Page 3 | To think this is just a but unfair?

Diningtableornot · 15/03/2025 17:55

Arraminta · 15/03/2025 11:38

Yes, a friend's DS did the same recently but the conductor was happy to accept the photo of his card on his phone. Seems like it's a rather arbitrary policy?

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I should think that the conductor on DS's friend's train was feeling generous because they are not allowed to accept photos and he was taking a risk, albeit a small one.
Hopefully she'll be able to get the app in time, and all will be well!

itsgettingweird · 15/03/2025 17:39

Appeal.

and how come she doesn’t have the railcard on her phone? Da has a disabled persons railcard and he gets a digital version rather than a physical card.

Other than that I’d ask for the refund of the £100 extra and accept the revenue inspector (as they call them now) had to charge the full price without the railcard

YourFairCyanReader · 15/03/2025 17:23

Arraminta · 15/03/2025 11:48

Oooh, yes she is. Great idea, thank you!

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If she's still on the train, she still might be able to cancel or change her initial booking. Depending on ticket type if she can cancel she can get full or partial refund. Or possibly change to future date if she's going to be doing the journey again some time.

RoastDinnerSmellsNice · 15/03/2025 16:57

Fairyliz · 15/03/2025 16:09

Wow that sounds incredibly harsh as she had proof that she was the person named in the card photo. Surely the inspector could have just given her a telling off.
I don’t suppose the inspector would have fined my friends son who is 6ft 6in and built like a brick shit house.

This!

Spirallingdownwards · 15/03/2025 16:51

Arraminta · 15/03/2025 11:33

DD is currently on a long train journey, her ticket was £100 and she has a student railcard. Unfortunately she left the physical railcard at home, but has a close up photo of it on her phone. She also has her driving licence with her as proof of ID and her online banking shows her purchase of the ticket.

But the conductor has ignored all of the above and has charged her the full £175 for her ticket. So she's now £275 out of pocket and really upset. I guess it's a salutary lesson for her and she'll never forget her railcard again, but wondering if there's anyway she can appeal? Even if she just recoups the original £100 she spent?

Unfortunately the rules are very clear that railcards must be carried at the time of travel.

GinToBegin · 15/03/2025 16:50

It’s so random… I have a railcard, app only, which is checked maybe half the time, if that. It really does seem to vary from conductor to conductor. I’d be inclined to appeal, it can’t hurt to ask.

Keroppi · 15/03/2025 16:48

I've heard of people appealing via email and attaching a photocopy of the railcard and a letter saying they misplaced/forgot it but usually pay for tickets using it (with photocopy or attach receipts of journeys showing that) and sometimes they refund.

Suns1nE · 15/03/2025 16:42

I work on board and photos of railcards are a high risk for fraud. Basic computer skills can change the name and photo. Same with screen shots of the digital one. We can’t accept them because they can be altered. The online one has a moving hologram which helps us identify the validity.

It could have been worse it could have been a revenue inspector who would have issued a fine for having the wrong ticket which would have been an additional £100 on top of the price of the new ticket.

in terms of “luck” with charges it depends on the route, how busy the train is and staffing levels. If it’s a busy train on a Saturday afternoon with stops every 8-9 there is a chance that the staff on board might not get to you or are going to be more lenient because it’s better to check a whole carriage of people have tickets vs 10 people have tickets and the right railcard.

Fairyliz · 15/03/2025 16:09

Wow that sounds incredibly harsh as she had proof that she was the person named in the card photo. Surely the inspector could have just given her a telling off.
I don’t suppose the inspector would have fined my friends son who is 6ft 6in and built like a brick shit house.

Olivegbr · 15/03/2025 16:08

This happened to me but the conductor was nice and told me he'd fine me but when I showed proof of my Railcard upon repeal I'd get refunded....and I did!

BonniesSlave · 15/03/2025 16:02

Definitely appeal. The arbitrary way some ticket inspectors deal with railcards is so annoying and leads to these kind of situations. You might get a good natured person who considers the appeal!

Cakeandusername · 15/03/2025 15:30

I’d certainly try and appeal. It’s clear she had railcard. My dc has hers on her phone only not a physical card.

commonsense61 · 15/03/2025 15:04

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

Original poster

Arraminta · 15/03/2025 14:45

Newtess · 15/03/2025 14:27

I guess it's a harsh lesson learned. I can see why they refused. It's open to fraud if it's just a photo of it and not officially on the app. I would try appealing though. Upsetting though, I hope she's ok.

Thank you. I've transferred her the money and she can always pay me back if she gets a refund.

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Arraminta · 15/03/2025 14:42

FanofLeaves · 15/03/2025 13:10

Where is she heading? Is there any way to speak to someone at a ticket office the other end? Absolutely appeal, she has been targeted by a jobsworth. Unfortunately there are a lot of them on the railways.

Sadly I think when you apply for the railcard, you have to choose digital or physical version, and that’s what you get until it’s time to renew.

She's now in Cardiff but the station is crazy busy because of the rugby! I think she's going to try and speak to someone tomorrow?

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Arraminta · 15/03/2025 14:40

ThinWomansBrain · 15/03/2025 13:15

Worth appealing - there was a lot of publicity about unfair penalties a few weeks ago.

Last train trip, I realised on the train that my railcard had expired, Renewed it online during the journey but the ticket inspection person didn't ask to see it anyway.

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It's so random isn't it! Last year I booked my train tickets and mistakenly selected the 'Railcard' price (I don't have one). When I realised my mistake I immediately offered to pay the difference but the conductor was lovely and just waived it!

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Arraminta · 15/03/2025 14:36

Phonicshaskilledmeoff · 15/03/2025 13:11

They could surely have just told her to download the app whilst they were with her?!

Sadly she can't because she originally only applied for the physical version and can't change it until she renews!

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Arraminta · 15/03/2025 14:34

Newtess · 15/03/2025 14:27

I guess it's a harsh lesson learned. I can see why they refused. It's open to fraud if it's just a photo of it and not officially on the app. I would try appealing though. Upsetting though, I hope she's ok.

Thank you. I definitely understand about the potential for fraud aspect, but it very much seems dependant on the personality of the conductor. Other DD also has a Railcard but can't remember the last time she was asked to produce it!

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Arraminta · 15/03/2025 14:32

FanofLeaves · 15/03/2025 13:15

Tell her to keep all receipts, paperwork, take screenshots of these in case lost, she can describe everything as factually as possible with timings etc. nothing will be lost by appealing and I think she has good cause, personally. She does have a railcard, she has made an oversight in not having it with her. They will see it’s a one off mistake.

Thank you, yes she's definitely going to appeal because it seems so arbitrary, too? As a matter of rite, she has a record of everything luckily. Once she gets her Chartership she intends to specialise as a forensic accountant, so loves a paper trail!

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Arraminta · 15/03/2025 14:28

Runningoutofthyme · 15/03/2025 13:44

Shame she didn’t get her charm from you, she might have been able to talk herself out of a ticket

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Perhaps you're not the best judge of what constitutes charm?

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Newtess · 15/03/2025 14:27

I guess it's a harsh lesson learned. I can see why they refused. It's open to fraud if it's just a photo of it and not officially on the app. I would try appealing though. Upsetting though, I hope she's ok.

Swiftie1878 · 15/03/2025 13:47

Arraminta · 15/03/2025 11:33

DD is currently on a long train journey, her ticket was £100 and she has a student railcard. Unfortunately she left the physical railcard at home, but has a close up photo of it on her phone. She also has her driving licence with her as proof of ID and her online banking shows her purchase of the ticket.

But the conductor has ignored all of the above and has charged her the full £175 for her ticket. So she's now £275 out of pocket and really upset. I guess it's a salutary lesson for her and she'll never forget her railcard again, but wondering if there's anyway she can appeal? Even if she just recoups the original £100 she spent?

This is to stop fraud.
Lesson learned. I hope!

Runningoutofthyme · 15/03/2025 13:44

Arraminta · 15/03/2025 11:48

Thank you Captain Obvious.

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Shame she didn’t get her charm from you, she might have been able to talk herself out of a ticket

Smoothandsmooth · 15/03/2025 13:16

That’s annoying, I am sure I have a physical card somewhere as well as my virtual card (although I bought a 3 year option maybe it’s changed)

FanofLeaves · 15/03/2025 13:15

Tell her to keep all receipts, paperwork, take screenshots of these in case lost, she can describe everything as factually as possible with timings etc. nothing will be lost by appealing and I think she has good cause, personally. She does have a railcard, she has made an oversight in not having it with her. They will see it’s a one off mistake.