Lied to by train conductor - please help!

seedlessgrape

Hi everyone.

I'm a student who was on a Birmingham to Cardiff train a few weeks ago to see my girlfriend. It was the first time I'd forgotten my young persons railcard. When the conductor came around, I realised this and he said I'd have to pay the excess. I was obviously not 100% happy but realised it was just his job nevertheless and so gave him my debit card.

Now here's where it gets interesting. He said to me "Oh, you get a refund of the amount I charge you - just go to any station with the receipt and show them your railcard. They'll refund you in full!". It took me about an hour to pay as his wireless unit went down (?) and I was then told to wait whilst he took my card into another cabin. He came back and said he needed to call the bank to authorise. So I let him go with my card for another 30 mins (trusted his uniform). I then had to sign something when he gave me my receipt and asked again "So, this is what I show to the person at the station?" and he said "Yeah, then they'll give you a full refund for the excess" he then moved on.

Well, I tried to get my refund at both Birmingham and Cardiff stations... both told me I wasn't entitled to it and that the conductor had told me a load of bull**** to get me to pay. Obviously I'm fuming right now. I'm a student, I was offering to pay anyway - so why feed me such a lie? Now I'm also worrying about my card details. If he lied to me about something like that, he could've easily have written down my card details. I really didn't expect such treatment from the rail service.

Can anyone offer and advice or tell me where I can complain? I really don't want him to get away with this, I also want my £15 back. I'm not sure what company/body employs the conductors? I know the following details:

Friday, 25 September 2009 *Birmingham Stations 20:30 to Cardiff Central

Conductor name was Paul.

Please help.

Anihilator

Well he probably didnt lie.

He probably geenuinely thought you were entitled to a refund of the difference. Grow uup and stop complaining as no harm was done at all.

You forgot your card and paid full price as you needed too.

As for the rest. Yes he could have but in all likiehood didnt and was just being frustrated at a hard day of system failure.

seedlessgrape

Anihilator wrote: »

Well he probably didnt lie.

He probably geenuinely thought you were entitled to a refund of the difference. Grow uup and stop complaining as no harm was done at all.

You forgot your card and paid full price as you needed too.

As for the rest. Yes he could have but in all likiehood didnt and was just being frustrated at a hard day of system failure.

If he didn't lie - he's a pretty bad rail conductor thinking people will get a refund when they clearly won't? Also, I spoke to him during the hour or so he was watching me, he said he'd been doing the job for 2 years. So think about how many people he's supplied false information to? The people at the station sort of told me it's more a 'trick' which the conductors do to get you to pay.

malkie76

I think you are entitled to a refund, however I don't think you can get it at a station. I believe you have to post your receipt off with a copy of your railcard to the issuer. Give them a call and ask - seems like the wrong information you received was from the station, not the conductor.

I know that's what my better half does when she forgets her season ticket on her rail route.

I guess you'll remember and be doubly-sure you have your railcard in the future!

AirlieBird

It's all very clearly explained on the 16-25railcard site.

5. Will I have to pay the full fare if I forget to bring my Railcard when I travel?
Yes. You must show your valid Railcard and Photocard when you buy your ticket. You also need to have your Railcard and Photocard with you on each journey and present it to staff when your ticket is checked aboard the train. Failure to present both your Railcard and Photocard will mean you have to pay a full fare, which is not refundable.

Hintza

What help do you want? You have posted on here without having the good sense to at least read the terms and conditions of the contract you agreed to when you purchased your young persons rail card.

Which you should have read before paying for the railcard. Now I will accept that most of us never do this and frantically read it when we are in situations like you are in.

Unfortunately that's life and all lifes lessons have a cost. Thank yourself lucky yours was only a few £. Many people in your age group pay a higher price than that especially if they are for example driving a car.

sandford6016

I would be more concerned about the fact he walked off with my card for so long! It's probably cloned now and doing the rounds in London!!

Should never let your cards leave your sight these days!

davkel

i don't think you r entitled to refund,if you don't have your railcard with you and have pay full fare.it happen to me with disability card.i had tickets forgot card.conductor had the right to charge me full fare let alone just the difference.the conductor as stated proberly did't know.no harm done.you get forms from which ever train company you with.don't think you get far cos you the one who forgot card

Quentin

To stop losing sleep that your card has been cloned (which you handed over of your own free will!):

Cut it up, put it in the bin and phone your card issuer and tell them you have lost it. They will issue a new one with a new number which you won't have to worry about till the next time you give it to someone and watch them walk off with it!