Senior Railcard rip off 8 February 2021 at 12:04PM in Public transport & cycling 23 replies 1.8K views

Scubafill

I haven't used my Senior Rail Card for over a year now mainly because of the risk of Coronavirus and government lockdown.
I asked for a refund or an extension for the unused card, this is the reply from Railcard

There must be thousands of Railcards which have been paid for and not used
I hope Martin and his team can highlight this rip off

Hi Phil

Thanks for taking the time to write to us, I understand that you recently contacted us to ask whether there would be any extensions or refunds to your Senior Railcard due being unable to use it during the COVID pandemic.

We’d like to thank you for your patience, as we know you have been waiting for an update.

After careful consideration, the government has confirmed to us that Railcards will remain non-refundable and will not be extended.

This is because, due to the pandemic fewer people have been travelling by train. 

Which is why the government has been offering additional financial backing to the rail industry so that services keep running to support the economy.

Refunding or extending Railcards for over 5.1m customers would come at a significant cost?to the taxpayer, at a?time when the focus must be on maintaining rail services to support the country’s recovery from the pandemic.

Please be rest assured that this decision hasn’t been taken lightly, and we’re truly sorry that this may not be the outcome you had been hoping for.

Thanks again for contacting us. I wish you the best of health and hope this clarifies your query.

Kind regards

Misbah Shaikh

The Railcard Help Team

Voyager2002

In other words, they recognise that taking action would be right but it would cost them too much.

cattie

Not a great deal of difference to those who paid for annual gym membership & haven't been able to use because of Covid & no refunds/extensions given. The railcard is only £30, whereas some pay joining fees of hundreds £'s for gym & other leisure type memberships that remain closed.

Personally, I'd happily forfeit the £30 if it meant enabling rail services to continue to run & I'm sure we're all aware that the financial cost of the pandemic to our government will have to try to be recouped in some way in the future.

Hasbeen

The trains were/ are  still running. If YOU choose not to use them  from last February?  Then your choice!

I have travelled regularly on trains since Covid. So unfortunately your personal choice not to?  

There must be thousands of people who have railcards who have used the trains. 

And as usual with new posters they always manage to get Scam or Ripoff into their thread    LOL

luvchocolate

I purchased a 3 year senior railcard £70 in August 2020 
I haven't traveled as much as usual but from last week I'm now in profit so to speak. 
The opposite of a rip off I feel 

spenderdave

My 3 year railcard, bought September 2018, had excellent use up to last March and limited use during the summer. I hope to be able to use it again a fair amount before it expires if the government allows unrestricted use of the trains. Since I have already saved about four times what I paid I still feel I have good value. But those who bought a one year one earlier last year have certainly had a bad deal and a part refund would have been justified for them. Their reply does seem very bland.

macman

You'v been able to use it as often as you needed to. Essential travel only, not leisure travel. What's the problem?

tealady

Hardly a RIP off.
Cost of a 1 year card is less than 60p per WEEK!!!

Emmia

I renewed my (network south east) railcard last September - I've already saved more than the £30 cost with just a few trips (although still fewer than I'd normally make)... 

Shelldean

Am in the same boat as OP. Tho our card is two together and not senior.
As we only use the card for leisure trips and for the majority of holding this card, we've been told essential trips only. We're essentially £27down as we never got to use it.
We asked about at least a partial refund and got the same answer as OP.  Due to the fact of we'd use it even once we could've saved more than the card was worth.  

My problem is that I renewed it as the last one ran out, rather than wait till it was needed. 
What I will do in future is wait until we're ready for a journey THEN purchase the railcard. Kinda my fault for just renewing straight away.

bouicca21

Good grief if all you’ve lost over the pandemic is 30 quid for a railcard, you should be thanking your lucky stars.