The argument that it might encourage fraudsters to 'try it on' doesn't hold water as you have to produce your railcard to purchase the ticket in the first place.
Not if you buy it online or at TVM.
The argument that it might encourage fraudsters to 'try it on' doesn't hold water as you have to produce your railcard to purchase the ticket in the first place.
So if the passenger turns up at the airport without their passport they should be allowed to travel on a later flight without penalty?The situation the OP had in this thread is quite different. He had a legal ticket to travel on that train and he has purchased a railcard to entitle him to that ticket. He just doesn't have the railcard with him and therefore, rightly, the guard doesn't know if he really is legally entitled to travel on that ticket so charges the uplift to a non-railcard price.
But because the ticket is in fact valid and legal (the OP has a railcard), the OP should be able to later reclaim that uplift back on production of said railcard, perhaps with payment of a reasonable admin fee for the extra work the railway has to do to issue the extra ticket and process the refund.
No, it's more basic than that. It's a question of what is reasonable and what is not. It is not reasonable to 'punish' a law-abiding but forgetful passenger as if they were trying to defraud the railway as a fare-dodger is. It IS reasonable to charge the forgetful customer the difference (to a non-railcard price plus admin of say a tenner), and refund it (less the tenner) when the passenger produces the card later.
The argument that it might encourage fraudsters to 'try it on' doesn't hold water as you have to produce your railcard to purchase the ticket in the first place.
So if the passenger turns up at the airport without their passport they should be allowed to travel on a later flight without penalty?
Not at a TVM you don't nor do you have to show it online in order to purchase it. Therefore your argument that you have to show it before purchasing 'doesn't hold water'.
This debate was surely over days ago! The OP was dealt with in a reasonable manner.No, it's more basic than that. It's a question of what is reasonable and what is not.
They were not punished, and not treated as a fare dodger. If the were, an MG11 would have been issued and the matter referred for prosecution.It is not reasonable to 'punish' a law-abiding but forgetful passenger as if they were trying to defraud the railway as a fare-dodger is.
Yes.It IS reasonable to charge the forgetful customer the difference (to a non-railcard price plus admin of say a tenner),
Not really, no. What's to stop any Railcard holder claiming that they used such a ticket, when in reality their mate did?and refund it (less the tenner) when the passenger produces the card later.
No you don't.The argument that it might encourage fraudsters to 'try it on' doesn't hold water as you have to produce your railcard to purchase the ticket in the first place.
On the contrary. However there are other forums around if you don't like it here. Take your pick.Crikey, this is like kindergarten!
I agree, in fact as far as I can tell everyone on this topic agrees. There has never been any suggestion to the contrary.Fair comment. But it doesn't change the argument. Someone deliberately travelling with intention to defraud is NOT the same thing as someone who has simply forgotten their railcard.
The OP was not in any way treated as a fare avoider. What relevance do your comments have? What value do they add? This is getting tiresome.Any reasonable system should recognise that and NOT treat the forgetful but legal passenger as if they were a fare avoider.
There is no need to 'point that out' as the OP was not treated as if they were a fare avoider, and if anyone suggests they were, then quite frankly they're wrong.I'm amazed I even have to point that out. The fact that I do speaks volumes for some attitudes on here.
No passport, no boarding card. You miss your flight. Will the airline give you a refund on your ticket or let you on a later flight for free? Unlikely, especially if it's Ryanair. What's a Railcard if it's not 'proof of identity'?What the 'eck have passports got to do with ticketing? UK Borders demands 'proof of identity' for some flights, and a passport for others. I'm not aware that UK Borders issues tickets.
You better stop throwing the toys around then.Crikey, this is like kindergarten!