'Red Spotted Hanky' introducing new fee's on bookings.

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SachsGoldman wrote: »

I just have a major issue with anyone who says they are committed top being totally honest and transparent with their customers and sends them an emails saying there's a new charge with immediate effect. I'd have thought transparent and honest meant giving a month's notice.

hardly dishonest telling you about a fee before it is charged

lpgm

Titling the email 'Changes to our website' was misleading though.

Moneymash

Just a £1 fee! I have to buy up to 6 individual tickets a month, so that's an extra £6. I also have to buy weekly season tickets which I can't get from RSH, so there is no longer any point in me using them.

My individual ticket prices have already gone up by 40p a journey and this is yet another increase. Takethetrain.com or London Midland will get my business from now on.

Not such a smart move RSH.

Highview

I had a shocking recent experience with Red Spotted Hanky's customer service and am so glad that they are now going to deter lots of other customers!!

miller

wealdroam wrote: »

In particular, when booking Southern's Advance Singles way before travel (to get the best price), if I decide not to travel a day or so before travel (when I would normally collect the TOD tickets), I can get a full refund.

I read on another forum that Southern Advances are no longer included. A quick look at their website confirms that (as well as other TOCs Advances which was always the case).

miller

John_Raileasy wrote: »

Rail "industry" costs have been going down this year very slightly, not rising, so that bit of their press release is questionable. As is their claim about savings only available with them, they don't do split ticketing and that is where the biggest savings are.

Why does Raileasy have a booking fee then? A customer can do their own split ticketing with any site, if they use one of the tools available on MSE or elsewhere, or indeed by asking the question on the MSE forums where a lot of "regulars" including myself help out.

Lets not forget all channels/websites etc. get a significant percentage of any ticket price, around the 8% mark before we fetch the violins.

My advice to anyone would be to steer clear of sites using booking fees and head straight to your TOC website via Quidco/Topcashback etc. first

TOC - train operating company, this interactive map gives a general idea of who that is likely to be:
http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/tocs_maps/tocs/TrainOperators.aspx

wealdroam

miller wrote: »

I read on another forum that Southern Advances are no longer included. A quick look at their website confirms that (as well as other TOCs Advances which was always the case).

Oh dear.

Seems like they are all increasing charges or reducing benefits one way or another.

InA

Does anyone know if RSH have also removed short distance journeys (under £10)? Tried to book yesterday and although the scheduled trains were all present and correct in the timetables section of the site, I kept getting a message telling me no fares could be found! Tried again with a long distance journey and had no problem.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

What ever happened to that novel idea of using the station booking office?

I still prefer that route and it keeps railway staff employed.

Granted I don't think you can buy the "advance fare you can only use the train specified" ticket but that doesn't bother me as I prefer a more flexible saver ticket as I am not disciplined enough to be at a station by a certain time, train and so on. I do have a railcard though giving me 33% off.

A_Flock_Of_Sheep

John_Raileasy wrote: »

Fair enough, each to their own as they say. The problem is though the huge differences in price between booking advance tickets a long time in advance and turning up and buying a walk on ticket.

I guess but for me I don't know that I will need to travel from Penrith to London or Penrith to Penzance this time in ten weeks time. Not sure how people can be so organised to have a longcast of their lives mapped out.

For shorter trips I don't think there is much difference. I have never been able to find a Penrith to Lancaster or Penrith to Carlisle ticket online that isn't the same type of "day return" I can get at the booking office.

The advance fares that are so sensationally cheap are too restrictive as they tie you to a set train and route and time and day. If I go away say to my Sister's I sometimes like to stay on so the beauty of a Saver with the return portion valid for one month is much better. Also it is not uncommon for me to end up visiting friends on the way home as you can break your journey with a Saver ticket on the way back. So I can visit my Sis, stay on if I want then on the way back get off at Bletchley and visit an old schoolfriend. Call off in Birmingham to look round the Bull ring as make my way back. That really is good value for money to me.