• Our booking engine at tickets.railforums.co.uk (powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!

Friends and Family Railcard

Status
Not open for further replies.

Par

Member
Joined
26 Aug 2009
Messages
233
Looking for a bit of help please.

Our F&FRC expires on September 1st, but attempting to renew it online now, will only offer an expiry date of August 9th 2013 (ie only 49 weeks hence). This seems a bit of con to me, as surely it should be possible to date the card until September 1st 2013? (similar to getting a new MOT on a car before the old one expires)

I don't really want to leave it too late this month to renew online, as this current card was initially lost in the post, so I am very wary based on previous experience (plus I already have Advance tickets purchased for early September).

Looks like a trip to my nearest staffed station then, which is 6 miles away, unless someone has a better idea?
 
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R

RailUK Forums

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,151
If you want absolute certainty that you have a Railcard for a trip in early September for which you have already bought tickets then I think your safest bet is to visit a staffed ticket office, although I must emphasise that the Raicard will only be valid for one year from the date of issue, so if bought tomorrow, it will only be valid till 2/8/2013.
 

Par

Member
Joined
26 Aug 2009
Messages
233
If you want absolute certainty that you have a Railcard for a trip in early September for which you have already bought tickets then I think your safest bet is to visit a staffed ticket office, although I must emphasise that the Raicard will only be valid for one year from the date of issue.

I think so too, just mystified why, when renewing online, the new card cannot commence from the expiry date of the old one.

It doesn't seem such a difficult thing to facilitate to me, and hardly encourages people to renew in that way.
 

VTPreston_Tez

Member
Joined
26 Jan 2012
Messages
1,159
Location
Preston
You'll get it for a year from the day you buy it. Go to a station to get it within 5 minutes, online simply isn't worth the hassle tbh.
 

bb21

Emeritus Moderator
Joined
4 Feb 2010
Messages
24,151
I think so too, just mystified why, when renewing online, the new card cannot commence from the expiry date of the old one.

It doesn't seem such a difficult thing to facilitate to me, and hardly encourages people to renew in that way.

Technically it should be possible as details of your previous Railcard should already be in the database.
 

GadgetMan

Member
Joined
9 Jan 2012
Messages
923
From the FAQ section of railcards website;

3. How do I renew my Railcard online?
If you haven't bought a Railcard online before:

You will be treated as a new customer. Just click on “Buy Family & Friends Railcard Now” to buy a Railcard.

Then, simply follow the easy steps.

You will need:

your email address
the address details of where you would like your card to be delivered
1 credit or debit card
the billing address for your credit or debit card
Complete the online application process, and once you’ve paid online you will get an email confirmation from us, together with acknowledgement of your application number.

Your new Railcard will be despatched within one working day and sent free by First Class post.

If you bought your last Railcard online:

Simply log in, check/amend your personal details and then pay securely. As your last Railcard is on the system, you can renew up to 30 days before your current Railcard expires. Your new one will start when your old one expires, making sure you won't miss out on any savings.

Your Railcard will be despatched within one working day and sent free by First Class post.

Please leave sufficient time for your Railcard to arrive.

Daft questions but:

Are using the same username (email) and password to renew?
Did you go to the renewal part of the website as opposed to the purchasing new card? https://secure.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/FamilyRenew.do

Failing that try ringing them and sorting it on the phone if you wish;

08448 714 036
Mon to Fri - 7 am to 8 pm
Weekends - 8 am to 8 pm
 

SussexMan

Member
Joined
23 Oct 2010
Messages
476
I've also just renewed my F & F Railcard online and I ordered a three-year one and it runs from the date the original one-year one expires. You just have to make sure you bought them through the same on-line account. i.e. if you buy the first at your ticket office, you can't renew online and get the new one to run from the date of expiry of the first.
 

zoothorn

Member
Joined
18 Feb 2011
Messages
29
I have found that if using the Daily Mail half price railcard offer, that you have to go in as a new customer with a different email address to any used previously otherwise the system pulls up your previous railcard, assumes a renewal and then disallows the Daily Mail offer code. The net result is that you either pay full whack and geta new railcard that follows your current one. or you save £14 for a few days of duplicate validity. I know which option I chose. Also in my experience the cards are despatched very quickly after ordering and so far none have gone missing in the post.
 

Par

Member
Joined
26 Aug 2009
Messages
233
From the FAQ section of railcards website;



Daft questions but:

Are using the same username (email) and password to renew?
Did you go to the renewal part of the website as opposed to the purchasing new card? https://secure.familyandfriends-railcard.co.uk/FamilyRenew.do

Failing that try ringing them and sorting it on the phone if you wish;

08448 714 036
Mon to Fri - 7 am to 8 pm
Weekends - 8 am to 8 pm

Yes, using the same email and account that I used when purchasing the current card. It expires on September 1st, but the proposed renewal date being offered is 9th August.

Yes, I am using the renewal section and not applying as a new customer.

Thanks for all the replies.
 

PaxVobiscum

Established Member
Joined
4 Feb 2012
Messages
2,395
Location
Glasgow
Yes, using the same email and account that I used when purchasing the current card. It expires on September 1st, but the proposed renewal date being offered is 9th August.

Yes, I am using the renewal section and not applying as a new customer.

Could it be as simple as not being able to renew with consecutive validity until a certain number of days (7?) before the existing card expires? Can't find anything about it on their website though. Phone or email would probably be best to solve the mystery.
 

starstruck

Member
Joined
11 Jul 2012
Messages
7
Ordered my new railcard last friday 27/07/12 and it arrived on Monday morning and I was given an extra week for the expiry date 03/08/13.
 

GadgetMan

Member
Joined
9 Jan 2012
Messages
923
Could it be as simple as not being able to renew with consecutive validity until a certain number of days (7?) before the existing card expires? Can't find anything about it on their website though. Phone or email would probably be best to solve the mystery.

30 days before expiry according to the FAQ I've pasted above.
 

island

Veteran Member
Joined
30 Dec 2010
Messages
15,982
Location
0036
Ordered my new railcard last friday 27/07/12 and it arrived on Monday morning and I was given an extra week for the expiry date 03/08/13.

They give an extra few days of validity on online railcards to account for postal delays.
 

David Goddard

Established Member
Joined
8 Aug 2011
Messages
1,502
Location
Reading
We always let our railcards expire then buy a new one the next time we travel.

That way we dont waste the period of time between renewal and first trip, restarting the year at the latter point.
 

Par

Member
Joined
26 Aug 2009
Messages
233
Tried again [online] late this afternoon from my original account, but still being offered a card expiring on 9th August 2013.

Eventually phoned up and renewed over the phone "there and then" and the advisor said, "Yes, no problem, your new card will run from September 2012 until September 2013".

So still mystified though, and he (the advisor) couldn't offer any kind of explanation why the online application didn't work!

I'll see what turns up in the post next week.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Top