Transpennine Refund Scam! - Please can someone help!

designerhaylz

Hi everyone! :idea:

I would be very grateful if someone could please help me with the following. I was delayed by 2.5 hours from Newcastle to Dewsbury last month because a criminal 'nicked the train lines'. The train was not only delayed, but I then had to change at York and continue my journey standing up (eventhough i had booked a seat). I finally arrived in Dewsbury at 23.30pm, alone after missing my last bus. I then paid for a taxi which was only £3 and arrived home at 23.45pm (which was eventually 2.45hrs late).
After talking to a TPExpress on the phone, the gentleman told me to send the tickets with an application and I would be reimbursed....

Well that didnt happen and they wrote me a letter saying they would not refund the tickets or taxi, or take any responsibility for leaving a young woman alone at night.

I now have no idea what to do. I have copies of the tickets and taxi fare (originals sent to TPExpress as requested), and im left with a very bitter taste in my mouth. Companies these days have no conscience!!!!

Please can anyone help, as I honestly have no idea what to do. I assumed that any delay over 30mins would be refunded.

DesignerHaylz

McKneff

Did they tell you why they would not reimburse you.
Dont assume, look it up on the website about reimbursements and if you are correct write to them with the facts.
Also, may i say that booking a seat is no guarantee that you will get one.
(All the seats on the train at York may have all been prebooked which is why you had to stand) (I remember once this happened to me, many years ago and i pushed a coat up my front and soon got a seat) Yes, naughty i know but i was knackered

While i have every sympathy with what happened to you and if you dont get anywhere, enjoy the few conversations and laughs yu will have with your mates telling them about someone pinching the train tracks, that must be worth a few quid. Look at the funny side and get on with your life and dont use Transpennine again. (and write and tell them so)

designerhaylz

I'm going to try that coat trick!
As for not using TP, they are the biggest train company in W Yorkshire! I wish I didn't have to use them, but its inevitable!
Their flouncy letter was that it was due to vandalism that i was delayed, and I must be honest i have never claimed ever... even though the majority of my Newcastle to Dewsbury trains are delayed, baring in mind that my ticket was £15 and taxi £3, dont you think leaving a woman in their mid 20's alone at 11.30pm is bad enough? Especially with all the bad press Dewsbury is getting at present.

I think I might have to swallow my pride and move on..... reluctantly.

DH

robt_2

Firstly, I have no idea at all why you are using the word 'scam'?

The official line is that what happened was not within the companies control, therefore it is not their fault (whether people agree with that or not is for a different thread). That is set out by National Rail, and not the company who operates the train.

I don't think that being a young female will make any difference to your complaint, nor should it IMO, that seems like a cheap stunt to get some sympathy.

One more thing - £3 for a 15 minute taxi ride after 11pm?? Maybe Dewsbury is not that bad afterall!

designerhaylz

I use the word 'scam' loosely.

I must admit that even with the vandalism being 'out of their control' there are certain measures in place to ensure things like this are rectified quicker than a 2.5 hour delay.

Also there was no need at that time of night to change trains at York other than the assumption that there were 'staff shortages'. Is this therefore TP's fault?? Perhaps????

I am not complaining that the service was interrupted, more to the fact that if i had wanted to change trains I would have not have paid more for a direct route.

And on another note, Dewsbury is not that bad... its like most places... I would just prefer not to be left at a deserted station alone at that time of night whether I was male or female....



DH

designerhaylz

PS - Taxi ride was £3 and wasn't 15 min, I obviously had to wait for it to arrive. lol sorry to disappoint
DH

alanrowell

I can't see where you are victim of a "scam" or even "rip off".

You had a contract with the train company to get you to a certain train station. This they did. End of argument.

If the delay had been caused by the train company then you would have been eligible for compensation because it was late but it wasn't, so you aren't.

Just to add, a year ago I ended up at Leeds station after the last connecting train had left because of a late running service. I was given a free 20 mile taxi ride to my final destination AND a full refund on my ticket

designerhaylz

alanrowell wrote: »

I can't see where you are victim of a "scam" or even "rip off".

You had a contract with the train company to get you to a certain train station. This they did. End of argument.

If the delay had been caused by the train company then you would have been eligible for compensation because it was late but it wasn't, so you aren't.

Just to add, a year ago I ended up at Leeds station after the last connecting train had left because of a late running service. I was given a free 20 mile taxi ride to my final destination AND a full refund on my ticket

Hi Alan,
Was it TPexpress who gave you this? And why was the service running late?
DH

debsy42

I had a similar thing happe with Virgin when the train was delayed due to the police coming on board at Stoke and arresting a man. This meant we arrived to Euston long after all the tubes had stopped. To Virgins credit they organised taxis for everybody that wanted one and, although I had to share with a couple of others, I got home safe and sound. I was really impressed that they sorted everybody out and didn't just wash their hands of us as soon as we all got off the train.