MTLS Forum Post - Penalty Fares

[whole diary]

[Lee]

From the MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) Forum (link below) :
http://moretrainlessstrain.co.uk/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=c7df6dcec56590959f75ac9eba1113c4&topic=214.msg592#msg592

On Monday this week I travelled on the 07.22 from Pewsey to Paddington to leave myself enough time to get the 10.28 Eurostar to Paris. (I did the 08.10 once but I got the Eurostar with 5 minutes to spare!), anyway, I have done this trip for the past year or so and always get my tickets on line.

On Monday however, the ticket collecter decided that my 'Saver Return' was not valid on that train and hit me with a ^55.00 excess fare!! I told him that I travelled on this very train every two weeks for the past year and always got a Saver Return. His response was "Well I havent seen you before!!"   

So that makes me a liar then!!!!!

Unfortunately I had left all my other tickets (which had been checked) in my Paris flat. I did go to Customer Services and she gave me a form to fill in.

As I am still waiting (Since July 2006) for a ^20 refund (less the ^10 handling fee) I cant be bothered even attempting to take it any further!!

I suppose with the financial situation FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are in they need all the Excess and Penalty fares they can get!!!!!

[vacman]

From the MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) Forum (link below) :
http://moretrainlessstrain.co.uk/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=c7df6dcec56590959f75ac9eba1113c4&topic=214.msg592#msg592

On Monday this week I travelled on the 07.22 from Pewsey to Paddington to leave myself enough time to get the 10.28 Eurostar to Paris. (I did the 08.10 once but I got the Eurostar with 5 minutes to spare!), anyway, I have done this trip for the past year or so and always get my tickets on line.

On Monday however, the ticket collecter decided that my 'Saver Return' was not valid on that train and hit me with a ^55.00 excess fare!! I told him that I travelled on this very train every two weeks for the past year and always got a Saver Return. His response was "Well I havent seen you before!!"   

So that makes me a liar then!!!!!

Unfortunately I had left all my other tickets (which had been checked) in my Paris flat. I did go to Customer Services and she gave me a form to fill in.

As I am still waiting (Since July 2006) for a ^20 refund (less the ^10 handling fee) I cant be bothered even attempting to take it any further!!

I suppose with the financial situation FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are in they need all the Excess and Penalty fares they can get!!!!!

A saver wouldn't be valid on that train!!!!!!!

[Lee]

From the MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) Forum (link below) :
http://moretrainlessstrain.co.uk/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=c7df6dcec56590959f75ac9eba1113c4&topic=214.msg592#msg592

On Monday this week I travelled on the 07.22 from Pewsey to Paddington to leave myself enough time to get the 10.28 Eurostar to Paris. (I did the 08.10 once but I got the Eurostar with 5 minutes to spare!), anyway, I have done this trip for the past year or so and always get my tickets on line.

On Monday however, the ticket collecter decided that my 'Saver Return' was not valid on that train and hit me with a ^55.00 excess fare!! I told him that I travelled on this very train every two weeks for the past year and always got a Saver Return. His response was "Well I havent seen you before!!"   

So that makes me a liar then!!!!!

Unfortunately I had left all my other tickets (which had been checked) in my Paris flat. I did go to Customer Services and she gave me a form to fill in.

As I am still waiting (Since July 2006) for a ^20 refund (less the ^10 handling fee) I cant be bothered even attempting to take it any further!!

I suppose with the financial situation FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are in they need all the Excess and Penalty fares they can get!!!!!

A saver wouldn't be valid on that train!!!!!!!

An interesting reply has been posted to the original MTLS forum post (link below.)
http://moretrainlessstrain.co.uk/smf/index.php?PHPSESSID=c7df6dcec56590959f75ac9eba1113c4&topic=214.msg592#msg592

[John R]

Well I have to say my initial thought was "is it or isn't it valid?", which the respondent confirmed. As it isn't then I've no sympathy. Doing the journey every couple of weeks, he or she ought to know.

Then I thought "Paris flat". Either Eurotraveller is a business traveller, and presumably claiming expenses or if not then am I going to shed any tears for someone being excessed for not having a valid ticket who can afford a flat in Paris.

Finally I thought of the London International CIV^▸ (International Convention for the transportation of Passengers) fare, which presumably brings the cost down to around the Saver fare.

       

[devonian]

Financial situation???

Just had a look at Firsts figures and they are doing very nicely!

[Tim]

Having got away with something before isn't a justification for doing it again.  You were not unlucky to be caught this time, rather you were lucky not to have been caught on previous occasions.

For future trips, I would recomend buying a CIV^▸ (International Convention for the transportation of Passengers) "Eurohigh saver" to "London International".  It will cost about the same as a saver, has no restrictions, includes a cross-London tube journey and if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are late and you miss your connection, Eurostar are obliged to put you on their next service at no extra charge.

[Lee]

Having got away with something before isn't a justification for doing it again.  You were not unlucky to be caught this time, rather you were lucky not to have been caught on previous occasions.

For future trips, I would recomend buying a CIV^▸ (International Convention for the transportation of Passengers) "Eurohigh saver" to "London International".  It will cost about the same as a saver, has no restrictions, includes a cross-London tube journey and if FGW^▸ (First Great Western) are late and you miss your connection, Eurostar are obliged to put you on their next service at no extra charge.

I'm not sure whether eurotraveller visits this site. Maybe an idea to also post this on the MTLS^▸ (More Train Less Strain) forum, given that it is a direct reply to him?

[swlines]

For international travel - check out seat61.com. Very good site.