Rail Travel Vouchers to be replaced by cash refunds/compensation. - BBC News

[whole diary]

[ChrisB]

Indeed they can - and if left uncrossed, cashed.

However, if crossed, they *have* to be deposited to a bank account - and if A/C Payee added, into an account in the payees name (ie not transferable)

I was saying that cheques used to operate in the same way....it appears they no longer do, although still printed with A/C Payee & crossed. Seems to be odd that these rules don't apply to cheques any longer.

[stuving]

Indeed they can - and if left uncrossed, cashed.

However, if crossed, they *have* to be deposited to a bank account - and if A/C Payee added, into an account in the payees name (ie not transferable)

I was saying that cheques used to operate in the same way....it appears they no longer do, although still printed with A/C Payee & crossed. Seems to be odd that these rules don't apply to cheques any longer.

I think that misses the point. Look at it this way:

BG^▸ (Brake Gangway (carriage)) send you a letter, on part of which is printed a cheque. That can be paid into an account, as determined by statute. BG and their bankers HSBC offer an extra facility, whereby if you bring back the whole letter they will take back the cheque (and in effect cancel it) and treat it as a cash voucher. Nothing to stop them doing that if they want to - and it does not involve the law about cheques at all.

As it happens, they demand the same ID as would be suitable for opening a bank account (perhaps with some limitations) in any case. So you might say they have opened and account, paid in the cheque, and closed the account paying you out the money. However, I don't suppose they could really do that without even telling you about it.

[ChrisB]

yes, that makes sense

[Tim]

I don't see why the claim forms cannot have an option for the customer to choose their repayment preference, either cheque or payment into bank account.  Maybe the cheque could be payable for cash at the drawing bank for those without bank accounts.

Refunding to a credit/debit card would add an extra complexity, especially where the ticket retailer is not the compensating TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company).

As the person in my firm responsible for compliance with the anti-money laundering rules, I can see very well why a ToC would want to insist that repayment was made to the same card/account that payment was received from. 

[TonyK]

But what's the point of 'A/C Payee' then? Crazy & odd

It establishes the principle that the cheque is a non-negotiable instrument of payment. More importantly to the law, it protects the person with the true entitlement to the money from "conversion" of that entitlement by another by fraud. If you are not the proper payee, it doesn't matter how the cheque got into your account, the money ain't yours.

[JayMac]

Compensation for delays will be available in 'money' from 19th July 2015. On this date a new National Rail Conditions of Carriage comes into effect. This specifies that the choice of how compensation is paid rests with the passenger: 'Money' or Rail Travel Vouchers. How 'money' compensation is paid will depend on the payment method used to purchase the ticket.

From the National Rail Conditions of Carriage (from July 19th 2015):

Compensation will be paid in rail travel vouchers or, at your request, in money. This will be by means of a refund to the debit or credit card used to pay for your ticket or, at the Train Company^s discretion, in notes and coins, a cheque or a bank transfer payment (usually referred to as a BACS payment).

[TonyK]

Compensation for delays will be available in 'money' from 19th July 2015. On this date a new National Rail Conditions of Carriage comes into effect. This specifies that the choice of how compensation is paid rests with the passenger: 'Money' or Rail Travel Vouchers. How 'money' compensation is paid will depend on the payment method used to purchase the ticket.

Refund to my credit card will do me fine. Just don't ask for my 3% cashback back.

[JayMac]

From today compensation is available in 'money'. Cash, cheque, direct bank transfer, or refund to credit/debit card.

Rail delays: Passengers to get cash compensation - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-33583904

That article has incorrect information about minimum levels of compensation. The new National Rail Conditions of Carriage mandates a minimum of 50% of the cost of the effected portion of the journey for delays of an hour or more. Many TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) are more generous than this though.

[TaplowGreen]

Good news indeed.

Is there any news yet on compensation for season ticket holders in respect of the recent strikes?

[bobm]

As I use my business account to buy tickets and therefore get charged for each debit and credit entry I would rather have vouchers IF only they could be used on line.

Having already paid to use my card to buy them and then been charged for the credit back I would rather not pay charges AGAIN to purchase a second ticket.

However as vouchers can currently only be used at booking offices I guess the money I pay in bank charges would be offset by not having to go to the station with vouchers which cannot be used on line.

[Brucey]

Do any TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) (other than Southern) exchange their RTVs for cash?  I have a few at home from a variety of operators but never use a booking office any more (my usual station is TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) only and advance fares are bought online).

[sanfrandragon]

Good news indeed.

Is there any news yet on compensation for season ticket holders in respect of the recent strikes?

As of 13th July Maidenhead ticket office told me comp was yet to be decided.

[JayMac]

Do any TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) (other than Southern) exchange their RTVs for cash?  I have a few at home from a variety of operators but never use a booking office any more (my usual station is TVM^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) only and advance fares are bought online).

As far as I'm aware vouchers issued both prior to and post changes to the Conditions of Carriage remain non exchangeable for cash, excepting those issued by Southern.

[ChrisB]

Good news indeed.

Is there any news yet on compensation for season ticket holders in respect of the recent strikes?

As of 13th July Maidenhead ticket office told me comp was yet to be decided.

I understand that if you enquire again, you'll find that monthly & longer NON L&TV seasons have been granted two void days.


There was sufficient a service on L&TV such that only delay compensation on the advertised amended-in-advance timetable is on offer

[JayMac]

First Great Western have decided that if you want a cash refund it will be at the rates published in the National Rail Conditions of Carriage. If you opt for Rail Travel Vouchers it will be at the rates published in their Passenger's Charter. By my reckoning that means:

High Speed Services If you are delayed by more than an hour on a long distance service you can have 100% of the cost of your single ticket in RTVs or 50% in RTVs if it's a return ticket. If you want cash it's 50% of the cost of a single ticket and 50% of the cost of the relevant portion of a return ticket. That means 25% of the price paid for a return ticket.

London & Thames Valley On LTV^▸ (London [and] Thames Valley) services you can get compensation in RTVs that is 50% of the cost of your ticket (single or return) if your journey is of an hour or more and you are delayed by an hour or more, or if your journey is less than an hour and you are delayed by over 30 minutes. If you want cash, as per the NRCoC^▸ (National Rail Conditions of Carriage), your delay has to be over an hour regardless of scheduled journey length and it's 50% of the cost of a single ticket and 50% of the cost of the relevant portion of a return ticket. That means 25% of the price paid for a return ticket.

West Services On local and suburban services in the west, south west and south coast (former Wessex Trains), if your journey is delayed by more than an hour you can get compensation in RTVs to the value of 50% of the cost of your single ticket and 25% if a return ticket is held. You'll get the same if you want cash. If your journey is delayed in excess of two hours you can get compensation in RTVs for the full cost of your ticket, but if you want cash compensation for a two hour plus delay it'll only be 50% of a single, 25% of a return.

Compensation - payment method

As per our Passengers Charter compensation is paid in the form of Rail Travel Vouchers or via an e-voucher, which will show as a credit on your First Great Western online account, we will always ask which you prefer. From the 19th July 2015 passengers can also request to receive compensation in cash and this will be paid, via a cheque at the rate set down in the National Conditions of Carriage.

https://www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk/about-us/customer-services/compensation

Well done FGW^▸ (First Great Western) for making the compensation arrangements even more difficult and anti-passenger. Why couldn't you just match the cash compensation arrangement to those in your passenger charter? Oh, I see, because the NRCoC is less generous in most cases and it just isn't good customer service in your eyes to go above and beyond.