collecting train tickets at the station

Forgetful

Does anyone know... I need to buy train tickets for my son to collect at Coventry.... Does he need my credit card to collect the ticket or will he be able to use his own credit card... but I have paid for it online using my credit card???
thanks

dzug1

Reports on this are inconsistent - some to the effect that any card can be used in conjunction with the booking reference, others that only the card used to make the booking will work


Easier to send him the cash so he can buy it himself. Or if time collect it yourself and post it to him.

Browntoa

I've always had to put the credit card I ordered with in the machine to collect them

trukdiver

Forgetful wrote: »

Does anyone know... I need to buy train tickets for my son to collect at Coventry.... Does he need my credit card to collect the ticket or will he be able to use his own credit card... but I have paid for it online using my credit card???
thanks

He needs your card, because that was the one used to pay for the ticket. Otherwise, contact customer services to make other arrangements.

"When you reach the station and find a ticket machine, you’ll need to enter the reference number you were given when you made your booking, so remember to print your confirmation and bring it with you. This will enable the ticket machine to find your booking on the reservation system and print your tickets. You will also need the credit card you purchased the ticket with online, if that card has expired or is lost, you need to contact customer services to arrange collection."

trukdiver

dzug1 wrote: »

Easier to send him the cash so he can buy it himself. Or if time collect it yourself and post it to him.

You can also get the rail company to post it themselves.

agrinnall

Although I haven't done it myself I strongly believe that if the tickets are being collected from a machine then all that is required is the booking reference and any card. That's certainly the implication from the machines I've used recently, and I'm pretty sure that the one at Aberdeen station has a notice saying that explicitly.

Collecting from the ticket office window might be a bit more difficult, as I think the agent could ask to see the card, but my experience has been that they never do want to and they just want it inserted into the Chip & PIN terminal (without needing to enter the PIN).

comeandgo

When I've had to collect tickets it is the actual card that was used to pay the tickets that's needed.

geerex

agrinnall wrote: »

Although I haven't done it myself I strongly believe that if the tickets are being collected from a machine then all that is required is the booking reference and any card. That's certainly the implication from the machines I've used recently, and I'm pretty sure that the one at Aberdeen station has a notice saying that explicitly.

Collecting from the ticket office window might be a bit more difficult, as I think the agent could ask to see the card, but my experience has been that they never do want to and they just want it inserted into the Chip & PIN terminal (without needing to enter the PIN).

Incorrect. It must be the card which was used in the first instance. Other cards MAY work, but remember there are a number of different train companies which all use different machines/software so what will work on one may not work on another.

yorkie2

Actually, since last Summer, any card can be used for collection.

People who say it must be the same card are out of date, however a word of caution: it may change again, without notice!

trukdiver

yorkie2 wrote: »

Actually, since last Summer, any card can be used for collection.

People who say it must be the same card are out of date, however a word of caution: it may change again, without notice!

It looks like the rail companies' own websites are out of date:

http://www.virgintrains.co.uk/routes-stations/fastticket/

http://www.eastmidlandstrains.co.uk/frequently-asked-questions/

http://www.rail.co.uk/train-tickets/collection/

Is there some other confirmation that any card can be used?

tripled

My experience is that any card can be used, however I don't go out of my way to use different booking site/ticket machine/credit card combinations. Yorkie2's advice is usually pretty solid though.

Can't you just transfer your son the money to sort himself out? That's usually the easiest solution

Edit: Just to add, another work around the card (non?) issue previously mentioned on this forum is to buy your son East Coast vouchers. He or you can then buy his ticket using the vouchers and there is no link to a credit card, so any card can be used irrespective of any restrictions or not that may exists. If you have Tesco Clubcard vouchers sitting around, you can do the same using Red Spotted Hanky vouchers.