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grahame
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« on: July 09, 2014, 09:45:00 » |
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Does it strike anyone as ironic that online applications for certain (?) new railcards require proof of identify in the form or a driving license or passport ... the very forms of ID that are associated with competing forms of transport - car - plane and ferry?
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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Rhydgaled
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« Reply #1 on: July 09, 2014, 10:00:54 » |
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Does it strike anyone as ironic that online applications for certain (?) new railcards require proof of identify in the form or a driving license or passport ... the very forms of ID that are associated with competing forms of transport - car - plane and ferry? Indeed it is annoying, my passport expired some time ago so I was unable to aquire a 3yr 16-25 railcard. I have to get the 1yr one from the station instead, last year's I bought at Altrincham where the ticket office staff couldn't understand why I didn't have a passport. I holiday in the UK▸ now, by rail if possible, that's why. |
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Don't DOO▸ it, keep the guard (but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the driver unlocked the doors on arrival at calling points).
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rogerw
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« Reply #2 on: July 09, 2014, 19:35:52 » |
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The reason is quite simple. Passports and driving licences have your date of birth encoded in the data on them. This gives a simple check on your age without needing birth certificates to be sent through the post.
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I like to travel. It lets me feel I'm getting somewhere.
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SDS
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« Reply #3 on: July 09, 2014, 19:42:41 » |
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I could tell you the algorithm that the railcard website uses to work out your age and qualification, but that would only serve to encourage fraudulent applications.
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I do not work for FGW▸ and posts should not be assumed and do not imply they are statements, unless explicitly stated that they are, from any TOC▸ including First Great Western.
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #4 on: July 09, 2014, 19:51:29 » |
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From your driver licence number it's easy which part is your date of birth rearranged. In actual fact a careful look and you can work out how a driver number is determined.
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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SDS
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« Reply #5 on: July 09, 2014, 21:06:42 » |
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From your driver licence number it's easy which part is your date of birth rearranged. In actual fact a careful look and you can work out how a driver number is determined.
Indeed, but what about those pesky letters which have no relevance to you towards the end. Oh and a female driving licence has slightly different numbers in the middle. |
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I do not work for FGW▸ and posts should not be assumed and do not imply they are statements, unless explicitly stated that they are, from any TOC▸ including First Great Western.
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #6 on: July 09, 2014, 21:25:20 » |
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From your driver licence number it's easy which part is your date of birth rearranged. In actual fact a careful look and you can work out how a driver number is determined.
Indeed, but what about those pesky letters which have no relevance to you towards the end. Oh and a female driving licence has slightly different numbers in the middle. The only two I can't work out are the last two letters. The numbers in the middle are still date of birth jumbled looking at my wife's, |
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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JayMac
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« Reply #7 on: July 10, 2014, 10:19:50 » |
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The alternative would be a National Identity Card. Some pros to that, but IMHO▸ , mostly cons. The plan to introduce them in the last Govt. was, quite rightly, dropped.
However, it can be frustrating when a passport or driving licence is asked for and you don't have either. Last night I checked into a hotel and was asked for photo ID. I don't drive so have no licence and my travels were UK▸ based so no need for me to have my passport on me. Not even for the trip earlier in the day into deepest Norfolk! To be fair to Travelodge I was checking into one of their hotels near an airport (Gatwick) so there was probably a fair expectation on their part of a passport being held.
As for photo ID, they were happy in the end to accept my Govt. issued railcard.
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"Good news for regular users of Euston Station in London! One day they will die. Then they won't have to go to Euston Station ever again." - David Mitchell
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Rhydgaled
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« Reply #8 on: July 10, 2014, 12:42:29 » |
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The alternative would be a National Identity Card. Some pros to that, but IMHO▸ , mostly cons. The plan to introduce them in the last Govt. was, quite rightly, dropped. Or make the 3yr railcard available for purchase at stations, like the 1yr card which I have never had any problems getting despite my lack of ID (if queried, I would probably have tried my student card, maybe not proof-of-age but being a student is also a valid means of getting a 16-25 railcard). |
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Don't DOO▸ it, keep the guard (but it probably wouldn't be a bad idea if the driver unlocked the doors on arrival at calling points).
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SDS
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« Reply #9 on: July 10, 2014, 13:19:16 » |
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The alternative would be a National Identity Card. Some pros to that, but IMHO▸ , mostly cons. The plan to introduce them in the last Govt. was, quite rightly, dropped.
However, it can be frustrating when a passport or driving licence is asked for and you don't have either. Last night I checked into a hotel and was asked for photo ID. I don't drive so have no licence and my travels were UK▸ based so no need for me to have my passport on me. Not even for the trip earlier in the day into deepest Norfolk! To be fair to Travelodge I was checking into one of their hotels near an airport (Gatwick) so there was probably a fair expectation on their part of a passport being held.
As for photo ID, they were happy in the end to accept my Govt. issued railcard.
You should know you need a passport when venturing into darkest deepest Naaaarfolk Just to prove your not one of the yocals. |
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I do not work for FGW▸ and posts should not be assumed and do not imply they are statements, unless explicitly stated that they are, from any TOC▸ including First Great Western.
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Red Squirrel
Administrator
Hero Member
Posts: 5502
There are some who call me... Tim
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« Reply #10 on: July 10, 2014, 14:48:22 » |
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The alternative would be a National Identity Card. Some pros to that, but IMHO▸ , mostly cons. The plan to introduce them in the last Govt. was, quite rightly, dropped.
However, it can be frustrating when a passport or driving licence is asked for and you don't have either. Last night I checked into a hotel and was asked for photo ID. I don't drive so have no licence and my travels were UK▸ based so no need for me to have my passport on me. Not even for the trip earlier in the day into deepest Norfolk! To be fair to Travelodge I was checking into one of their hotels near an airport (Gatwick) so there was probably a fair expectation on their part of a passport being held.
As for photo ID, they were happy in the end to accept my Govt. issued railcard.
In the USA they issue what is essentially a non-driving driver's licence for people who have the effrontery not to drive. (Note the terminological quirk, too: in the UK, we have driving licences; in the USA they're driver's licences). As an example, in New York you apply to the Department of Motor Vehicles for a Non-Driver ID card: http://dmv.ny.gov/org/id-card/bget-non-driver-id-card-ndid |
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Things take longer to happen than you think they will, and then they happen faster than you thought they could.
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Worcester_Passenger
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« Reply #11 on: July 10, 2014, 16:19:56 » |
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However, it can be frustrating when a passport or driving licence is asked for and you don't have either. Last night I checked into a hotel and was asked for photo ID. I don't drive so have no licence and my travels were UK▸ based so no need for me to have my passport on me. Not even for the trip earlier in the day into deepest Norfolk! To be fair to Travelodge I was checking into one of their hotels near an airport (Gatwick) so there was probably a fair expectation on their part of a passport being held.
A few years ago, I was caught out by Northlink Ferries demanding photo ID to allow me onto the Orkney ferry from Scrabster to Stromness. Why they want this, I don't know - CalMac had been completely happy about no photo ID on our earlier journeys. Anyway, I have an old driving licence - no photo. They eventually accepted my Worcestershire County Cricket Club season ticket card (with photo) as sufficient proof. They then issued boarding cards to the three of us. Two names were correct. The third was someone completely different. So much for security... |
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LiskeardRich
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« Reply #12 on: July 10, 2014, 21:00:31 » |
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On the same topic, is ID required to travel to Ireland by ferry.
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All posts are my own personal believes, opinions and understandings!
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grahame
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« Reply #13 on: July 10, 2014, 21:18:15 » |
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On the same topic, is ID required to travel to Ireland by ferry.
Stena say "British or Irish citizens travelling on our Irish Sea routes do not need a passport to travel to Britain or Ireland but are advised to take a form of identity. A driving licence, citizenship card or utility bill will usually suffice. A birth certificate will provide adequate proof of identity for your child to travel on our sailings." I have 'even' been asked for ID on boats to Belfast, which from Liverpool is a UK▸ to UK route |
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Coffee Shop Admin, Chair of Melksham Rail User Group, TravelWatch SouthWest Board Member
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thetrout
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« Reply #14 on: July 11, 2014, 06:27:12 » |
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Slightly off the specific genre of the topic. But nevertheless strongly related.
Being asked for ID for an Alcohol Purchase when dining with Ladyfriend trout a long time ago provoked a most interesting dispute. Ladyfriend trout had 2 Alcoholic Beverages which she had already fully drunk. However the Waitress when taking the payment refused to accept any payment without any form of Photographic ID from both myself and Ladyfriend trout.
Neither myself not Ladyfriend trout have a driving license. Ladyfriend trout has a Passport which at the time was over 100 miles away. My passport has been reported as Stolen and I have not had it replaced for various reasons. So the ID we had to provide was nothing.
A heated argument started after I pointed out that their Challenge 25 Policy was nil and void as the drinks had already been consumed. Therefore if either of us were under the legal age then the offence had already been committed regardless. Hoping Common Sense would prevail.
After generating a large audience through this waitress's complete lack of common sense and courtesy. We left the restaurant without paying. The restaurant (which is a chain but I won't name it) knows exactly who I am and where I live. But were frankly and bluntly far too embarrassed to pursue the matter.
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