I wasn't sure whether this belonged in this forum or the other fares forum, so feel free to move it if necessary.
I purchased 2 Adult and 2 Child O-P Day Travelcards on the Southern website with FAM discount. I collected these from a TVM at Chichester station.
The Adult tickets came out as expected, a single ticket with roundel and "Day Travelcard" on the top. However, the Child tickets were printed as two separate coupons, one from Chichester to London Zones 1-6, and a return in the other direction. As shown in the picture, they are not Zone U1* type tickets, and do not bear the roundel.
I queried this at the gateline at Chichester who confirmed that it would work as a Travelcard in London. The ticket was accepted at Victoria, and returned to me again at Westminster. However, upon returning to Westminster the ticket did not work, much in the way of a Zone U1* type, but we were allowed through at the assistance gate. Again at South Kensington, the ticket was accepted and returned.
At Leicester Square, the ticket would not work the barriers as expected, but the gateline staff point blank refused to allow us to pass. I reinforced the point that it was not a Zone U1* type, and that Southern had confirmed it was a Travelcard. The ticket office agreed with the barrier staff, leading to the purchase of another Travelcard, as shown in the attachment with receipt (the other child is under 10, and so travelled free). I didn't use the return portion of the ticket until departing Victoria on NR.
So, to cut a long story short, I was sold a Travelcard by Southern that only appeared to function as a Zone U1* type ticket. Some LU staff accepted it after first use, but some didn't. I therefore have two questions before I continue.
1. What is the ticket I was sold? (A return from Chichester to London Zones 1-6 does not even exist on BR Fares!)
2. Therefore, who is in the wrong here? (I have a strong inclination it might be Southern, in that the TVM/booking system printed the wrong type of ticket, given it was a flat fare.)
I know the dispute is only over £3.40, but I want to stop any other people being caught out by this.
Thanks in advance.
I purchased 2 Adult and 2 Child O-P Day Travelcards on the Southern website with FAM discount. I collected these from a TVM at Chichester station.
The Adult tickets came out as expected, a single ticket with roundel and "Day Travelcard" on the top. However, the Child tickets were printed as two separate coupons, one from Chichester to London Zones 1-6, and a return in the other direction. As shown in the picture, they are not Zone U1* type tickets, and do not bear the roundel.
I queried this at the gateline at Chichester who confirmed that it would work as a Travelcard in London. The ticket was accepted at Victoria, and returned to me again at Westminster. However, upon returning to Westminster the ticket did not work, much in the way of a Zone U1* type, but we were allowed through at the assistance gate. Again at South Kensington, the ticket was accepted and returned.
At Leicester Square, the ticket would not work the barriers as expected, but the gateline staff point blank refused to allow us to pass. I reinforced the point that it was not a Zone U1* type, and that Southern had confirmed it was a Travelcard. The ticket office agreed with the barrier staff, leading to the purchase of another Travelcard, as shown in the attachment with receipt (the other child is under 10, and so travelled free). I didn't use the return portion of the ticket until departing Victoria on NR.
So, to cut a long story short, I was sold a Travelcard by Southern that only appeared to function as a Zone U1* type ticket. Some LU staff accepted it after first use, but some didn't. I therefore have two questions before I continue.
1. What is the ticket I was sold? (A return from Chichester to London Zones 1-6 does not even exist on BR Fares!)
2. Therefore, who is in the wrong here? (I have a strong inclination it might be Southern, in that the TVM/booking system printed the wrong type of ticket, given it was a flat fare.)
I know the dispute is only over £3.40, but I want to stop any other people being caught out by this.
Thanks in advance.