Virgin Trains are bunch of con artists IMHO. Be warned!

robt_2

No

Voyager2002 wrote: »

I can't be bothered to check the fares, but in my experience the price difference between a single and a return is generally a matter of pennies.

I have not checked, but in this case, I'm 99% sure that a single is half a return ie £180.

Silent_Mule

Yes

I thought it may be useful to post a summary of (useful) opinion on the legal options open to me (and therefore, I presume, anyone else who has a similar experience). Leaving aside the question of whether Beardie is trying to stiff his customers in any way he can, there seems to be a number of opinions on the best legal way to proceed in trying to obtain a refund. Here are the ones so far:

1. Send VT a strongly worded letter spelling out the exact circumstances and state clearly what I expect them to do (refund the £360) and when I exect it to happen (e.g. within 3 weeks). State that I will b prepared to take them to court should no refund be forthcoming in that time. Be prepared to take them to court in that eventuality. This may get the requisite response, it may not. I am planning to send them such a letter tomorrow by recorded delivery with copies of all tickets and other evidence.
2. If it becomes necessary to stat court proceedings there seems to be a general feeling that their policies fall foul of contract law (unfair clauses) and I will be exploing this further.
3. There is a suggestion (not mentioned in public on this board thus far but posted at this site), that because loss of a credit card is an insurable risk there is an obligation on the card holder to pay again and then claim the second paid fare from the insurer. In my case, it would almost certanly be the credit card company themselves who act as the insurer and I will also persue this avenue as if it turns out to be correct then I will attempt to get the money from the credit card company.

That seems to be about it but I will update what happens on here so that any other poor sod (CEO, Janitor, family of four, or tourist) can be in with a chance if they encounter similar.

thescouselander

Yes

Great, I'd be interested in how you get on. These robbing barstewards need to be stopped.

chuckley

Frege wrote: »

This would not have happened if you hadn't lost your credit card. You should be more careful next time.

in a nutshell!

chuckley

Silent_Mule wrote: »

No. Really?

So, your view is that if someone has the misfortune to lose their credit card they deserve what comes to them? What if that person has Alzheimers or suffers from mild amnesia? Should we double charge them too? This is a nonsense.

u dont have Alzheimer's or amnesia... ur a CEO that lost their card and forked out nearly £400 for a replacement.

pinkshoes

I'm with Silent Mule, that VT (and all other train companies) are rip off merchants!

I can book a plane ticket online, and just need to turn up with my passport; I don't even need the print out of the booking nowadays for many airlines! But for train, even if you have the ticket, photo ID, credit card statement (with address), booking form, they demand that you buy another ticket just because you forgot your card you paid with!

With that quantity of ID, there is no mistaking that the person is the rightful owner of the ticket, so common sense should prevail and the person should be permitted to travel.

I hope you get some money back from them!

robt_2

No

pinkshoes wrote: »

I'm with Silent Mule, that VT (and all other train companies) are rip off merchants!

I can book a plane ticket online, and just need to turn up with my passport; I don't even need the print out of the booking nowadays for many airlines! But for train, even if you have the ticket, photo ID, credit card statement (with address), booking form, they demand that you buy another ticket just because you forgot your card you paid with!

With that quantity of ID, there is no mistaking that the person is the rightful owner of the ticket, so common sense should prevail and the person should be permitted to travel.

I hope you get some money back from them!

The anaology does not work.

Anyone can buy a train ticket without any ID.

But if you want a cheaper advance ticket (which the OP did), then you need to meet certain terms, in this case, having your card with you.

thescouselander

Yes

robt wrote: »

The anaology does not work.

Anyone can buy a train ticket without any ID.

But if you want a cheaper advance ticket (which the OP did), then you need to meet certain terms, in this case, having your card with you.

I think the analogy does work - why should the terms be so restrictive, there is no need at all.

You sir, are talking nonsense.

robt_2

No

thescouselander wrote: »

I think the analogy does work - why should the terms be so restrictive, there is no need at all.

You sir, are talking nonsense.

The analogy does not work. Whether the terms are restrictive or not is irrelevant to the analogy.

omelette451

The train company acted in accordance with its own policies on this matter, an issue which cannot reasonably be denied. The argument here is really about whether it should have bent its rules slightly given the situation. From my own experience and observation (admittedly at other stations rather than Euston, but still relevant) staff are able to issue tickets manually and will often do so on production of suitable identification. However, a great many people who work in the public eye say that they are willing to 'go the extra mile' or bend a rule only for those people who are nice, friendly, and polite rather than angry or stressed (if you need proof see other boards on this site, most notably the supermarket discount ones), and from the original post I must say I got the impression that this is unlikely to have been the case that day at Euston station, which could explain the reluctance to do so. It's only a hunch, but from my experience the type of person who includes several paragraphs detailing his regular transcontinental business trips and name-drops his position (seriously, what's a person's job got to do with it? or indeed any resulting complaint?) in a rant about a train company is the type most likely to be patronising and demeaning to staff at a station. And I'm sure 'pointing out flaws in company policy' didn't help make the staff more willing to help. I'm always wary of making generalisations, but I think here people will be inclined to agree with me. I'm sorry you had a bad experience, and I'm sorry you lost your credit card, but I can't help feeling sorry too for the poor staff who had to deal with you that day. And I don't think you have a reason to be given a refund, though yes, I agree you should have been given a single ticket if that is what you wanted (N.B. for robt's benefit a 'first anytime single' definitely is half the cost of a return).

Incidentally, the members of staff were right to be offended by your swearing, even if it was not aimed directly at them, and they were completely right to ask you not to do it again. Also, I'm not sure I understand why you had to be in first class to have four people working round a table: they do have tables in standard class.