Any decent alternative to 'The Trainline' cowboys?

merlinthehappypig

Anyone know of any online train ticket booking companies other than the trainline or any of it's affiliates?

I booked some tickets earlier this evening online, specifying special delivery at an extra £6. The page confirmed I had selected this option, even asking me to check a box to confirm that I understood there would be a £6 charge. I got to the end & paid and the final confirmation said I had selected the Fasticket collection option, which I hadn't.

To cut a long and stressful story short, the badly named overseas 'customer care' line, on an 0870 number with no listed alternative on 'Saynoto0870', said it was my fault, refused to do anything about it even when I explained they were for my son who is 100 miles away. They said they couldn't alter it, but helpfully said I could cancel, but would get none of my £57 back. Apparently their website is 'excellent' and I must have pressed the wrong button, which is rubbish. As a result my son now has to travel over 200 miles tomorrow to pick up my debit card to get his tickets.

Rude and unhelpful, I will never use them again.

I've used Virgin's online system before, but they look identical booking systems and are presumably the same company?

Rant over - I feel a little better, but not much!

alanrowell

chriseast wrote: »

I've used Virgin's online system before, but they look identical booking systems and are presumably the same company?

It's the same basic software & database for all the Train Operating Companies, National Rail & thetrainline/qjump BUT they aren't the same company.

So just use any of the train operating companies and save yourself the "pleasure" of being charged to use a CC for a booking.

You may even get a special offer that saves you even more money

merlinthehappypig

Thanks Alan. I'm so hacked off, I just wanted to make sure they never got my money again!

Voyager2002

chriseast wrote: »

my son now has to travel over 200 miles tomorrow to pick up my debit card to get his tickets.

If there is any time to experiment, see what happens if you just give your son the confirmation code that was emailed after booking. The fast-ticket machines ask you to provide a credit/debit card for identification when collecting tickets, but this does NOT have to be the same card that was used to pay for them. I do not know whether he would be allowed to collect the tickets using his own card, but it is worth a try.

Another line of attack: before now, I have collected tickets from the station booking office when the machine let me down. I had to give them my booking code and I cannot remember whether I also gave them my card: I think not. At least he could explain the situation to a person in a booking office, or could try just giving the reference and handing over a card, presumably with the same surname as your one.

And you do know, I hope, that you can collect these tickets from any fast-ticket machine.

sparkymark_3

You should be able to obtain the tickets over the counter with the booking ref. and ID assuming you requested to collect from a location. Try this new site for ease of use. http://tickets.gner.co.uk/gner/en/journeyplanning/GnerWebTISHomePage

blindman

Geographical number (from saynoto0870)

01925 671729

I believe all the various web-sites (First Capital Connect, Scotrail etc) use the same back end database and software to show tickets etc.

I also believe the head office for all tickets bought on the 'net is in Edinburgh.

Very nice Scottish people.

You do not need the actual debit\credit card to collect the ticket. The reference is good enough.

I have never had a problem with any train 'net site :rolleyes:

merlinthehappypig

blindman wrote: »

You do not need the actual debit\credit card to collect the ticket. The reference is good enough.

Thanks for that. It would be helpful if their confirmation e-mail didn't say 'You must have the original debit/credit card with you to collect the ticket from the Fastticket machine' if it's not the case! I tried the alternative number you gave, but was told that was for refunds only, not other problems, but thanks anyway.

blindman

For future reference:

Another 'phone number 01925 671727

Some points from other postings and my experience.

Not all the web-sites show ALL the tickets-Well worth looking at a few different sites to see if there are cheaper ones 'missing'

GNER website gives 10% off some GNER tickets: It charges a 2% CC fee, no fee for Debit card.

Scotrail has a 50% sale every 6 months or so, (valid over ALL networks) well worth looking out for.

The FAST Ticket collections:
You need EITHER the card used or the reference number.

If you use the same debit\credit card that was used for the booking then when inserted into the machine it automatically spits out the tickets.

If you do not use the same card (You HAVE to put in a card to use these machines) then it will ask for the reference number.

trisontana

It's sometimes best to check fares on an actual train company's website. For instance at the moment GNER are offering £5 single fares . These are not mentioned if you try to book via the National Train Enquires website. They show £19 as the cheapest (return) fare.

Voyager2002

blindman wrote: »

Some points from other postings and my experience.

The FAST Ticket collections:
You need EITHER the card used or the reference number.

If you use the same debit\credit card that was used for the booking then when inserted into the machine it automatically spits out the tickets.

If you do not use the same card (You HAVE to put in a card to use these machines) then it will ask for the reference number.

It does not always work like this:

When I insert the same card that I used for buyin the tickets, it sometimes just gives me the tickets and sometimes asks for the reference number. So do NOT set out on a journey without that reference number!

When I use a card different from the one used to pay for the tickets, it certainly asks for the booking reference. However, I have had one experience when it rejected the card I used (which was of a totally different type than the one used for buying the tickets) and so I had to use a different card in order to get them. On that occasion, I think that on my second attempt I used the card with which I had made payment.

In short, a whole range of things might happen, but the OP should be able to resolve his problem. In any case, I hope so.

custardy

blindman wrote: »

Geographical number (from saynoto0870)

01925 671729

I believe all the various web-sites (First Capital Connect, Scotrail etc) use the same back end database and software to show tickets etc.

I also believe the head office for all tickets bought on the 'net is in Edinburgh.

Very nice Scottish people.

You do not need the actual debit\credit card to collect the ticket. The reference is good enough.

I have never had a problem with any train 'net site :rolleyes:

yup the office for trainline,virgin,gner etc is in edinburgh(well for refunds anyway).they get a fair amount of tickets returned as being too late as well