, yesterday two singles would have been £37.00 and non refundable, Today two singles £104.00 and a return £55.40.Asked ticket Guy if I could get a refund if match was postponed, answer NO. Having no news boarded train at Malvern Link at 10.13 and having just pulled out of the station, got the news it was off from Hilary. Got off train at Worcester Foregate Street and told there to ask for Non issue of Ticket back at Malvern. Jobsworth at Malverrn Link looked at the clock and said it was a bit late but would refund the ticket and gave me the full refund of £55.40. So a free return trip to Worcester and back, not very exciting!!
I guess you could always change it for two weeks time and by then you might know the rearranged date so you could change it again. Assuming you could make a midweek game of course.
sorry, I get what you mean now.. im a bit flu'd up today and the brain is slower than usual
There have to be some limitations - there was no way they could re-sell your seat so why should they give you your money back?
I think you can see where I'm going.
Not Chesterfield, anyway. See you at the Valley for Franchise.
I'm in, where do I sign?
The futures bright - the future is blue..........
What we are talking about is licensed theft and rather than interfere where they are not wanted governments should regulate to prohibit such licensed theft in my opinion.
really sorry to those that lost out today.