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

Stompa

miller wrote: »

I wondered if it was a browser thing, but Firefox and Internet Explorer still add the booking fee at the end of the process.

I was using Chrome. I've just tried a dummy booking, and the fee was shown today. So I don't know why it wasn't yesterday.

miller

Stompa wrote: »

I was using Chrome. I've just tried a dummy booking, and the fee was shown today. So I don't know why it wasn't yesterday.

I'm expecting an eVoucher from the Golf+GP points to be credited shortly so will try with that to see if it is payment related.

jimsweetman

I tried to go to Manchester last week and got the standard Virgin train outbound and a variety of return prices. I couldn't see how they differed so I clicked on one of them and got anytime etc so that seemed fine but in tiny print when I clicked the details button it was via Ely and I didn't see it. I thought return would be the same route!

Rung them straightaway and they charged me a tenner for the refund so minus points for customer service.

TaketheTrain worked fine and no charge.

miller

Further to previous, the booking fee disappears when selecting my voucher created from loyaty points.

I'll try and remember to check with clubcard ones when I get one.

Stompa

miller wrote: »

Further to previous, the booking fee disappears when selecting my voucher created from loyaty points.

Interesting. I only ever use vouchers, so with a bit of luck I'll never have to pay a booking fee!

Inigo_Montoya

miller wrote: »

Further to previous, the booking fee disappears when selecting my voucher created from loyaty points.

I'll try and remember to check with clubcard ones when I get one.

yes can confirm that too - didnt notice till today when saw booking fee 'disappear'

miller

My latest eVoucher (from clubcard) also works (thought possibly as notice of the change had been given before conversion it wouldn't).

There's nothing of course to say that this will remain the case (I expect it probably will though - potential claims of unilateral changes/unfair terms etc. etc. being applied to the vouchers makes it easier just not to charge the fee IMO).

Stompa

miller wrote: »

There's nothing of course to say that this will remain the case (I expect it probably will though - potential claims of unilateral changes/unfair terms etc. etc. being applied to the vouchers makes it easier just not to charge the fee IMO).

FWIW I note that it says here:

http://www.redspottedhanky.com/frequently-asked-questions/e-vouchers/

Can I use my e-vouchers to pay for a booking fee?
Yes, your e-voucher can be applied to the entire cost of your booking including any fees.

pb8770

Don't know why anybody would want to buy tickets from 3rd party sites. If you book direct with the operator you don't have any booking fees or admin charges (99% of the time), that's why Red spotted hanky, trainline etc charge admin fees because they won't make anything out of it otherwise.

trukdiver

pb8770 wrote: »

Don't know why anybody would want to buy tickets from 3rd party sites. If you book direct with the operator you don't have any booking fees or admin charges (99% of the time), that's why Red spotted hanky, trainline etc charge admin fees because they won't make anything out of it otherwise.

Red Spotted Hanky had been operating for a few years without booking fees. You can double up clubcard points and spend them on train tickets, which made it a good deal.

Even without the booking fee, they would still have been making something out of it because they would have taken commission on the sale of the ticket from the rail operator.