Tickets & Railcards: problems with fading ink/magnetic strips (merged topic, ongoing discussion)

[whole diary]

[Chris from Nailsea]

With thanks for your posting that information, SDS pad, I've now amended the heading of this topic to more accurately reflect what we're all ... err, moaning about, here. 

[Alan Pettitt]

Just an update about my faded Railcard.
I took it to Trowbridge ticket office yesterday for a replacement, together with the stamped receipt. He barely spoke two words to me, just took the Railcard out of its wallet, peered at it, I told him that I had the receipt with the expiry date and number on it, he didn't seem interested. He wrote the expiry date on the back and stamped the back and wrote PTO on the front. When I told him that he had written 11 OCT 14 instead of 17 OCT he peered at it again (still didn't look at the receipt), said 'Yes' and changed the 11 to 17. I don't think he was having a good day somehow. I can foresee problems with this in a few months time if it continually has to be taken out of the wallet for the reverse to be looked at. Strange, he's usually such a cheerful chap!

[ChrisB]

If the change looks obvious, expect queries between 11 & 17th then!

Frankly, I'd take it & the receipt to another ticket office soon, explain that you've been asked to get it changed by a ticket inspector, and ask for a proper replacement!

[SDS]

Agree, Id go to a different ticket office with receipt and say an RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) warned you to get it changed as a matter of urgency because other "inspectors might assume you altered the date yourself".

Also in the long term it would save ticket office staff time in that they wouldnt have to keep asking for it to be removed from the wallet etc etc

[SDS]

Just spotted this on FRPP/The Manual


Changes to Season Ticket, Photocard & Railcard Stock

From late December 2013, updated Season Ticket, Photocard and Railcard stock will come into circulation.

These new stocks will be automatically sent out when you place new orders with Magnadata. Current Season Ticket, Photocard and Railcard stock should continue to be issued and accepted until further notice.

NEW Bi-laminate Ticket Stock

To minimise incidents of ticket stock curling and of print fading over time, the following ticket stocks will be issued on a new bi-laminate ticket stock:
Senior Railcard (7599/197)
16-25 Railcard (7599/217)
Family & Friends Railcard (7599/253)
Network Railcard (7599/275)
Annual Gold Card (7599/24)
Annual Gold Card Travelcard (7599/66)
Period Season Ticket - blue stock (9699)
The new bi-laminate ticket stock feels glossy on the front and reverse.

Design Changes

There have been subtle changes to the design of Season Tickets, Photocards and Railcards. These changes are:

FRONT
National Rail roundel: National Rail roundel with double arrow replaces the standalone double arrow (crow^s feet) symbol.
Season ticket security print: The words ^National Rail^ will be used in the background security print on the front of Season tickets.
Travelcards: Transport for London roundel and National Rail roundel on Travelcard ticket stocks are now blue or black. Previously these were red.
BACK
Terms & Conditions wording: The wording on the back of Season Tickets, Photocards and Railcards has been standardised wherever possible.
Annual Gold Card wording: Annual Gold Card ticket stocks include additional wording referring holders to www.nationalrail.co.uk/goldcard for details of Gold Card discounts.
Advertising & short term messaging: Advertising and short term messaging may appear on the back of some Season Ticket stocks above the magnetic stripe from time to time.
All other aspects remain the same. A full retail brief will be circulated shortly.

Item submitted by ATOC^» (Association of Train Operating Companies See - here) Commercial
06 December 2013

[Alan Pettitt]

Thank you all, taking it all on board, it just amazes me that it's not 2 months' old yet and you can't read the number, my name or the issuing station any more just a scribbled date on the back!