Collecting a TOD without the credit card made for payment

[johnr57]

Currently a friend of mine is at leeds station trying to get home (thirsk) . he has lost his wallet and has no means of payment. I have contacted both LNER and TPEX to ask to buy a ticket and allow it to be collected without the payment card. both said that was not possible to do. one recommended boarding a train and taking a penalty fare, though how he would get through the barrier at leeds would be a problem

any suggestions ?

 

[IanD]

If you can pay online by paypal then you can collect with any card - doesn't help if you have no card at all and no-one around will let you insert theirs.

 

[IanD]

If not paypal, some sites let you buy e-vouchers which can be used immediately. Same problem with collection though, relying on the kindness of strangers.

http://tickets.gwr.com/gw/en/landing/purchasegiftvoucher

 

[_toommm_]

What about SILK (Stranded Individual, Location Known)? Was that not presented as an option?

To the OP: Its where someone like yourself can buy a full priced train ticket for someone else to collect at a ticket office, where the other person is stranded. The stranded person collects at the ticket office.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

The alternative is to approach a member of on-train staff when the train is at the platform, and to explain the predicament. If you approach them rather than simply boarding, they're somewhat more likely to show you leniency.

 

[johnr57]

What about SILK (Stranded Individual, Location Known)? Was that not presented as an option?

To the OP: Its where someone like yourself can buy a full priced train ticket for someone else to collect at a ticket office, where the other person is stranded. The stranded person collects at the ticket office.

i was not aware of that option and although the circumstances as i described to the ticket sales people were just as you decribe as SILK, neither suggested that as a suitable course of action.

The problem has now been resolved and he is on his way home - but not through the assistance of anybody rail related.

thank you gentlemen for your suggestions

 

[RJ]

What about SILK (Stranded Individual, Location Known)? Was that not presented as an option?

The railways have done away with the switchboard, rendering this process not possible at some stations. I would not rely on it being an available option.

If the wallet was reported as lost or stolen and there was reference number, there'd be a higher chance of a ticket office helping out.

 

[causton]

The railways have done away with the switchboard, rendering this process not possible at some stations. I would not rely on it being an available option.

Really? With the Knowledgebase having phone numbers and Station Connect letting you literally shout a station name down the phone and be connected...

I agree they are understood and accepted less and less though!

 

[RJ]

Really? With the Knowledgebase having phone numbers and Station Connect letting you literally shout a station name down the phone and be connected...

I agree they are understood and accepted less and less though!

Some stations don't have web access to get onto the Knowledgebase!

I've never heard of Station Connect - is that the new industry wide switchboard?

 

[_toommm_]

Some stations don't have web access to get onto the Knowledgebase!

I've never heard of Station Connect - is that the new industry wide switchboard?

If they don't have web access, how do they take card payments, or issue TODs? Through antiquated telephone lines?

 

[Haywain]

If they don't have web access, how do they take card payments, or issue TODs?

No, they have web access that is very heavily locked down to a small, even tiny, range of sites.

 

[RJ]

If they don't have web access, how do they take card payments, or issue TODs? Through antiquated telephone lines?

There is an internet connection for those - that doesn't mean that the web browsers work for general web access.

 

[Haywain]

I've never heard of Station Connect - is that the new industry wide switchboard?

I became aware of it earlier today! I think your TOC need to advise you of a specific number that you call, and then voice recognition gets you connected to the relevant station. Or something. I can't help feeling that this could be quite an adventure! I'll see if I can get hold of the instructions and find out more.

 

[causton]

Some stations don't have web access to get onto the Knowledgebase!

Wow, and I thought we had it bad!!! Even at home, my work phone can access it!

@Haywain correctly explained what Station Connect is. The amount of advertising we had for it, I can't believe other companies haven't made their staff aware... however if they can't even get on the internet...! Each TOC has their own number so I wouldn't know, I'm afraid.

 

[Joe Paxton]

If you can pay online by paypal then you can collect with any card - doesn't help if you have no card at all and no-one around will let you insert theirs.

Would collection from a ticket office (if open, obviously) perhaps be a possibility in such a scenario?

 

[trentside]

I became aware of it earlier today! I think your TOC need to advise you of a specific number that you call, and then voice recognition gets you connected to the relevant station. Or something. I can't help feeling that this could be quite an adventure! I'll see if I can get hold of the instructions and find out more.

I had enough of an adventure with the old switchboard trying to get through to London Waterloo to undertake a SILK once. Despite clearly asking for London Waterloo, we repeatedly got connected to Waterloo (Merseyside). At least they saw the funny side.

The varying reactions to ringing up and receiving calls from other offices about SILKs were always interesting. Just as I left booking offices they’d moved to “internal” (same TOC) SILKs being TOD transactions, I take it that most places still require paperwork?

 

[trentside]

Would collection from a ticket office (if open, obviously) perhaps be a possibility in such a scenario?

Possibly, it would be worth asking in the circumstances.

 

[johnr57]

Would collection from a ticket office (if open, obviously) perhaps be a possibility in such a scenario?

Leeds Ticket office less than helpful
neither phone booking agents suggested this as a possible solution

 

[nuts & bolts]

If they don't have web access, how do they take card payments, or issue TODs? Through antiquated telephone lines?

It's Broadband but with a secure portal for ticket office and TVM purchases on the retail side.

 

[Bletchleyite]

one recommended boarding a train and taking a penalty fare

Quick interjection, whoever said that should get the sack given that some TOCs would prosecute rather than PF in this kind of case - wilfully travelling with no means of payment.

The railway really does need a proper way of doing this rather than the outdated and poorly understood SILK process. A modified version of TOD not requiring a card for these specific circumstances (perhaps only arrangeable by phone so questions could be asked to ensure no card fraud) would be a reasonable way. Of course it could wash its face by charging an additional fee for the service.

 

[trentside]

The railway really does need a proper way of doing this rather than the outdated and poorly understood SILK process. A modified version of TOD not requiring a card for these specific circumstances (perhaps only arrangeable by phone so questions could be asked to ensure no card fraud) would be a reasonable way. Of course it could wash its face by charging an additional fee for the service.

When I left booking offices, we’d started being able to send SILK tickets via TOD that were then released by the other booking office without a card. That could only be done to other stations within our TOC however, as at the time some companies still didn’t have TOD facilities in their ticket office machines.

SILK transaction fee is £10 AFAIK.

 

[Silverdale]

A modified version of TOD not requiring a card for these specific circumstances (perhaps only arrangeable by phone so questions could be asked to ensure no card fraud) would be a reasonable way.

A means by which a ticket could be collected, but the ticket issuer had no verification of who collected it, would be an open goal for fraudsters (or opportunists) claiming they had paid for, but not received, their ticket.

 

[johnr57]

A means by which a ticket could be collected, but the ticket issuer had no verification of who collected it, would be an open goal for fraudsters (or opportunists) claiming they had paid for, but not received, their ticket.

i have done this in the past at york in the time of GNER i think - it was a fair while ago - the machine repeatedly wouldnt read my card, phoned them they changed the process firstly to accept any card and when that didnt work either changed to no card required and then put the machine OOU

the TPEX guy said that they could sell a ticket and not require a card on collection upto about 6 months ago but was not now an option

 

[Bletchleyite]

A means by which a ticket could be collected, but the ticket issuer had no verification of who collected it, would be an open goal for fraudsters (or opportunists) claiming they had paid for, but not received, their ticket.

Not if it was done as an exceptional thing with controls around it. Even it being by telephone only would act as a barrier.

 

[Saperstein]

I’m following this thread with interest.

I had some of those pre-paid gift cards left over, they are supposed to act just like a MasterCard, however TVM’s will not accept them as payment, but if one orders the ticket online with the same card, the same TVM will happy accept said card for collection purposes.

I’m sure TVM’s used to accept any card for collection but
now it seems to have to be the one you have paid with. Probably due to fraud.

It would be handy if one didn’t have to type the collection reference in every time though!

I have just bought a Chester to Rhyl open return using Southern as I had an evoucher from disruption, it says I can use any card to collect, should be interesting.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It would be handy if one didn’t have to type the collection reference in every time though!

The reason this was done was that people were pickpocketing/picking up dropped cards and taking them to stations to see if any tickets had been purchased against them.

I do however wonder if a good improvement would be to allow one to set a PIN or password on the online purchase account which could be used with the card to dispense the tickets, as this could be more memorable.

 

[ForTheLoveOf]

I’m sure TVM’s used to accept any card for collection but
now it seems to have to be the one you have paid with. Probably due to fraud.

This is set by the retailer when they enter the ToD transaction into the database. Also, some machines disregard the setting and allow any-card-collection with all purchases. But it's never the case that TVMs enforce a specific card for collection where this hasn't been specified by the retailer.

 

[janb]

When I left booking offices, we’d started being able to send SILK tickets via TOD that were then released by the other booking office without a card. That could only be done to other stations within our TOC however, as at the time some companies still didn’t have TOD facilities in their ticket office machines.

SILK transaction fee is £10 AFAIK.

The ToD method is the standard method of SILKs now, although no doubt there are still TOCs that utilise the traditional method. Yes, £10 fee (and full price single). Usually quoting how much it will cost scares people off.

I only heard about Station Connect on this forum, which prompted me to read on iKB about it. Clearly whilst at least one TOC has pushed it hard, others are not mentioning it at all. Obviously relies on numbers being kept to date, Virgin and Northern for example have changed a few numbers recently and at least in a few cases the iKB listing hadn't kept pace.

 

[Joe Paxton]

This is set by the retailer when they enter the ToD transaction into the database. Also, some machines disregard the setting and allow any-card-collection with all purchases. But it's never the case that TVMs enforce a specific card for collection where this hasn't been specified by the retailer.

Which TVMs disregard the setting? Seems a bit slapdash.

 

[Saperstein]

I have just bought a Chester to Rhyl open return using Southern as I had an evoucher from disruption, it says I can use any card to collect, should be interesting.

Just collected said tickets using one of the TVM’s at Chester. I was able to collect them using my Tesco Clubcard!

It would appear that if the ticket is paid for by means other then Debit/Credit card any piece of plastic with a magstripe will do.

As an aside on the tickets the price is shown as “£13.05 W”. What does the “w” mean? It normally says “x”.