NationalExpress Trains/c2c trains tickets

[lolly1963]

HI,
I booked advance train tickets online with NationalExpress website for 19thdec. Got booking reference and asked where i want to collect tickets, so typed in Benfleet. Went to Benfleet Fast ticket machine 'said no'. Went to ticket desk where the guy had my details on his screen with the given reference number. His computer said NO, unable to issue the tickets. Drives back home, phones Nat Express, they send Fax, goes back to station thismorning, 'sorry cannot give you a ticket, we physically are UNABLE to. Now i have the proof, booking ref and mastercard receipt, ALL PAID FOR. Drove back home again, phoned Nat Express, another fax on the way, back to station, no, still cannot issue tickets!!! Now i have to PAY on Wednesday from Tower Hill to Kings Cross (where i have to now pick up the tickets) for onward travel to LEEDS. Then i have to forward the undergroud tickets for refund by Nat Express. What a complete joke and i feel quite ill over it all, needless to say that i have emailed Watchdog with the story. How can they take money from you, give receipt and then not issue a ticket when it clearly states on my paperwork, tickets to be picked up at fast ticket machine at Benfleet. Let the 'Train Take The Strain'...hmmmm...i am FUMING, and there will be a serious letter of complaint in the post to those concerned..

Rant Over,
Lorraine

[dzug]

HI,
I booked advance train tickets online with NationalExpress website for 19thdec. Got booking reference and asked where i want to collect tickets, so typed in Benfleet. Went to Benfleet Fast ticket machine 'said no'. Went to ticket desk where the guy had my details on his screen with the given reference number. His computer said NO, unable to issue the tickets. Drives back home, phones Nat Express, they send Fax, goes back to station thismorning, 'sorry cannot give you a ticket, we physically are UNABLE to. Now i have the proof, booking ref and mastercard receipt, ALL PAID FOR. Drove back home again, phoned Nat Express, another fax on the way, back to station, no, still cannot issue tickets!!! Now i have to PAY on Wednesday from Tower Hill to Kings Cross (where i have to now pick up the tickets) for onward travel to LEEDS. Then i have to forward the undergroud tickets for refund by Nat Express. What a complete joke and i feel quite ill over it all, needless to say that i have emailed Watchdog with the story. How can they take money from you, give receipt and then not issue a ticket when it clearly states on my paperwork, tickets to be picked up at fast ticket machine at Benfleet. Let the 'Train Take The Strain'...hmmmm...i am FUMING, and there will be a serious letter of complaint in the post to those concerned..

Rant Over,
Lorraine

According to other websites, Benfleet doesn't HAVE a fastticket machine (of the sort you can collect pre-ordered tickets from) so I don't see how you could pick it up there. Nor do several of the other stations in Nat Exp's drop down list - indeed one I know for certain has no ticket machine at all.

Methinks some programmer has botched the system.

[lolly1963]

HI,
Thanks for your reply. yes, Bnefleet WAS on the dropdown list once i ordered tickets and went through to pay for them. I even have it on my confirmation email of where i am picking up the tickets. It is absolutely ridiculous, and i now have to leave 45 minutes earlier to queue at the tube to pay for that part of journey, and then again at Kings Cross to pick my tickets up. A damn inconvenience.

Cheers
Lorraine