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Unfair Rail Ticket penalties
About 6 weeks ago, I booked 2 advance return tickets from Port Talbot to London. When I received them, there were actually 4 tickets - 2 x Single tickets there and 2 x single tickets back. They were all priced at £12, a total of £48.
Unfortunately, I had made a mistake, and booked for the wrong weekend, so I First Great Western, who told me there was a £10 charge for cancelling or changing the journey - for EACH ticket - so it would cost me £40 in charges to change or cancel the journey. So as the total was £48, I would only get £8 back.
I know it was my fault, but IMVHO this is as outrageous as the penalty charges charged by banks. I would have been happy to pay a £10 flat fee for the whole booking, but £40!
Furthermore, I tried to flog them on ebay, and my listing got pulled as it is illegal for a non authorised person to sell rail tickets. Why? Once the ticket has been bought and paid for by someone, what is wrong with them selling them on if they can't be used.
Has anyone else come across this, and what are your feelings on this?
Unfortunately, I had made a mistake, and booked for the wrong weekend, so I First Great Western, who told me there was a £10 charge for cancelling or changing the journey - for EACH ticket - so it would cost me £40 in charges to change or cancel the journey. So as the total was £48, I would only get £8 back.
I know it was my fault, but IMVHO this is as outrageous as the penalty charges charged by banks. I would have been happy to pay a £10 flat fee for the whole booking, but £40!
Furthermore, I tried to flog them on ebay, and my listing got pulled as it is illegal for a non authorised person to sell rail tickets. Why? Once the ticket has been bought and paid for by someone, what is wrong with them selling them on if they can't be used.
Has anyone else come across this, and what are your feelings on this?
0
Comments
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It is in the Ts & Cs which you agreed to when you bought the tickets.
If you don't like the Ts & Cs attached to cheap tickets, buy full fare tickets which can be used anywhen - at £91.50 each way !0 -
I know it was my fault, but IMVHO this is as outrageous as the penalty charges charged by banks. I would have been happy to pay a £10 flat fee for the whole booking, but £40!
They key bit is in bold. People (in general, not you) need to start taking responsibilities for their own actions. It is partly why this country is in such a mess.
It is not unfair at all - and you should be glad that they would change them for a fee rather than issuing them as non-refundable.
As for selling it - I'm sure 'non transferable' will be part of the conditions you agreed to when you bought it?
Buy full price tickets if you want more flexibility. It really is as simple as that. If you want cheap flights use Ryanair. If you want more flexibility then use BA. But because you made a mistake does not mean that the fees are unfair.0
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