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

Silent_Mule

Yes

thescouselander wrote: »

VT could have issued a ticket manually based on the OP's ID and booking reference. Or is that too
complicated?

I imagine there is already a backup system of sorts to cover the eventuality of a ticket machine failure so it shouldn't cost any more.

They don't need to issue a replacement ticket at all - just change the obligation to be that you should carry acceptable form of ID and then list what those forms of ID are. I would have thought that passport in conjuntion with driving licence in conjunction with the credit card statement for the card used to buy the ticket would be enough. It is completely ridiculous that VT have more stringent rules for ID than anti-terror police!

isayoldchap

Silent Mule
I hope you get it sorted.
These lot on here can be so cruel.

I see you don't want to use 'Virgin' anymore?
Wasn't'' Richard in line to bid in a stake in some airports.He does get his fingers in alot of pies.

Silent_Mule

Yes

isayoldchap wrote: »

Silent Mule
I hope you get it sorted.
These lot on here can be so cruel.

I see you don't want to use 'Virgin' anymore?
Wasn't'' Richard in line to bid in a stake in some airports.He does get his fingers in alot of pies.

Kind words, for which I say thank you! :beer: (And, Happy New Year)

Personally, so far as Sticky Ricky is concerned... well, my money's on him doing a Captain Bob at some point in the future! Never know though, he could turn up trumps in which case I will report that back here too.

Oh, just had to buy another ticket to Manchester. I have to trave VT but at least I can book through other operators and hopefull deprive VT or a quid or two in the process. I notice that the advance tickets have gone up by a staggering amount! £123 against £95 previously. Why oh why can't the government regulate train fares properly! I tell you what, New Labour are a shower when it comes to trains, IMHO. Anyway, rant over!

isayoldchap

This morning about trains fares and the recent price increases.

Have a look on https://www.nationalexpresseastcoast.com

I find they can be cheaper especially with the 10% reduction.
Of course they will still have the same card policy.

greyhoundcrazy

Sorry to hear about that. How ridiculous! Very unfair of them to suggest the issue could be resolved at Euston when that was not the case (thus costing you even more money paying at the station instead of buying in advance).

I had an incident once with Virgin Trains where I ordered a ticket and arranged to collect from a machine at the station. I'd not done this before. I arrived, collected my ticket and got on the train. 20 mins later the ticket man comes round and tells me that I have to buy another one because one of the 5 vouchers that make up my ticket are missing. (I don't know how this happened - accident)

I had all of the other four parts and these contained all the info needed. I also had the email print out of my booking confirmation and the card that was used to pay for it. Despite this I was made to buy another ticket (approx £70). It was obvious that I was the genuine buyer of the ticket and there was no funny business going on but despite this they took the jobsworth approach and insisted that I pay again. I was furious, as were the three people who happened to be sitting at the same table. Ambiguous to say the least.

thescouselander

Yes

isayoldchap wrote: »

Silent Mule
I hope you get it sorted.
These lot on here can be so cruel.

I see you don't want to use 'Virgin' anymore?
Wasn't'' Richard in line to bid in a stake in some airports.He does get his fingers in alot of pies.

Yes, I cant understand the attitude of some people on here. I thought this site was about helping each other but some seem to think its about gloating at other peoples misfortune.

poet123

I would go to the wire on this. Yes,you technically broke the terms and conditions of the contract BUT you were in possession of ID which proved beyond doubt you were the original purchaser. There should be flexibility in the system to allow for circumstances beyond control,loss,theft etc. A protocol should be in place.

I would await the response then sue through the CC if it is not favourable. From personal experience lots of companies will be obstructive down to the the time it will cost them money to defend their actions,then common sense suddenly prevails. Good luck.

isayoldchap

thescouselander wrote: »

Yes, I cant understand the attitude of some people on here. I thought this site was about helping each other but some seem to think its about gloating at other peoples misfortune.

Hi scouselander
You maybe agreeing with me but I'm not sure.
The reply given to me by the OP was a favourable one.The fact that he decides to not continue to use Virgin, be it by train or plane or whatever is a personal choice.
But if he decides to catch a plane from Gatwick in a year or so he may find it useful to know that Sir Richard could have bought into the operations.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/transport/2795584/Richard-Branson-weighs-up-2bn-bid-for-Gatwick.html

Maybe you don't think that my link to get 10% off was a useful one?

On the subject of 'attitude'.T&C are put in place for a reason.Unfortunately the word 'discretion' is sometimes removed from the argument.
I'm sorry but the OP has a valid argument.

I forgot to say welcome to MSE and a Happy New Year.Infact a Happy New Year to you all.(I'll forgive you if you may not have been helpful)


I do hope my posts can be of help

thescouselander

Yes

isayoldchap, I was agreeing with you.

Silent_Mule

Yes

bunking_off wrote: »

Did you ever ring the 0845 000 8000 number I suggested some weeks ago? Noticed that I didn't see any subsequent posts of "they sorted it out" or "they were equally useless".

OK, I have now spoken to VT Customer Relations. They have said that I should write in enclosing the original tickets, not forgetting to take copies and try the angle of the fact that I was not advised when talking to VT Customer Service that the fare would be so much more the next day (when the original fare was still available at time of calling).
The lady that I spoke to was polite but unapologetic saying that the reason that they have the policy that they have is "because the tickets are so cheap". She rated my chances of getting money back as "near zero" but said that the best avenue was to send a complain, apropos the above.
I will do this and give them 14 days (10 business days) to respond. In the meantime I shall be consuting m'learned friends about whether I can start legal proceedings based on unfair contract terms.
Happy New Year to all. _party_