Mistakenly bought wrong student railcard

[Fraz68]

We bought 16-25 railcard not realising can’t get discount on ticket before 10am. My son is 16 and needs to travel at 8am. We have had to buy a second railcard 16-17 saver to get discount.

Would like to know if can get a refund on our mistake as £30 is a lot of money.

Thanks

 

[Haywain]

You can get a discount before 10am, but there is a £12 minimum fare. Railcards are not refundable though, I'm afraid.

 

[Fraz68]

Seems unfair. Discount applies in July and August

Seems unfair. Discount applies in July and August

 

[Haywain]

Seems unfair. Discount applies in July and August

And the minimum fare applies for the rest of the year. It's not exactly hidden away to catch people out.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Is there a benefit to a 16-17 year old buying a 16-25 card?

 

[SeanG]

I believe that the lack of minimum fare before 10am in July & August is down to the fact that users wouldn't be using it to commute to school/collage/university

 

[Fraz68]

And the minimum fare applies for the rest of the year. It's not exactly hidden away to catch people out.

 

[mangyiscute]

The 16-17 saver also saves 50% compared to just 33% on the 16-25, so definitely get that

 

[Fraz68]

Really.

I believe that the lack of minimum fare before 10am in July & August is down to the fact that users wouldn't be using it to commute to school/collage/university

I get that but not made clear when purchasing.

 

[Haywain]

Scroll down the page you've shown above, and under 'Eligibility and terms of use' you'll find the information about the minimum fare.

 

[ServerHoster]

Is there a benefit to a 16-17 year old buying a 16-25 card?

34% off first class advance tickets
Buying tickets on Caledonian Sleeper / ScotRail

 

[Vexed]

The 16-17 can also be applied to get half price season tickets, so if your son is going to school on the train it might be worth looking at getting custom length seasons for each half term and comparing that with the price of returns. For example, a 1 month and 17 day season ticket from Monday 4 Sept to Friday 20 Oct.

 

[Class800]

You can get a discount before 10am, but there is a £12 minimum fare. Railcards are not refundable though, I'm afraid.

Not true - I got one refunded when accidentally bought two railcards, just had to contact them and send one back

 

[Haywain]

Not true - I got one refunded when accidentally bought two railcards, just had to contact them and send one back

The fact that you got money back does not alter the fact that they are not refundable. You got a goodwill gesture. There is no automatic right to have a refund.

 

[Joe Paxton]

Is there a benefit to a 16-17 year old buying a 16-25 card?

There wouldn't be any point in the 16-17 Saver existing alongside the 16-25 Railcard if there wasn't any extra benefit to it.

Having two railcards with very similar names (both starting "16-...") is inevitably going to cause a degree of confusion.

 

[skyhigh]

We bought 16-25 railcard not realising can’t get discount on ticket before 10am. My son is 16 and needs to travel at 8am. We have had to buy a second railcard 16-17 saver to get discount.

When did you buy the 16-25 railcard? If you almost immediately purchased a 16-17 to use instead and it's not been long since you bought the 16-25 they may be willing to consider a goodwill gesture.

But if the 16-25 has been used for travel in July and August and it's only been realised that it doesn't offer what you're looking for now that it's September you are likely to be out of luck. When you purchase the railcard you agree that you have read and accepted the T&Cs of the product and it's not exactly hidden that a minimum fare applies most of the year.

 

[MikeWh]

There wouldn't be any point in the 16-17 Saver existing alongside the 16-25 Railcard if there wasn't any extra benefit to it.

Other than the 16-25 Railcard is a long standing rail product whereas the 16-17 Saver was introduced by the government recently to be seen as though they care about travel costs. Detail is not the forte of this government and they really couldn't care about the implications of their actions.

 

[Alex365Dash]

Is there a benefit to a 16-17 year old buying a 16-25 card?

Other than the ones previously listed, a 16-25 Railcard allows for the National Railcards discount entitlement to be added to an Oyster card whereas the 16-17 Saver doesn’t - although if you’re buying it for that you’re better off still using a 16+ Zip Oyster card!

 

[trei2k]

Is there a benefit to a 16-17 year old buying a 16-25 card?

... You can use a 16-25 Railcard in Scotland, but you can't use a 16-17 saver in Scotland.

I honestly think the Railcard situation is becoming a bit messy in the UK. I have sympathy with the OP for selecting the wrong one as they are similarly named.

 

[scrapy]

... You can use a 16-25 Railcard in Scotland, but you can't use a 16-17 saver in Scotland.

Not actually true, you can use the 16-17 saver in Scotland but not on ScotRail or Caledonian Sleeper.

 

[pdq]

I believe it's also the case (please correct me if not) that the 16/17 card has no validity after the 18th birthday whereas the 16/25 can be bought before the 26th birthday and used for a year. An example of unfairness for children born early in the academic year, but that may be for another thread!

 

[Joe Paxton]

I believe it's also the case (please correct me if not) that the 16/17 card has no validity after the 18th birthday whereas the 16/25 can be bought before the 26th birthday and used for a year. An example of unfairness for children born early in the academic year, but that may be for another thread!

That's right.

From the 16-17 Saver website:

The 16-17 Saver is valid for one year or until your 18th birthday, whichever comes first and is not available to purchase at stations

Of course - re the unfairness - 18 year olds can legally purchase booze, so swings & roundabouts.

 

[Haywain]

I believe it's also the case (please correct me if not) that the 16/17 card has no validity after the 18th birthday whereas the 16/25 can be bought before the 26th birthday and used for a year. An example of unfairness for children born early in the academic year, but that may be for another thread!

There is some validity after the 18th birthday, as a season ticket purchased before the expiry date can continue to run for up to 4 months after, with the expired railcard still being the discount authority.