What is the training for TM's these days........

[whole diary]

[Mookiemoo]

Look - I know I push the rules with my rail card this is not about that really - I have my own ongoing argument with a member of FGW^▸ (First Great Western) staff who is being obnoxious

HOWEVER

I was coming back from peterborough - due to problems in stevenage area I was delayed on way to meeting and  way back

I was boooked on the 1430 but was hungry so forwent my advance to get chilli at the sloe bar and decided to get the 1530

ok

TM^‡(resolve) - agreed to sell me a YP discount on a walk on fare (we all know thats dubious) but would not do an off peak because I had not made myself known as sooon as I got on board - as soon as I saw the TM I flagged him down and said I need to buy a ticket

So - he's a stickler for not selling something he can but sells something he shouldnt anyway!


To clarify

If I'd got him first (I was in H I didnt think on leaving PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) there was much earlier I could do it) he would have sold me a first walk on off peak return with my discount - because I didnt find him he would only sell me an any time single (but still with the YP discount)  - fine
 
except I suspect what he sold was more wrong than the other

and you wonder why I have little respect for the rules

[inspector_blakey]

Hmm.

Were you attempting to buy the ticket on board in the hope of scoring a dubious Y-P discount via Avantix^▸ (Ticket Issuing System used on board trains) rather than buying it beforehand at the booking office where you knew that wouldn't happen? If so then TM^‡(resolve) would have been perfectly within his rights to raise the full fare for the applicable journey without the benefit of Y-P or off-peak discounts. Bit odd that he offered Y-P but no off-peak admittedly, but technically he should not have offered either.

Would you have more respect for the rules if they were rigidly enforced to the letter at all times, and you never got an iffy Y-P discount on first class fares on-board? Or indeed any kind of discount?

The only similar experience I can relate involved a journey from Oxford, pre-Scheidt & Bachmann TVMs^▸ (Ticket Vending Machine) at silly-o-clock one Saturday morning long before the booking office opened. Bought a permit to travel, and didn't have a reasonable opportunity to buy a connecting ticket at Reading (Bristol services diverted via B&H^▸ (Berks and Hants - railway line from Reading to Taunton via Westbury), incoming train slightly late on a tightish connection and the lady in the excess fares window at Reading having trouble getting her machine set up to issue me a ticket). TM offered me an off-peak ticket but flatly refused to allow Y-P discount, having apparently not heard of the CoC^▸ (Chamber of Commerce TBA). I ended up coughing up the amount he wanted after a long discussion but got the whole fare refunded and a profuse apology from FGW^▸ (First Great Western) when I appealed in writing.

[ChrisB]

If you choose to ignore the Y-P rules, do you really think you are able to comment on how any member of staff applies the rules?

Should you even have a Y-P card
?

[grahame]

Going off topic ... I have a side question that I have wondered about that this post reminds me of.   It's hypothetical at the moment, but very plausible ...

Scenario:

I have to meet with someone which involves me being in London for three hours ... so I book advanced fares on the 10:25 from Chippenham to London (due 11:38) and to return on the 15:00 from Paddington.  (Currently I could do that for 33 pounds on 23rd March, for example).

Due to a signal failure / broken rail / broken down train blocking the track between Chippenham and Swindon, the 10:25 gets stuck / delayed / cancelled, the line's not available, and I don't reach London until about 1 O'clock.

Control do an excellent job of getting trains sorted out, and come a quarter to 4 when I turn up at Paddington to come home, everything's running to time again.

My question ... as I was delayed by the rail industry, is my 15.50 Advanced ticket for the 15:00 now available on the next available train - i.e. the 16:00 ?

[ChrisB]

Unfortunately not. You have bought two single Advance tickets, which legally equate to two separate journeys.

The way to deal with this is on (late) arrival at PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains). Where you should seek out permission to get your return ticket endorsed. However, the TOC^▸ (Train Operating Company) would be within their rights to suggest that you apply for refund on the outward delay via compensation and to buy another single return (yes, I know it won't be a cheap Advance). THat would be the legal minimum they would be required to do for you.

It's the chance you take buying Advances.

However, I would hope that they'd play ball & endorse your return ticket - but the time to get that done is on arrival. That will make you even later for your meeting, but if it's that important, don't travel on tightly-timed Advance tickets....

[Brucey]

You'll get caught by an RPI^▸ (Revenue Protection Inspector (or Retail Price Index, depending on the context)) sooner or later Mookiemoo - I make it ^79 for a First Class Penalty Fare between PAD^» (Paddington (London) - next trains) and RDG^‡(resolve).  Then another ^92.50 for a single fare from RDG to BRI^» (Bristol Temple Meads - next trains).  Ouch.

[Mookiemoo]

No, in this case it was a genuine ran for the train.  I had intended to get the 1600 and go standard but forgot the 1530 was none stop to nailsea.  At 1520 I remembered this so abandoned the remainder of my dinner and legged it to platform 1 after Ipacked up the lappy and all and just above dove in as the doors were being closed.

Of course, no tables in standard left at all so I said, screw it, and hoofed out for a first class

[paul7575]

No, in this case it was a genuine ran for the train. 

Is there such a thing?

Paul

[vacman]

doesn't matter if you do run for the train, is still a PF^▸ (Penalty Fare)!

[noddingdonkey]

Sorry to be slow but is it not the case that first class fares are not subject to a 16-25 railcard discount unless they are advance fares?

[inspector_blakey]

You are correct.

 

[Mookiemoo]

ok - I was a bit miffed last night that someone who was jobs worth enough not to offer off peak was also willing to offer the bigger no no of YP on FC^‡(resolve) walk on

Yes, I know YP on FC walk on is not allowed and yes I know the advantix will issue them if the TM^‡(resolve) chooses.


Now, (and take note if my stalker is reading this) I have where possible been using FC advance and/or going standard but  I won't go standard if I can't get a bit of a table - then I go FC and either pay full whack or get the asked for discount.   If TM doesn't sell it to me - fine - if they do - I just asked for a bottle of Bollinger for a fiver - not my problem if its sold to me


I am entitled to a YP card as I have an ISIC card which I qualify for.

[ChrisB]

Its not being a jobsworth if someone adhres to ticketing rules. No harm trying it on, but uou know the rules, and ought to accept without moaning if you are only offered the correct fare

[TheLastMinute]

Purely in the interests of correcting inaccurate information (and not wanting picking a fight with anyone), it's not the holding of a ISIC card that gives the entitlement to a YP railcard but rather the act of studying full-time at a recognised school/college and attending for over 15 hours a week for at least 20 weeks a year. Open University, distance learning or part-time courses are specificity excluded.

However, holding a ISIC cards is accepted as proof that the holder is on a qualifying full time course despite the fact that those studying an OU courses giving 60 points or more are entitled to hold a ISIC card.

Cheers,
TLM

[Mookiemoo]

Purely in the interests of correcting inaccurate information (and not wanting picking a fight with anyone), it's not the holding of a ISIC card that gives the entitlement to a YP railcard but rather the act of studying full-time at a recognised school/college and attending for over 15 hours a week for at least 20 weeks a year. Open University, distance learning or part-time courses are specificity excluded.

However, holding a ISIC cards is accepted as proof that the holder is on a qualifying full time course despite the fact that those studying an OU courses giving 60 points or more are entitled to hold a ISIC card.

Cheers,
TLM

yup

been discussed ad nauseum on here

My ISIC card actually has OU printed on it............ never had anyone not issue me a YP card