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All across the Great Western territory => Your rights and redress => Topic started by: Chris from Nailsea on March 25, 2010, 20:21:30



Title: Train strikes: Your rights explained, by the BBC (25 March 2010)
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on March 25, 2010, 20:21:30
From the BBC (http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8586905.stm):

Quote
The first rail strike in 16 years is in sight for April 6-9, the week following the Easter weekend, after leaders of the Rail Maritime and Transport union and the Transport Salaried Staffs Association called for their members to withdraw their labour.
They are protesting about cost-cutting measures that would mean 1,500 workers employed by Network Rail losing their jobs.
Both sides appear keen to negotiate a deal and avert a strike.
The primary responsibility for compensating customers affected by any industrial action lies with the train operating companies - represented by the Association of Train Operating Companies (ATOC) who are the first port of call for advice on tickets.
The association says if your train is cancelled you are entitled to a full refund.
It is working on a strategy for those who wish to change their travel plans and will provide that as soon as possible.
For more information check this link on the National Rail Enquiries site.
But what other rights do passengers affected by a strike have?
PAYING BY PLASTIC
On the face of it, the information from ATOC means would-be travellers will get their money back or an alternative ticket from their train company if RMT members do go on strike.
But what if you have some sort of problem getting your money back?
The Consumer Credit Act gives considerable protection to people who have bought a service using a credit card.
If the ticket was worth more than ^100, card holders can make a claim against their credit card company.
"If you don't get it back from the train company it is worth making a claim to the credit card company," said Jemma Smith, a spokeswoman for the UK Cards Association.
Some debit cards issued under the Visa brand also offer a similar protection known as "charge back".
This is not a legal right, says the UK Cards Association, but a way for consumers to dispute payments they have made.
And it applies regardless of the value of the items or service you have bought.
"Check your terms and conditions to see if you have this protection," said Jemma Smith.
One important factor in claiming back money on a credit card is that it depends from whom you bought the ticket.
You are not covered by section 75 of the Consumer Credit Act if you bought the ticket from a third-party provider, such as thetrainline.com - rather than the train company directly, or the main online ticket agency of ATOC members, National Rail Enquiries.
TRAVEL INSURANCE
What about travel insurance policies?
The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says it is possible they may cover you for domestic journeys.
"If you took out your travel policy and booked your train before the day when the strike dates are known, then you may be covered for the price of your ticket if your train is delayed or cancelled, in accordance with the policy terms," it said.
"Some policies may pay a fixed lump sum if any delay forces you to cancel your travel plans," it added.
The ABI warns that the wording of your policy is crucial. Some may cover cancellations due to industrial action while others may not.
The cost of your train ticket may be the least of your problems. What if a strike disrupts your wider holiday plans so you cannot get to an airport or port?
"If you are travelling abroad, some travel policies may cover missed departure due to a failure of public transport," the ABI says.
"[But] you must leave adequate time or make alternative arrangements as your travel insurer may not pay out for missed departures due to strike action that you knew about," the ABI adds.


Title: Re: Train strikes: Your rights explained, by the BBC (25 March 2010)
Post by: inspector_blakey on March 25, 2010, 22:12:26
What a strange (even slightly silly...?) article.

Passengers who can't travel because of strikes will have their ticket money refunded (or often will be permitted to use the tickets on dates either side of the strike if they choose to do that instead). Invoking refunds from the credit card company or travel insurance is completely unnecessary!


Title: Re: Train strikes: Your rights explained, by the BBC (25 March 2010)
Post by: Chris from Nailsea on March 25, 2010, 22:16:25
Are you questioning the mighty BBC?  :o ;D


Title: Re: Train strikes: Your rights explained, by the BBC (25 March 2010)
Post by: inspector_blakey on March 25, 2010, 22:20:55
Well, they do have their faults. But living in a country where Fox News is apparently the current affairs channel with the highest audience share you learn to appreciate Aunty BBC, trust me.


Title: Re: Train strikes: Your rights explained, by the BBC (25 March 2010)
Post by: JayMac on March 25, 2010, 22:28:11
Are you questioning the mighty 'Fair and Balanced' Fox News?

Be careful....they know where you live and may send Bill O'Reilly and Glen Beck round to sort you out.

 :P ;) :D


Title: Re: Train strikes: Your rights explained, by the BBC (25 March 2010)
Post by: inspector_blakey on March 26, 2010, 02:22:06
"Billo" I actually have a little more time for (just every now and again he says something sane). Beck on the other hand strikes me as genuinely dangerous. My preferred US news offering is MSNBC, in particular the Keith Olbermann and Rachel Maddow shows - much more liberal in tone. It just bugs me that Olbermann seems to interview only guests who he's sure share his point of view, whereas O'Reilly actually has the guts to get people from the other side of the political spectrum on every now and again.

To wander even further off topic, I'm not sure if it's being reported in the UK media but ever since the healthcare bill was passed at the weekend there has been a massive backlash from the "tea party" Republicans. There are genuinely a lot of people in this country who are extremely scared and angry about this bill, in large part I suspect because of the lies and rhetoric they have been fed by right-wing politicians over the last few months (death panels, federal funding for abortion, "big government" etc etc...). This is happening to the extent that senators are receiving faxed pictures of nooses, death threats in the mail and by phone, and people have even had their gas lines severed outside their home. All slightly crazy. But nonetheless an interesting cultural experience to be here at the moment! ;)

I. Blakey,  FGWCS Pennsylvania Correspondent


Title: Re: Train strikes: Your rights explained, by the BBC (25 March 2010)
Post by: Brucey on March 26, 2010, 09:17:06
The beeb have gone a little OTT with this article, in my opinion.  Even in cases where the railway is not at fault, e.g. weather, you are always entitled to a refund if your service doesn't run.  This even applies to advance purchase tickets, which are usually non-refundable.  All the customer (I'm calling them customers as they won't be travelling anywhere, so won't be passengers!) needs to do is contact the company who sold their ticket and say the service didn't run.



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