Been a bit silly....

[185]

Easy. If questioned, play daft and explain that someone very nice from Virgin at Birmingham New Street did it as you were'nt sure what date you were going, and they explained it to you, by circling the date. Allegedly

 

[WestCoast]

Surely a biro ring doesn't invalidate the ticket, it could just be highlighting the date it's valid, perhaps (as others have said) by ticket office staff..

Plus, it's an advance valid for one train and one train only, plus connections if applicable.

 

[34D]

The real question here is why there is a guard going round clipping tickets in this manner!

 

[BestWestern]

The real question here is why there is a guard going round clipping tickets in this manner!

Very common indeed. It seems that not all TOCs are as fussed as mine is about the use of some sort of proper kit for cancelling tickets. We have bl**dy great bit stamper things, can't mistake our markings!

As for having scribbled on the wrong ticket, we've all done that a few times. Could have been rushing, tired, just plain old disinterested etc, who knows?!

 

[island]

A guard I spoke to once said the Zifa stampers cause too much of a mess and rub off!

 

[BestWestern]

A guard I spoke to once said the Zifa stampers cause too much of a mess and rub off!

Yeah they aren't great to be honest They can also give some people pains in their hands and wrists after too much stamping!

 

[table38]

I got this from a guard on a 395: maybe it was a pre-Halloween special one off!

 

[GarethW]

Don't underestimate the obtuseness you may encounter

Ah, being as 95% of my travel is within SWT area - I don't use Advances very often. The only ones I ever use are the £6.50 specials to and from Bristol on FGW and I've never had any probs with them. I guess I'm lucky.

 

[LexyBoy]

I'd agree that it's extremely unlikely for there to be a problem as the tickets are Advances, and secondly that the date could have been circled by staff at the point of sale, for example. I'd expect the guard to be more concerned about checking your reservation is for the correct service.

Yesterday I travelled on a ticket with 23/12 biroed on, along with a big squiggle, and had no problems.

 

[dcmbarton]

I thought I would report back that indeed, there was no problem...possibly because the ticket wasn't checked anyway:roll:

 

[34D]

I thought I would report back that indeed, there was no problem...possibly because the ticket wasn't checked anyway:roll:

Lichfield to London.... Wow that is rather bad. Glad you had no issues though.