national express train driver strike :(

pippitypip_2

markt, I do know you can def claim back full refund for the 2 days (the equivalent if season ticket) but not sure how..

pippitypip

sammyw

Can i claim for my wasted theatre, O2 tickets and unused hotel rooms?

sarah_elton

sammyw wrote: »

Can i claim for my wasted theatre, O2 tickets and unused hotel rooms?

Sammy,

At the moment, the train strikes are still on. I spoke to National Express regarding my theatre tickets for Friday night, and they said that while they will refund my season ticket they will not cover any consequential loss.

I have listed my theatre tickets on eBay, with the auction finishing tomorrow afternoon. If the strikes are called off by then, I will cancel the listing. If not, I'll sell them for whatever I can get as any alternative route home from the theatre will be very long, and I'd rather lose out on a bit of money and rebook for another time.

There are trains running if the strikes go ahead. Last week, there was one Intercity and one slow train an hour, which should both go from Colchester, so you could get one of those if you can get there. One thing to note is that the last train out of Liverpool Street was 7pm, and given the number of workers trying to travel it would be advisable not to try and get on it. People who did travel said to get there early (e.g. one guy I know got on the 6pm departure from Liverpool Street at 5:20 and got a seat, but by the time it left it was rammed).

The other alternative is to drive to a C2C station (e.g. Upminster). Parking is very limited during the week so you would have to get there early.

If none of the alternative arrangements work for you, the only option is to cancel what you can and try and sell other tickets to recoup as much of your money as possible.

I am so wound up about it. :mad: I wish I could take National Express through the small claims court for the difference between what I sell my tickets for and what they cost. Their trains home stop at 7pm and the show finishes about 10:30pm. But I think they'd just say that I could have used the C2C line and then driven or got a taxi the rest of the way (at least doubling my total journey time).

pippitypip_2

sarah_elton wrote: »

But I think they'd just say that I could have used the C2C line and then driven or got a taxi the rest of the way (at least doubling my total journey time).

AND adding to your costs, i.e. petrol or worst case taxi!

This strike action is a complete and utter joke in this environment, more than at any other time.

All those unemployed and the rest of us lucky enough to still have jobs but no payrise and these idiots are already turning down an above inflation payrise!

I'm torn, I don't want NE to give in, under ANY circumstances but can only assume they will keep striking until they get what they want.

Maybe you could try taking the Union through small claims?! Not gonna happen I know, but it is so frustrating.

I can work from home, so it doesn't affect me too badly but I really feel for you and others with plans and expensive losses, as well as those who are forced to take holiday days etc.

Grrrrrrrrrrr :mad::mad::mad::mad::mad:

Here's hoping this week's strikes are called off.

pippitypip

sarah_elton

Agree with everything you say pippity! I was on BBC Look East on Thursday complaining.

Apparently Bob Crowe was at Liverpool Street station on Thursday, standing around laughing with some of the drivers. If I'd travelled I'd have found it hard to resist throwing something at him.:mad:

The people this really hurts are the customers who pay the drivers' wages. Disrupting two working days a week for four weeks is just ludicrous.

pippitypip_2

For those wanting to claim back on season tickets:

http://www.nationalexpresseastanglia.com/commuter/strike_claims
Strike Action Refund Claims

Holders of Monthly and Annual Season Tickets who were unable to travel will be entitled to claim a refund for days affected by strike action.
A specific claims form will be available via this website once the industrial action has ended.
This will enable us to process refunds as quickly and accurately as possible.
Please note:

Delay Repay forms will not be accepted for claims relating to strike action.

:rolleyes:

pippitypip

surreysaver

sarah_elton wrote: »

The people this really hurts are the customers who pay the drivers' wages. Disrupting two working days a week for four weeks is just ludicrous.

No. Taxpayers pay the drivers' wages - customers' money goes in the shareholders' pockets.

pippitypip_2

surreysaver wrote: »

No. Taxpayers pay the drivers' wages - customers' money goes in the shareholders' pockets.

Indeed - exactly! We all pay twice, as customer AND as taxpayers!

pippitypip

sammyw

I see on the bbc essex website that another union will be striking next week Not looking likely that it will be called off. Is it too late to sell my tickets if they are for this friday?

sarah_elton

Sammy - it will be tight but is do-able. You would have do it now, use a 24 hour eBay listing and tell bidders they must pay immediately when the auction ends. Then, you could post tickets to them using special delivery tomorrow afternoon, and they would arrive on Thursday morning (if they get held up, though special delivery shouldn't, they would at least get them Friday morning). Link to my auction is below, where I had to explain something similar.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Priscilla-Queen-of-the-Desert-Fri-7th-Aug-2-x-Stalls_W0QQitemZ230363018773QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Tickets_Tickets_LE?hash=item35a2b4b615&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

There should be a skeleton service running this Thursday/Friday, as there was last week. Is there any way you can get to Colchester station? Can anyone give you a lift?

The news is reporting that if the third union does join in from next week as currently planned, no trains will run at all. :mad: