Expired HSBC Young Person's Railcard

Jamp

Hi All

[I've also posted this in the Students forum, but want to make sure anyone that might be affected doesn't make the same mistake as me, and highlight Midland Mainline's draconian policies to fine students as much as possible.]

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. I'm also angry about their staff's unproffessional attitude.

Hope no one else gets caught out the same way.

cundall

This happened to me too though slightly different as i left my card at home and same responce from the staff though i have left my card a few times only once was it a problem...