| Re: Refund Rules for walk-up tickets are changing from April 1st Posted by PhilWakely at 11:57, 22nd February 2026 |     |
I understand that this is to counter ticket fraud, where unchecked tickets or tickets not put through an automatic barrier have been submitted for refunds, despite the ticket holder having travelled.
I'm guessing that the 'certain exceptional conditions' will include (but not necessarily limited to).... Disruption resulting in the ticket holder not starting or abandoning the journey; health conditions where the holder is unable to travel, etc. Whether guidelines will be published or the decision left to the discretion of the retailer, I do not know.
I'm guessing that the 'certain exceptional conditions' will include (but not necessarily limited to).... Disruption resulting in the ticket holder not starting or abandoning the journey; health conditions where the holder is unable to travel, etc. Whether guidelines will be published or the decision left to the discretion of the retailer, I do not know.
I have only (personally) made use of it once that I can recall - having bought a ticket for someone staying with us, but on the morning she was headed for Manchester, plans were changed on a family crisis. I was actually pleasantly surprised I could get my money back, even though validity had started.
I guess (or would hope!), that this falls within 'exceptional circumstances' after 1st April
| Re: Refund Rules for walk-up tickets are changing from April 1st Posted by grahame at 11:32, 22nd February 2026 | |
I understand that this is to counter ticket fraud, where unchecked tickets or tickets not put through an automatic barrier have been submitted for refunds, despite the ticket holder having travelled.
I'm guessing that the 'certain exceptional conditions' will include (but not necessarily limited to).... Disruption resulting in the ticket holder not starting or abandoning the journey; health conditions where the holder is unable to travel, etc. Whether guidelines will be published or the decision left to the discretion of the retailer, I do not know.
I'm guessing that the 'certain exceptional conditions' will include (but not necessarily limited to).... Disruption resulting in the ticket holder not starting or abandoning the journey; health conditions where the holder is unable to travel, etc. Whether guidelines will be published or the decision left to the discretion of the retailer, I do not know.
The reasoning is logical in terms of ticket fraud - though it does tell us something about the system which does not routinely check ticket validity when travelling, and leaves space for such fraud. Mind you, there are other countries where ticket checking is not routine, but where people tend to follow the rules because either they are more law abiding, or more afraid of being putatively caught.
Whether the old refund-even-when-validity-started was correct is a different and interesting discussion. I have only (personally) made use of it once that I can recall - having bought a ticket for someone staying with us, but on the morning she was headed for Manchester, plans were changed on a family crisis. I was actually pleasantly surprised I could get my money back, even though validity had started.
| Refund Rules for walk-up tickets are changing from April 1st Posted by PhilWakely at 09:45, 22nd February 2026 | |
If you purchase a walk-up ticket (from any retailer) on or after 1st April 2026, you will no longer be able to submit it for a refund once the ticket becomes valid for travel - although 'certain exceptional conditions' will still allow you to do so.
Just to complicate matters - if you purchase a walk-up ticket before 1st April for travel after that date, then you will still be able to submit the ticket for a refund after 1st April under the current conditions.
I understand that this is to counter ticket fraud, where unchecked tickets or tickets not put through an automatic barrier have been submitted for refunds, despite the ticket holder having travelled.
I'm guessing that the 'certain exceptional conditions' will include (but not necessarily limited to).... Disruption resulting in the ticket holder not starting or abandoning the journey; health conditions where the holder is unable to travel, etc. Whether guidelines will be published or the decision left to the discretion of the retailer, I do not know.
