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Problem spending Rail Travel Voucher

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Saperstein

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Hi,

I approached a Merseyrail booking office this lunchtime looking to top-up my Walrus thing with a Saveaway ticket for today and tomorrow.

I had planned to pay using either a Tfw or TPE £10 Rail Travel Voucher and the other £1.10 by cash because I didn’t want to lose out on the no change rule.

I was basically told that they don’t accept RTV’s for Saveaway tickets, so I ended up paying by credit card which she made me do in 2 transactions for £5.55 each.

Is it correct that one cannot use RTV’s with Merseyrail for the full range of tickets available?

Regards

Saperstein.
 
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Starmill

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It sounds like they didn't want to accept the voucher to me, so they made something up.
 

_toommm_

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I'm not sure of the situation with Merseyrail ticket offices, but you can definitely buy Saveaways with RTVs - I've done it at Oxford Road.
 

gray1404

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It is highly unlikely they can't accept a RTV for payment for a Saveaway. I it is more then likely to be Merseyrail wanting to do things their way as usual. I would have thought that Merseyrail is obliged to accept RTVs. It sounds to be like they are making it up. However, I wonder if it is only possible to add one product to a Wallrus card at a time due to software limitations, hence asking you to pay twice. In which case you would have not been able to use your voucher anyway. Either that or the person serving you really doesn't have a clue even how to sell more then one ticket at a time.

It certainly is worth a quick email to Merseyrail giving your feedback and seeking clarification.

Again it begs the question, why opt for delay repay to be paid in RTVs when bank transfer or payment onto a card is an option. It cuts out all these (ever growing) problems in using them.
 

Saperstein

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Hi @gray1404

It is highly unlikely they can't accept a RTV for payment for a Saveaway. I it is more then likely to be Merseyrail wanting to do things their way as usual. I would have thought that Merseyrail is obliged to accept RTVs. It sounds to be like they are making it up.

My thinking exactly.

However, I wonder if it is only possible to add one product to a Wallrus card at a time due to software limitations, hence asking you to pay twice. In which case you would have not been able to use your voucher anyway. Either that or the person serving you really doesn't have a clue even how to sell more then one ticket at a time.

I wouldn’t have minded paper tickets at the end of the day if she couldn’t do Walrus but she was adamant ME didn’t accept RTV’s for Saveaway’s.

Gonna try my luck with Northern at Chester tmrw for Thursday and Saturday tickets.

It certainly is worth a quick email to Merseyrail giving your feedback and seeking clarification.

Yes, gonna do that.

Again it begs the question, why opt for delay repay to be paid in RTVs when bank transfer or payment onto a card is an option. It cuts out all these (ever growing) problems in using them.

The RTV’s in question come from a gesture of goodwill (TfW) and I cannot even remember what the TPE one was for.

I usually choose BACS or Credit/Debit card nowadays where the option is available.

Southern though strangely seems to have a problem crediting MasterCard and AMEX cards just now.

Regards

Saperstein.
 

gray1404

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Be prepared to respond to Merseyrail asking for a Manager to review if they try to fob you off.

I don't think you'll have any problems using the RTVs, even for Saveaways, at Chester. They should be able to issue more then one in the same transaction too and they will be on paper tickets. I am not sure where on Merseyrail you were but if in Liverpool City Centre, it's often worth the walk across to the Travel Centre at Liverpool Lime Street as this is ran by Northern and many of the staff in there are ex-BR and very experienced.

I see, sometimes worth accepting RTVs as goodwill gesture if value will be higher then usual delay repay entitlement. Yes, Southern/GTR have had this problem before with some cards. Visa and BACs payment seems to be fine though.
 

L401CJF

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Could it be that they assumed it wasn't allowed due to being a Merseytravel product rather than a TOC product? Maybe it would have been accepted for Merseyrails own day saver? Just a thought..
 

gray1404

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The Savaway allows travel on all National Rail services in Merseyside and can be purchased from National Rail booking offices. I see no reason why it couldn't have been accepted. It could be that Merseyrail refused a valid method of payment.
 

Intermodal

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It is definitely the case that the staff member just didn't want to do it or didn't know how to do it. Merseyrail ticket offices are a law unto themselves and always have been. I remember when one refused to sell me a ticket to Birmingham because "We can only sell tickets within the Merseyrail network".
 

L401CJF

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The Savaway allows travel on all National Rail services in Merseyside and can be purchased from National Rail booking offices. I see no reason why it couldn't have been accepted. It could be that Merseyrail refused a valid method of payment.

Absolutely right, but it is a Merseytravel ticket so they may have thought an RTV wasn't allowed given its a PTE product? Also given a lot of their network is self contained, staff member may not even know what an RTV is. As others have said, they can be a law unto themselves...

A-Didn't think it was allowed for PTE ticket/Didn't know what an RTV was/new staff member so unsure generally
B-Making up their own rules/couldn't be bothered

Last time I topped a Walrus up at a Mersey station, they charged me for it but didn't load it onto the card.. got to Lime St L/L barriers and said no valid product! The guy in the office there took my card and receipt and sorted it for me.
 

robbeech

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Without wishing to go too far off topic, one of the obvious benefits to RTV payment is based around expenses and tax.
 

Saperstein

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Update: Sure enough, no problems at Chester booking office today buying 2x Saveaways for 30&31 January, I simply paid with a £10 RTV and the £1.10 difference in cash.

Issued on 2x orange ticket stock as expected.

Regards

Saperstein
 

Saperstein

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Hi,

Well I called at the same Wirral station today (Saturday) where I had trouble with the above previously.

I asked the teller for a Safeway All areas @ £5.55 for Monday.

Told no can do I can only have one for today or tomorrow.

I had a single from Chester for today and am not travelling tomorrow!

I’ve definitely bought next day and the day after at Chester before now on orange ticket stock.

I’m sure she was wrong but I had a taxi waiting and didn’t have time to argue!

If they can’t get this Walrus thing done properly they shouldn’t be selling it!

Rant over.

Saperstein.
 

gray1404

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My understanding is that the Walrus card can only have a Saveaway put on it for the same day or the following day.

If the ticket was issued on orange ticket stock, such as at Chester, then it would not be subject to this restriction.

With hindsight might have been better to get the ticket before you left Chester. I don't know if you might be near a store that has Paypoint (on either Sunday or Monday) as these can also sell you a Saveaway for the same or following day onto a Walrus card.
 

L401CJF

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My understanding is that the Walrus card can only have a Saveaway put on it for the same day or the following day.

I believe this is the case yes. The main perk to the old scratchcard saveaways meant you could stock up plenty of them in the cupboard and scratch off on any day you liked. If only they wernt so vulnerable to fraud, forgery and defacing! They are still available as a replacement for the national transport token but don't see them often
 

Saperstein

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Update:

OK. I called at another Merseyrail station on the Wirral today and tried the same tactic as I did in post #1.

This time, no problem whatsoever, the teller did two cash transactions and I simply paid the extra £1.10 in cash.

I never did get round to emailing Merseyrail for their opinion but today proves it’s possible.

Saperstein.
 

gray1404

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So for clarity that's using a RTV as part payment for a Saveaway at a Merseyrail booking office, the ticket being loaded onto a Wallrus card? Was the Saveaway for today, tomorrow or a date in the future?
 

6Gman

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I see, sometimes worth accepting RTVs as goodwill gesture if value will be higher then usual delay repay entitlement.

I've been notified today of a delay repay payment of 44p by RTV. Is there a minimum value? (I'm hoping for a pound :D )
 

paddington

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Northern sent me an RTV of 61p. I used it for 0.05% off an annual London Z1-3 travelcard.
 

Saperstein

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Chester
So for clarity that's using a RTV as part payment for a Saveaway at a Merseyrail booking office, the ticket being loaded onto a Wallrus card? Was the Saveaway for today, tomorrow or a date in the future?

Hi @gray1404

Yes. I used a £10 TfW RTV and paid £1.10 cash and I received a Saveaway all areas for today (Friday 14th) and tomorrow (Saturday 15th).

I was given printed receipts showing this for both days and on checking

https://www.metro-smart.org.uk/

I can see the tickets loaded successfully.

Just a shame one cannot top-up online for rail travel.

Saperstein.

3728B7E0-3292-48B4-A2DC-1AD69E16AA95.png
 

Saperstein

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Chester
Hi @6Gman,

I've been notified today of a delay repay payment of 44p by RTV. Is there a minimum value? (I'm hoping for a pound :D )

Apparently not, unless it varies with TOC.

I have one in my wallet from Northern for £0.68 after they cancelled the first leg of a RNH to LSW journey last year.

Saperstein.
 
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