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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to try get refund for £115 train ticket

111 replies

Deathbydolla · 15/05/2018 08:58

I ordered an advance non-refundable ticket for £99. Fumbled with the machine this morning and missed my booked train. The desk operator said that there was nothing they could do, and I ended up having to pay another £115 for a single.

I totally get that it was my fault I missed my train, but I feel £115 is extortionate, especially with the abysmal services on offer nowadays. Anybody ever managed to get a refund or mitigation for this kind of thing?

OP posts:
rodstewartsmerkin · 15/05/2018 08:59

It’s a steep price to pay but if you missed the train because you couldn’t work the machine (and perhaps didn’t leave enough time to organise yourself properly) then I doubt you’ll get far with demanding a refund

TheHobbitMum · 15/05/2018 08:59

I don't think you've any hope of a refund but I guess it doesn't hurt to try.

BitchQueen90 · 15/05/2018 09:01

Happened to me before. I was told in no uncertain terms that they would not refund a non refundable ticket. Good luck

Andrewofgg · 15/05/2018 09:01

You ordered non-refundable, you paid for non-refundable, you got non-refundable, you missed the train, you lose the money. The standard of service is a red herring.

PinkHeart5914 · 15/05/2018 09:02

What would be the reason for the refund? Just you not liking the price?

How long did you spend at the machine to miss the train? Did you leave home in plenty of time to sort collecting the ticket? It’s a given train stations are very busy in the mornings

I can’t see you getting a refund here tbh

peachypetite · 15/05/2018 09:03

It's your own fault basically. Why would they refund you?

PinkSquash · 15/05/2018 09:03

Rules on advance tickets is exchangeable before the time of travel and non-refundable.

Go through the refunds process for whichever online company you purchased from, you'll only lose a few minutes of your time.

Original poster
Deathbydolla · 15/05/2018 09:04

What annoys me a little is that if it was a minute earlier, I could have apparently 'changed my ticket' for a £10 admin fee + difference in price, I totally get it's me that was late, I just feel that maybe it would have been fair to allow me to do the above

OP posts:
Bridesmaidinchief · 15/05/2018 09:11

When you say you fumbled at the machine, was it because there was an issue with it? If so you can ask them on that basis (but I still think they'd likely refuse unless it was the only ticket machine).

If it was just that you didn't leave yourself enough time, I don't think they'll be likely to refund you - sorry. On-the-day tickets are extortionate but that's not a cause for a refund. It's really up to you to get to the station with plenty of time to collect your ticket etc.

I feel for you because it's easily done! I don't suppose there is any harm in asking for a refund but I wouldn't expect to get anything.

PinkSquash · 15/05/2018 09:13

Thing is, The system is in place and the booking office staff cannot bend it to sort out a problem that was within your control.

Nakedavenger74 · 15/05/2018 09:14

You must have been cutting it very fine to miss your train as you couldn't work the machine.

They are pretty simple and there's usually wandering helpers. Total processing time is about 1 minute if you have the code ready but you have to account for queues and screw ups.

LIZS · 15/05/2018 09:14

You did not allow enough time to print out or amend your ticket. Not sure why you say you were too late to amend it if your booked train had left.

Nakedavenger74 · 15/05/2018 09:15

If the machine failed to print or crashed then fair enough you have a case but not if you left 3 minutes to pick up tickets

JacquesHammer · 15/05/2018 09:16

What do you mean by “fumbled with the machine”?

If there was an issue with the machine, that’s worth raising. Otherwise I’m afraid nothing doing.

user1495884620 · 15/05/2018 09:17

Whenever I have booked a train ticket online, it quite clearly reminds you to leave enough time to collect your ticket. On that basis, I suspect they will tell you it's your own fault for not getting there early enough.

(You have my sympathy though, my fat fingers keep pressing the wrong buttons for the code!)

IHopeYouStepOnALegoPiece · 15/05/2018 09:19

You say if it was a minute earlier, I could have apparently 'changed my ticket' for a £10 admin fee + difference in price, I totally get it's me that was late, I just feel that maybe it would have been fair to allow me to do the above but you where a minute past that time. When is the cut off? An extra minute? An extra 5? It ends at that time for a reason. It wasn’t the train company’s fault you missed the train.

user1495884620 · 15/05/2018 09:19

Another thing to bear in mind is that you can pick up your tickets any time so if you get them the day before, you just have to worry about arriving for the train.

RebootYourEngine · 15/05/2018 09:20

Agree with the majority. You bought a non-refundable ticket and didnt leave enough time to collect the tickets.

Nakedavenger74 · 15/05/2018 09:23

Yes but OP if you were a minute earlier you'd have had your tickets and been on your way so that argument doesn't stack up.

If you are there with time to spare then you can do a lot in changing tickets (btw the 'difference in price' would be huge)but the reason for a non refundable is you have to get on that booked train or you've lost it. That's why it's the price it is.

I've been there a few times. Left loads of time but a tube has taken twice as long as it should, cancellations, forgot something etc. I've just realised that shit happens and that's the gamble I've taken to save £40

TatianaLarina · 15/05/2018 09:23

The ‘fumbling’ is a red herring, if you’d arrived in good time you could have fumbled plenty and still caught your train.

coffeeforone · 15/05/2018 09:25

I wonder if they had the discretion to change it for £10 plus difference, as they could have done so a minute earlier? Or if system just wouldn’t let them?

expatinscotland · 15/05/2018 09:28

So you either get there with enough time to allow for fumbling with the machine or pay more for a refundable ticket.

Mookatron · 15/05/2018 09:28

This is why public transport doesn't work as a private company imo. If the refund policy of, say, a supermarket was so inflexible you'd just shop somewhere else and complain on Twitter or something. Unfortunately you can't decide to go to Bedford instead of Glamorgan because the rail company's refund policy is shit AND no doubt you'll end up giving them money next time you want to use that route too.

Sympathies. Give it a bash to get a refund, you've nothing to lose.

GabsAlot · 15/05/2018 09:31

if its ytour fault no you cant-only delayed or cancelled trains can get you a refund

WalkingOnAFlashlightBeam · 15/05/2018 09:31

You won't get a refund, it was a non refundable ticket! The answer to this is really very, very easy 😂

I know it's frustrating, maybe next time you travel you can use this memory to spur you on to leave plenty of time to get your ticket and then onto the train. £115 is an expensive lesson but at least you'll have got something out of it.

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