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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think railcard people are wrong?

23 replies

Drywhiteplease · 05/03/2013 20:50

I have a family and friends rail card. I am the named cardholder and my husband is the second named cardholder ( both names are on the card.)
In a couple of weeks we are travelling separately each with one of our children. ( boys to England/Wales at Millennium, girls to One Direction....yey!)
Anyway we only have one card and need to travel with the card to get discounts. I called Nat Rail people to ask if I could get a second card for my DH so we could use the discount We'd paid for ( until 2015). The answer was a resounding no!
This doesn't seem right to me. If you get a joint credit card,or RHS, National Trust family card we've always had one each.........we're not even travelling at the same times but obviously can't pass the card to one another because we'll be in different parts of he country.
AIBU to think this is rubbish? Not getting anywhere.......what should I do?

OP posts:

cogitosum · 05/03/2013 20:56

Yanbu that's ridiculous but don't know what you should do. I'm having.a problem with my railcard at the mo and it's ridiculous when you consider we pay thousands for them!

CloudsAndTrees · 05/03/2013 21:01

Can you use the discount if you buy tickets in advance?

XBenedict · 05/03/2013 21:03

You can clouds but you're supposed to have the railcard with you when you travel so that doesn't solve the problem. Would they accept a photocopy? Probably not

Original poster

Drywhiteplease · 05/03/2013 21:04

You could but you have to show the railcard to the ticket inspector when you're actually travelling.

OP posts:

Original poster

Drywhiteplease · 05/03/2013 21:04

I even asked whether I could copy the card and take ID to show that I actually am one of the named people

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IneedAgoldenNickname · 05/03/2013 21:05

It is rubbish, but you only get one card. Me and my friend have one with both our names on, but it can be a pain swapping it back when we need to.

I know if you lose the card it's only £5 for a new one, you could pretend and then you've got 2 cards? Although the computer systems might cancel one and you might get caught, I don't know?

clouds you can use it when you book in advance, but the ticket inspectors normally ask to see it.

Punkatheart · 05/03/2013 21:07

For some odd reason - they do stipulate that you must travel as a family. If there were two cards - it could be abused - a friend could use the spare for their family.

I think that's the logic.

ChippyMinton · 05/03/2013 21:10

Sorry but it's in the terms and conditions that If the named holders travel separately, only one of the holders may use the Railcard.

CloudsAndTrees · 05/03/2013 21:10

I didn't know I that, I don't use the train often.

It does seem ridiculous that you haven't got one each. Especially if its a family and friends card.

ChippyMinton · 05/03/2013 21:14

any deals here you could take advantage of?

Original poster

Drywhiteplease · 05/03/2013 21:14

Oh well thanks for clearing that up Chippy.........still annoying!

OP posts:

Original poster

Drywhiteplease · 05/03/2013 21:16

Thanks for te link to money saving ticket discounts, will have a look Chippy

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KatyMac · 05/03/2013 21:20

Could you post it to the other person (next day delivery?)......

ChippyMinton · 05/03/2013 21:25

I wouldn't mess with Network Rail - they are very strict.

I tried to buy a ticket with DH's network railcard (by mistake - we have one each and I picked up the wrong one when I left the house) and the ticket office confiscated it . DH had to go and collect it himself and take some ID.

ChippyMinton · 05/03/2013 21:27

There are sometimes free F&F Railcard offers - like a 2 months free trial. Might be worth doing a search or keeping an eye out before you travel.

cumfy · 05/03/2013 22:08

Fairly clear in T+Cs:

4. If the named holders travel separately, only one of the holders may use the Railcard.

WorkingItOutAsIGo · 05/03/2013 23:48

We on occasion have ended up buying a second railcard as the savings are so good it was worth doing. Might that work for you?

RedHotRudieParts · 05/03/2013 23:51

If you have the receipt they replace them for free if they get 'lost'.

FannyBazaar · 05/03/2013 23:54

Like IneedAgoldenNickname I share mine with a friend (maybe this is my friend?) but I actually forget to take it with me most of the time, I have never been asked for it! I often remember once on the train that I don't have it. I do have an old one I keep with me, don't think I've shown that even accidentally but it was just in the ticket wallet.

Punkatheart · 06/03/2013 08:44

They don't replace for free - they charge £5. That would also constitute fraud, if you were caught using a 'lost' one.

FudgeyCookie · 06/03/2013 09:04

If you buy tickets using the rail card, but then don't have the rail card on your day of travel you will more than likely be told to buy brand new tickets. If you don't, you can be asked to leave te train at the next stop. You will probably be better off looking for advance prices or buying a new rail card, but I'm not sure you can buy a new one with you DH named on it as he is already named on one. I'm sure my dp (who works in a ticket office selling tickets) that all railcards (might just be season tickets) are on a system.

cumfy · 06/03/2013 12:31

That would also constitute fraud, if you were caught using a 'lost' one.

But what if each parent thought they were holding the valid card, and must be the other parent who was holding the invalid card ?

Original poster

Drywhiteplease · 06/03/2013 21:42

Well I think it's a stupid system. My DH has already bought his tickets with discount, I'll just order the cheapest ones I can get. Thanks for your advice.

OP posts:

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