Season tickets and refunds

ricky_v

Hello,

I'll be starting a new job soon and decided to opt for the train.

The job is initially on a 6 months rolling contract so there's a possibility that I'll only be there for 6 months for any reason. Just to clarify if I was to loose my job at the 6 month point would I beable to get a refund that is half of the value of the annual ticket minus £10 admin charge? As I've only used half of the pass so to speak.

I ask because it costs nearly £200 more to get 2x 6 month passes than 1 annual. In the T+C's it states that I will get half back but then goes on about not being able to pro-rata the refund and the pass loosing it's value after 10 1/2 months.

Also it states that I need a photocard with the pass. Would my 16-25 railcard count as a photocard for the season ticket or will I have to get new pictures?

Many thanks

DomRavioli

Why not contact the rail company who run the service in your area, and ask for it in writing?

Would make sense, coming straight from them - as far as I know you can't without penalty (forfeiting some or all of the cash owed back) - why not get monthly ones?

And no, your 16-25 railcard wouldn't be a photo card for it, it is specifically for season tickets. Its free to get, take the form and a photo to a main line station with a fully operational ticket office (details are online of which can do on site) or send off, and they send you it back.

wealdroam

ricky_v wrote: »

Hello,

I'll be starting a new job soon and decided to opt for the train.

The job is initially on a 6 months rolling contract so there's a possibility that I'll only be there for 6 months for any reason. Just to clarify if I was to loose my job at the 6 month point would I beable to get a refund that is half of the value of the annual ticket minus £10 admin charge? As I've only used half of the pass so to speak.

I ask because it costs nearly £200 more to get 2x 6 month passes than 1 annual. In the T+C's it states that I will get half back but then goes on about not being able to pro-rata the refund and the pass loosing it's value after 10 1/2 months.

Season ticket refunds are not done in a pro rata manner.

Can you imagine a traveller requiring a one month ticket.
If he bought an annual ticket, and got a 11/12ths refund, he would make a massive saving.

From the National Rail Enquiries Season Ticket Conditions webpage:

Any refund is calculated from the date the Season Ticket was handed in. It will be the difference between the price you paid and the cost of a ticket or tickets for the period for which you have actually used the ticket, plus an administration charge. Because of the discounts on longer term Season Tickets, refunds are not made pro rata to the periods before/after surrender and Annual Season Tickets have no refund value after about 10 1/2 months.

ricky_v

Many thanks it would of been nice to get half the money back on an annual pass. I'll certainly email the TOC to get clarification from the horses mouth but it does look like I'll be getting 6 month passes until the contract becomes permament.

wealdroam

ricky_v wrote: »

Many thanks it would of been nice to get half the money back on an annual pass. I'll certainly email the TOC to get clarification from the horses mouth but it does look like I'll be getting 6 month passes until the contract becomes permament.

Which TOC?

Why do you not consider National Rail Enquiries to be 'the horses mouth'?
They do say on their About National Rail Enquiries webpage:

We are the definitive source of customer information for all passenger rail services on the National Rail network in England, Wales and Scotland. NRE is part of the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC), which is responsible for providing business services to the Train Operating Companies.

laird

With the exception of the £10 admin charge you should never end up worse off by purchasing the annual season.
Potentially you may also get some benefits in the mean time from the specific train operating company. (Gold Card if in the South East of England, Advance membership in Scotland etc.)
And lets hope the rolling contract becomes more permanent in which case you'll be pleased with paying the 11 months for 12 of travel!

Jeff_Bridges_hair

OP - you wont have to pay £10 for a season ticket refund.

The problem you will encounter is that when you purchase an annual ticket you are actually getting a discount - you pay only for 40 weeks travel but you get 52.

Are you entitled to any leave whilst you start your new job? will you only be working mon-fri or does it include weekend working?

ricky_v

wealdroam wrote: »

Which TOC?

Why do you not consider National Rail Enquiries to be 'the horses mouth'?
They do say on their About National Rail Enquiries webpage:

It's Northern Rail, I've read the T+C's on national rail and the T+C's you've kindly provided however it states that,

"It will be the difference between the price you paid and the cost of a ticket or tickets for the period for which you have actually used the ticket, plus an administration charge".

Which tells me that if you hand in an annual ticket half way through the year then the refund is based on the remainder of the time left on the ticket, minus the admin charge, but then it goes on to state,

"refunds are not made pro rata to the periods before/after surrender and Annual Season Tickets have no refund value after about 10 1/2 months".

Which, to me, says that refunds are not made pro rata, which completely contradicts the first bit. Forgive me but I don't find it very clear.

Are you entitled to any leave whilst you start your new job? will you only be working mon-fri or does it include weekend working?

I've not had the contract of employment yet (only the offer letter). What I do know is the wage and it's weekday working. I'm fairly sure I get leave. It is unfortunate in a way that the cost of a return ticket is <£12 otherwise I'd just use the railcard. The railcard being invalid for tickets costing <£12 before 10am.

Many thanks.

System

"It will be the difference between the price you paid and the cost of a ticket or tickets for the period for which you have actually used the ticket, plus an administration charge".

Which tells me that if you hand in an annual ticket half way through the year then the refund is based on the remainder of the time left on the ticket, minus the admin charge, but then it goes on to state,

To me it means that they will take what you paid and subtract the cost of the tickets for the used period and that is what you get. for example you use it for 6 months so they deduct the cost of a 6 month season ticket (which is greater than half a yearly ticket) for the unused period and you get the remainder.

p00hsticks

!!!!!! wrote: »

To me it means that they will take what you paid and subtract the cost of the tickets for the used period and that is what you get. for example you use it for 6 months so they deduct the cost of a 6 month season ticket (which is greater than half a yearly ticket) for the unused period and you get the remainder.

Yes, that's my understanding of how it works as well. Which means that if the OPs contract finishes after six months he'll end up paying exactly the same for a six monthly season that he would after getting a refund on an annual season.


Whereas if his contract is renewed for another six months, he'll have been better off with an annual season ticket that with two six monthly ones.


So my advice to the op would be to go for the annual season ticket if he has the cash to hand. You'll need a new photocard I think, as it will have a number that goes onto the annual season ticket - it's not the same as a railcard.

wealdroam

p00hsticks wrote: »

Yes, that's my understanding of how it works as well. Which means that if the OPs contract finishes after six months he'll end up paying exactly the same for a six monthly season that he would after getting a refund on an annual season.

Except of course if a refund is sought on the annual ticket, then a £10 admin fee is payable... which might well be insignificant, but needs to be considered.