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Teenagers

Parenting teenagers has its ups and downs. Get advice from Mumsnetters here.

Original poster

6ft 1" ds aged 14 constantly charged adult fare...

27 replies

auntpetunia · 22/09/2013 17:25

As it says he's just 14 beginning of July and is always asked for ID to prove he's entitled to half price train fare. Woman last night asked and still didn't believe him and charged him adult price! What 14 year old has ID? What can he use,? He has tried old passport but as picture is little kid (even though obviously him) that's rejected. Anyone know how we get round this.

TIA

OP posts:
RandomMess · 22/09/2013 17:26

Hmmm dd used to carry her passport around but then the photo is only a few years old.

Original poster
auntpetunia · 22/09/2013 17:34

To be honest I won't let him have his current passport, He has a tendency to loose things.

OP posts:
PestoSwimissimos · 22/09/2013 17:36

Can you get him a children's bus pass?

Marrow · 22/09/2013 17:36

I am 6ft and used to have the same problem as a child. I used to keep a copy of my birth certificate with me and even though it didn't have a photo on it was always accepted .

Original poster
auntpetunia · 22/09/2013 17:39

pesto we don't get kids bus passes round here, and I have No idea if train staff would accept it!

OP posts:
FannyMcNally · 22/09/2013 17:39

Just get him a student ID card, I think the minimum age is 12. Unfortunate but can't be helped.

SirChenjin · 22/09/2013 17:43

We have the same problem here with DS1, who's 16, over 6 foot and currently sporting a set of sideburns! We have the Young Scot card here, not sure what you have in your part of the country? Maybe the PASS card? www.pass-scheme.org.uk/

OldRoan · 22/09/2013 17:47

We were issued with PASS cards at school: Pass Cards. Looks like there are different ones for different regions.

Mine is nearly 10 years old and I used it to collect a parcel when the person at the sorting office was insisting on seeing about 5 pieces of ID...

Original poster
auntpetunia · 22/09/2013 17:47

Oh Fanny and sirchen they sound great will do some research onto Pass.

OP posts:
Chibbs · 22/09/2013 17:49

you need to go the the station and bring passport etc. and a photo, and ask them to make him a child photocard.
it is like a photo card that you get when you buy a season ticket, but it will have a pic of child and their DOB on it.

OldRoan · 22/09/2013 17:50

Sorry, meant to add - the ones we had were Citizen Cards.

soontobeslendergirl · 22/09/2013 17:52

Ours have a Young Scot card - obviously only of use/interest if you are Scottish :)

exexpat · 22/09/2013 17:52

I wonder if they would accept a Zip Card? They are children's oyster cards issued by Transport for London, and have photos and dates of birth on the front. You can apply for one online and they double-check the birth date against your child's passport records.

We don't live in London, but I got one for DS and DD when we were spending a week or so in London last year - DD was 9 at the time, and so entitled to completely free travel on the tube, but she looks a lot older, so I got her a card to prove she was under 11. DS was 14, so entitled to child fare on the tube, but again looks older, so I got him the 11-16 one. He is now 15, tall and very hairy and often gets charged adult fare on the buses where we live. He doesn't go on buses often enough for it to be a problem, but I have thought of getting him to try using it as proof of age.

BlueStringPudding · 22/09/2013 17:57

Just photocopy his current passport, both my DDs had this problem when they were 14/15, and this was usually accepted as evidence of age.

Original poster
auntpetunia · 22/09/2013 18:12

Thanks everyone had a look at student I'd cards and as gonna get him one from local store, didn't know they started when 12 only had mine at college.

OP posts:
Chibbs · 22/09/2013 18:38

just go to the station! it is free and is given by the station, so accepted by them!

Original poster
auntpetunia · 22/09/2013 19:36

OK chibbs will try that, but after I pulled woman last night after asking then ignoring him, I asked her what He should do but she had No answer, so I doubt they'll issue him with any sort of card.

OP posts:
Chibbs · 22/09/2013 20:47

they have to. It is a requirement of any season ticket.

BrianButterfield · 22/09/2013 20:57

The photo cards take about two minutes to make, they shouldn't mind making one especially if you go and explain why.

Original poster
auntpetunia · 23/09/2013 06:32

Chibbs think that's the problem He doesn't need a season ticket He only goes on train once or twice a week to get to drama, I'm going to look into the cards mentioned in this thread

OP posts:
MrRected · 23/09/2013 06:34

We too have this problem. DS is 6ft and has just turned 12.

No answers from me, I will watch with interest.

itsliz · 23/09/2013 07:30

Not sure what age they issue them from but I remember having a Citizen Card when I was about 15/16, which is widely accepted as a form of ID as it has the PASS logo on it.

Supermarkets and certain shops often have Citizen Card leaflets on the counters by the lottery tickets, you just need to pick one up, fill it out and post it off with a passport type photo.

Might be worth doing so that he has something he can keep on him at all times and won't matter too much if it gets lost, unlike his passport. Also useful if he's already getting asked for ID at 14, as it's likely to keep happening for the next couple of years!

Good luck Smile

monikar · 23/09/2013 09:56

I agree with getting the child photocard from the rail station as it is the train ticket you are having trouble with - at ours you need one passport picture and the birth certificate. It honestly takes about 2 minutes for them to do - DD got hers last week. You don't need to buy a season ticket at the same time - I buy DD's season ticket online and it is connected with the school in some way as they have a discount deal with the rail company, but we needed the photocard from the station as we needed to submit the number online. The station staff were perfectly happy to issue the photocard and didn't even ask her if she wanted a season ticket as many people buy these online now.

Good luck.

secretscwirrels · 23/09/2013 10:10

My two both had this problem. I photocopied the relevant page of their passport and laminated it. It was accepted by bus company and cinema.

Travelledtheworld · 23/09/2013 15:36

Yes I have same problem with six foot tall 13 year old son and I have photocopied his passport for him as proof of age.