Expired HSBC Young Person's Railcard

Jamp

Hi All

Just a note to say that if you opted for a free railcard when you took out an HSBC student account, make sure it hasn't expired. Mine was a 4 year card and expired on Monday. Unfortunately I completely forgot and travelled to London with a YP ticket on Tuesday.

The rude and aggressive ticket conductor on Midland Mainline made me buy a full priced single to the first station where I bought a new railcard, then on the next train they said my original ticket was now invalid so I had to buy a full priced single the rest of the way! It cost me £50 in new tickets, plus £20 for a new railcard (fair enough) and £8 for the original ticket.

I know it was my own fault that I forgot about the card expiring, but surely a more reasonable approach would have been to charge me the difference to a normal adult's advanced fare (about £4), or ensure I buy a new railcard when I arrived in London.

I have written to complain as I think the conductors must have been breifed that a lot of the HSBC cards had just expired (all of my friends' cards expired the same day) and instructed to take full advantage :mad: I'm also angry about their staff's unproffessional attitude.

Hope no one else gets caught out the same way.

tazz233

Gosh thats sucks! I always find midland mainline staff to be very friendly. A woman sitting opposite me had lost her ticket and they were really nice to her about it! Why wasn't your original ticket valid with your new railcard? At least the fare to begin with was cheap! A full priced YP return to london can be £35 but Ive found it online for £8.

tazz233

Its £20 for one year and it gives 1/3 to 1/2 half price off train tickets (depending on the train company u use it with) and it takes maybe 5 minutes to get one? You just need to take a passport photo and proof of age (passport etc) to your local train stationand fill in a form with your address details and thats it!

or if you open a student account you can get a 5 year railcard for free with the Natwest.

tazz233

If you buy it at the train station you can use it straight away! :T

u2o

im assuming it was a MML Advance ticket that you originally bought?

the reason why the original ticket didnt work on your journey after buying the YP card would be because MML Advance ticket can only be used for the booked train.

i know it sucks in situation like this though. Natwest are yet to send me my new YP card :@

rhig

A tip for when you get your replacement card, do not keep the receipt in the wallet you are given with the card, if you lose your card you need the receipt to get a replacement without paying another £20.

I never read the leaflet so just put it in the wallet then lost mine a week later its odd you really have to provide proof of purchase for a replacement card, surely they keep a record of your purchase. One day I’ll bother to request any data the company has on me to find out, surely they can't charge more than an admin fee for printing another card.

Bella_b

I got mine in 2003, and it says it will expire on 03 Sep 08! still 2 years left.. I use it all the time.. but they hardly ever ask to see it on trains when I show the conductors' my ticket!

paramonkey

i believe you can now get a YP Railcard on the internet. If u can upload a passport pic taken with a digital camera..im presuming so, then u will be able to save the £3-£4 on a photo booth thingy.

Michael.
Just enrolled on my fith year as a student..eek!

KishCash

I never knew HSBC were giving out free young person railcards...I opened my account 2 years ago do you think I can still claim one?

lellie

KishCash wrote:

I never knew HSBC were giving out free young person railcards...I opened my account 2 years ago do you think I can still claim one?

you can't.. you had to get it before they lost the tender 2 years ago (04 entry.. ).. natwest have it now.