Do Distance selling regulations apply to train tickets?

rev_henry

I've bought some advance purchase tickets and now I've found out I need to change the day I am travelling. I have been told that there is a £10 admin charge per ticket refund, which makes it not worth getting the ticket refunded. However, my question is, as I bought the tickets online, do the distance selling regulations not apply and am I therefore not entitled to a full refund?
Thanks.

Quentin

Train tickets (and plane tickets) aren't covered by DSR.

rev_henry

Oh ok, thanks worth a try. You don't happen to know why not do you?

Quentin

You'll have to take that up with the OFT!

I think the poor merchant needed a bit of protection! You enter into a contract for a definite date and time when you book train and plane tickets, you don't need to examine them to see if they are to your liking, and will match your other travel documents!

ticketcollector

The regulations do not apply to:

* financial services
* sale of land or buildings
* purchases from a vending machine or automated commercial premises
* the use of a public pay phone
* auctions, including internet auctions
* rental agreements that have to be in writing (i.e. a lease for three years or more)

There are also some partial exceptions. The information and cancellation provisions do not apply to contracts for: accommodation, transport, catering, and leisure services, including outdoor sporting events, but only where the supplier agrees to provide these on a specific date or within a specific period. In addition, the provisions do not apply to package travel, timeshare, and contracts for the supply of food, drinks or other goods for everyday consumption supplied by 'regular roundsmen'.

Also the right to cancel does not apply to the following, unless you agree otherwise:

* personalised goods or goods made to a consumer's specification
* goods that cannot, by their nature, be returned
* perishable goods (eg flowers, fresh food)
* un-sealed audio or video recordings or computer software
* newspapers, periodicals or magazines
* betting, gaming or lottery services
* services that begin, by agreement, before the end of the cancellation period providing the supplier has informed the consumer before the conclusion of the contract, in writing or another durable medium, that he will not be able to cancel once performance of the services has begun with his agreement
* goods or services, the price of which is dependent on fluctuations in the financial market.

Hintza

I'm finding it very hard to keep my lip zipped on this one.

Surely you read the terms and conditions before you booked?

rev_henry

Hintza wrote: »

I'm finding it very hard to keep my lip zipped on this one.

Surely you read the terms and conditions before you booked?

Oh yes I did, I knew I wouldn't be able to get a full refund without some kind of admin fee as they are advance purchase tickets obviously. I'm just trying a long shot to avoid paying up again! Also, I don't see why the fee should be charged, its hardly as if it costs them anything like £10 a ticket to rebook.

KeithP

rev_henry wrote: »

<snip>
Also, I don't see why the fee should be charged, its hardly as if it costs them anything like £10 a ticket to rebook.

So, you would probably say...
"Why do I have to pay money for my train ticket? It doesn't cost the railway anything... they're running the train anyway."

You have already agreed to the '£10 to rebook' condition, along with other conditions, when you bought your ticket. What it costs doesn't matter... you have agreed.

rev_henry

KeithP wrote: »

So, you would probably say...
"Why do I have to pay money for my train ticket? It doesn't cost the railway anything... they're running the train anyway."

You have already agreed to the '£10 to rebook' condition, along with other conditions, when you bought your ticket. What it costs doesn't matter... you have agreed.

I know I know, I'm just trying it on! No I wouldn't say that, but I would say why do I have to pay so much money for my train ticket. Although not in this case as the tickets I bought were extremely cheap!

gner_ex

This is precisely the reason why I always advise against these cheapie tickets. If you bought a proper ticket you would be able to change the date with no problems and no cost.

ewan_husarmee

Hi,

at no point in their sales process does it say the travel card is valid only on the day of travel. As I was arriving into London with through ticketing to my destination at 21:30, I had no need for a travel card on that day, but on the day after I will be in London on business and need a peak hours travel card.

Is there a contract issue here for me to action?