trainline

aloise

lol, if the OP tries that they could get caught and done for fraud which i bet the OP doesn't want a criminal record.

How do you know i haven't already got a criminal record lol. Wouldn't borrow anybody's card, i would be a nervous wreck all over Christmas. Even if i made it one way still have to get home. Thats the reason I won't just go with my out-of-date card, to nervous or I might have tried that. Have decided to renew the card,( £50 boo hoo.) We will make sure we use it as much as possible before the year is out.
Opened a can of worms here didn't I. Expensive mistake, but a lesson well learned.
Thank you all. Especially for not calling me a silly old fart.

Jeff_Bridges_hair

have you posted in the right thread?

paddyrg

http://www.thetrainline.com/train-tickets/mobile-app/benefits.shtml

Just a bit of backup to my comment about no charges when using the Android App (no booking fee, no debit card fee) unless you use a credit card (at which point they charge a tasty £3.50)

Give it a try if you have a smartphone, it is one of the most useful apps on my phone even if just checking times and fare availability

techno12

paddyrg wrote: »

If they were Advance Single tickets...

As for buying from TheTrainLine, etc, they're fine. In fact TTL has by far the best Android app for tickets, they should all be this good.

I stopped using TheTrainline a few years ago after they sold me tickets that weren't valid for the journey I'd selected! I'd booked a train to London for a particular time and day, but when I got on the train the guard said that they weren't valid for that train (due to it not being 'via' a certain station or something). !!!!!!?!

Utterly useless and TheTrainline didn't want to know, telling me to check the T+C's on the ticket, but surely if you book the 1pm train from Birmingham to London you'd expect them to send ones that are valid for that 1pm train!

Now I just buy direct from the train operators via NationalRail. Cheaper too..

hansi

aloise wrote: »

I booked tickets with them, for 23rd Dec, 2 weeks ago with my Snr. rail card. I knew? the card was due up in january, and foolishly didn't even check it. Yesterday dh looked at his and realised they were due to expire 2 weeks before we go away. No problem, i thought. They must have come acroos this situation before. Rang this mornig to be informed that i would have to cancel the tickets with a £10 administration fee and rebook at a £15 higher cost for ordinary tickets. (the original ones were £33 )I don't mind the higher cost, Other than that renew
The Snr. rail cards which will be £50 and probley won;t be used again
as i won't be making this journey again in a hurry.
You would think they would have something in place so you could just pay the extra. I am not trying to con them, but that what it seems they do to their passengers.:mad:

You probably could have travelled on the ticket. I have bought online rail tickets against my valid senior card (through FGW) and I have never been asked to produce my Railcard on the journies. But sod's law being what it is,they probably would have wanted to see yours!:mad:

aloise

when we go from Liverpool to London, Hansi, we always have to show our card, but have never had to do so on the London to Buxted. Would give it a go but just before Christmas they might be a bit more vigilant.

hansi

I always get a reminder at least one month before my Railcard expires, so didn't the OP get one, or did he just disregard it?

aloise

hansi wrote: »

I always get a reminder at least one month before my Railcard expires, so didn't the OP get one, or did he just disregard it?

haven't had a reminder yet. Just my dh noticed it would be out of date. Checked on-line and found he was right. it expires 2 weeks before we go. I would hardly ignore a reminder when i wanted to book.

nearlyrich

I use The Trainline for tickets I either get free postage or go a bit early and collect at the station, the Virgin site charges the same prices for travel from Manchester to London in my experience. I used Red Spotted hanky last week as I could get still a First Class ticket nearer to date of travel for the same price as a standard open return.

Iainmg

For information and assistance to others:

By chance I checked the departure of the 06/11/11 13:55 service from Glasgow Central to Birmingham New Street on the National Rail Enquiries Web Site this morning after booking via theTrainline.com on Monday .



I found that there was no such service - even although I have tickets and a seat reservation! I immediately phoned Trainline to be told that I now must claim a refund and pay an extra £16(+£4.50 charges) to take a later (non direct) train. And pay for the return of the old tickets!



I am sure that this behaviour must be against the Sale of Goods act or the Distance Selling Regulations. On hearing this from the tele sales staff I spoke to a supervisor who would not book me on an alternative train unless I claimed a refund on the original (cancelled) ticket! (I've never heard of anyone paying more for the replacement of a faulty item bought in a high street shop!)



Because of this experience, I will be very reluctant to use Trainline again. My advise to others is to always check well in advance if your train is still running. It might also be better to book directly with the train operators. However on calling Virgin this morning - a very confused operator told me that if I booked with them they would refund the ticket price and allow be to rebook - i.e the same as the Trainline I think I might use the car the next time (not very green though!)