Mother paid for LNER season ticket but wasn't given one

[Envy123]

My mother commutes 5 days a week from Peterborough to Farringdon using LNER to King's Cross and the tube for the rest. She tried to renew the weekly season ticket on her LNER smartcard at Peterborough's Travel Centre, however, something odd happened.

All tills were unable to download the season ticket and it gave two receipts - one that it was approved and another that said it was voided. We checked the bank account but the money has been reserved.

The staff gave my mother a temporary travel ticket to get to and from King's Cross, but she had to pay extra for the tube journey using contactless.

What is the best way forward? We don't know how long the money will be held for.

 

[MikeWh]

It's down to your bank. Authorisations are usually held for 3-4 working days and then cancelled if the vendor doesn't claim.

 

[Vexed]

We don't know how long the money will be held for.

I've unfortunately had pre-authorisations last a whole month before.

Have you checked with the National Rail Smartcard Manager app if it's available to load to the card?

 

[Wallsendmag]

There was a problem loading cards yesterday should be fixed now

 

[Envy123]

I've unfortunately had pre-authorisations last a whole month before.

Have you checked with the National Rail Smartcard Manager app if it's available to load to the card?

No, it isn't available. Maybe it is still is in the system and could be loaded tomorrow? It's just that she needs to travel tomorrow and can't wait for the pre-authorisation to drop off.

 

[CyrusWuff]

No, it isn't available. Maybe it is still is in the system and could be loaded tomorrow? It's just that she needs to travel tomorrow and can't wait for the pre-authorisation to drop off.

The Ticket Issuing System that LNER (and various other operators) uses loads the product directly onto the card at the time of sale.

It doesn't go via the Central Back Office, so won't be available to load later.

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do apart from waiting for the void to be processed by the card issuer.

 

[Envy123]

The Ticket Issuing System that LNER (and various other operators) uses loads the product directly onto the card at the time of sale.

It doesn't go via the Central Back Office, so won't be available to load later.

Unfortunately there's nothing you can do apart from waiting for the void to be processed by the card issuer.

Thank you. I'll try to find the money elsewhere to pay for her travel.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Thank you. I'll try to find the money elsewhere to pay for her travel.

You might also want to ask your bank if they can remove the authorisation, particularly if LNER have given you (or will give you) something stating they will not claim the money.

 

[island]

You might also want to ask your bank if they can remove the authorisation, particularly if LNER have given you (or will give you) something stating they will not claim the money.

Yes, this would be advisable. They should have a process to remove the authorisation hold with a void receipt.

 

[Deafdoggie]

Pre-authorisation amounts are down to the bank. Some banks drop the funds back into your account in minutes, others take hours, some even take days to do it. It depends who you bank with.

The banks have an agreement with the retailer that a pre-authoriation amount will be collected within a set time (usually around 15 minutes) and if it isn't, it will be returned to customer.

Obviously, just to be sure, mist banks add a few extra minutes on before returning it. But there really is no need for them to hold it for days.

 

[jumble]

Pre-authorisation amounts are down to the bank. Some banks drop the funds back into your account in minutes, others take hours, some even take days to do it. It depends who you bank with.

The banks have an agreement with the retailer that a pre-authoriation amount will be collected within a set time (usually around 15 minutes) and if it isn't, it will be returned to customer.

Obviously, just to be sure, mist banks add a few extra minutes on before returning it. But there really is no need for them to hold it for days.

Does this apply to hire car deposits and hotels pre authimg for minibar extras?

 

[Jimini]

Does this apply to hire car deposits and hotels pre authimg for minibar extras?

Certainly for car hire deposits in my experience, yes. Last one took five working days to clear.

 

[Haywain]

The banks have an agreement with the retailer that a pre-authoriation amount will be collected within a set time (usually around 15 minutes) and if it isn't, it will be returned to customer.

I know nothing of agreements, but railway companies usually collect payments overnight. And in my experience, authorisations for rail tickets are likely to last a few days.

 

[Deafdoggie]

I know nothing of agreements, but railway companies usually collect payments overnight. And in my experience, authorisations for rail tickets are likely to last a few days.

Not everything pre-authorises. A simple transaction goes straight through. The banks may delay passing the money on for a day, but they've been sat on it for that time. Pre-authorisation is usually only when the final amount isn't known when entering the card i.e. pay at pump fuel.

In this case the transaction didn't complete due to a fault, so it's just left hanging till the bank cancel it. Some banks are better at this than others.

 

[Bletchleyite]

Not everything pre-authorises. A simple transaction goes straight through. The banks may delay passing the money on for a day, but they've been sat on it for that time. Pre-authorisation is usually only when the final amount isn't known when entering the card i.e. pay at pump fuel.

In this case the transaction didn't complete due to a fault, so it's just left hanging till the bank cancel it. Some banks are better at this than others.

All transactions (near enough; it's possible not to but then there's no guarantee of settlement) preauthorise, but they can claim fairly quickly depending on the setup.

Usually the actual claim takes a day or two. You can tell if you bank with Monzo - you can see by tapping on the transaction and scrolling down. With traditional banks you can see because your balance and available balance are different until it has claimed.

With fuel, the way it works is to update the authorisation with the correct amount - the actual claim usually comes later.

Typically an authorisation that isn't claimed or cancelled will last a week, though it varies a bit.

 

[Deafdoggie]

All transactions (near enough; it's possible not to but then there's no guarantee of settlement) preauthorise, but they can claim fairly quickly depending on the setup.

Usually the actual claim takes a day or two. You can tell if you bank with Monzo - you can see by tapping on the transaction and scrolling down. With traditional banks you can see because your balance and available balance are different until it has claimed.

With fuel, the way it works is to update the authorisation with the correct amount - the actual claim usually comes later.

Typically an authorisation that isn't claimed or cancelled will last a week, though it varies a bit.

That's not pre-authorising, it's authorising. Pre-authorising is when an amount is authorised before the transaction, generally when the final amount isnt known.

A pending transaction is one that's been authorised, but hasn't cleared the banking system. Its not possible to stop an authorised but pending transaction. You can't cancel an authorised transaction, it has to be refunded.

This is a niche area of a transaction failing after the authorisation request, but before confirmation.

 

[island]

That's not pre-authorising, it's authorising. Pre-authorising is when an amount is authorised before the transaction, generally when the final amount isnt known.

A pending transaction is one that's been authorised, but hasn't cleared the banking system. Its not possible to stop an authorised but pending transaction. You can't cancel an authorised transaction, it has to be refunded.

This is a niche area of a transaction failing after the authorisation request, but before confirmation.

The banking system does not recognise the distinction between "pre-authorised" and "authorised" that you describe. They both look exactly the same.

However, we're at risk of getting off topic; happy to discuss the card payment system further if you'd like to open an appropriate thread.