Can a train company force me to do a minimum payment on card?

phillai

Yesterday, I did my usual train route but for once I was asked by the train conductor if I had any cash to pay for the £1.70 train fare.

I said no (as I always pay by debit card) and I was told that very soon, I will have to bring cash as they are introducing a minimum payment on card.

This has had me pretty annoyed for the rest of the day thinking about this.

What are my rights here? I have always paid my train fares by debit card!

Andy_L

The company can impose a minimum spend limit on card payments, or refuse to accept anything other than cash

WickedWolfie

Andy_L wrote: »

The company can impose a minimum spend limit on card payments, or refuse to accept anything other than cash

Under English and Welsh law indeed they can. HOWEVER, whther to do so is consistent with the National Rail Conditions of Carriage which govern all rail franchises is a somewhat different thing! I suspect complaints to an MP over refusal to accept a perfectly valid means of payment due to company rules would soon force a rethink; I certainly think a company trying to pursue court action for non-payment of fares while operating such a rule would find itself in media dn very possibly court hot-water....

Jeff_Bridges_hair

WickedWolfie wrote: »

Under English and Welsh law indeed they can. HOWEVER, whther to do so is consistent with the National Rail Conditions of Carriage which govern all rail franchises is a somewhat different thing! I suspect complaints to an MP over refusal to accept a perfectly valid means of payment due to company rules would soon force a rethink; I certainly think a company trying to pursue court action for non-payment of fares while operating such a rule would find itself in media dn very possibly court hot-water....

Maybe not. I do know some companies who do not let you use an electron card,especially when buying on train where you can so I'm not sure your argument is valid.

Remember you can't pay for everything with a card in every shop let alone those you can without spending a minimum.

The NCoC spell out nothing about minimum card payments for TOC acceptance.

phillai

What happens if they ask me to pay and I genuinely have no cash but I can pay on (any type of) card?

Can I say that I refuse to pay the minimum payment and ask for the T's and C's?

Owain_Moneysaver

I do not see any provision in the National Conditions of Carriage which could require you to pay more than the ticket price, whether this is a minimum payment or a surcharge for using a payment card.

The train companies do make some restrictions on the cards they accept, but not on the basis of value. In the case of solo/electron this is because some train company systems do not support instantaneous verification of the payment which is required as an anti-fraud measure by the banks.

kerby_crawler

Owain_Moneysaver wrote: »

I do not see any provision in the National Conditions of Carriage which could require you to pay more than the ticket price, whether this is a minimum payment or a surcharge for using a payment card

I guess the ticket price and the card surcharge could be regarded as two separate items, and the customer would be free to choose whether he/she required both services (one for the train ticket, and one for using a card), or just the ticket on it's own.

Do the National Conditions of Carriage specify which currency? I guess the OP could rock up with a few rupees or euros etc and insist that he/she was offering no less than the ticket price.

Lots of places charge extra to pay by debit card for small amounts, but on the railways I would have thought that security issues would favour the use of cards - was security not part of the thinking behind the introduction of the Oyster card?

maninthestreet

£1.70? Surely it's within your capabilities to have that amount of cash on your person??

thefishdude

just take some cash its not really a hard problem to solve this is it now ? in fact it would be quicker to pay cash then stick card in and enter pin.

its £1.70 thats it.

pinkladyof66

i would be embarrassed to get my card out to pay £1.70 what has the world come too. Surely you could have £1.70 cash at the ready !!!

LimeLight

I would understand not having the money if it was an unexpected journey, but a regular trip??