Scotrail Club 50 - ID?

[Leisurefirst]

Hello all,
Just bought and received a Scotrail Smartcard with Club 50.
Was in two minds as the T&Cs state that you must carry proof of age such as passport or driving licence with you when travelling.
That's not great, I don't drive and whilst I do have a passport, I don't really want to carry it around with me in my pocket if I'm going to a concert or to sports etc.
- Do staff really ask for this?
- Is a picture on your mobile OK?
- Why don't they just ask for proof of age when you apply instead?!

 

[Haywain]

Hello all,
Just bought and received a Scotrail Smartcard with Club 50.
Was in two minds as the T&Cs state that you must carry proof of age such as passport or driving licence with you when travelling.
That's not great, I don't drive and whilst I do have a passport, I don't really want to carry it around with me in my pocket if I'm going to a concert or to sports etc.
- Do staff really ask for this?
- Is a picture on your mobile OK?
- Why don't they just ask for proof of age when you apply instead?!

It’s part of the terms of benefitting from Club 50 fares. Perhaps you should have considered that before signing up?

 

[Berliner]

You could ask them directly if they accept the citizen ID card, which costs £15 for 3 years and has a digital copy facility, meaning you don't have to carry the card, or failing that see if they will take a provisional driving licence, which is £34 for 10 years. I doubt they would take a copy of a passport as anyone could doctor that to take advantage of the discount, but you may as well ask anyway.

 

[TUC]

It’s part of the terms of benefitting from Club 50 fares. Perhaps you should have considered that before signing up?

I do see though that, whilst it is common to have your driving licence in your wallet, if you don't have one then carrying your passport around is a more significant ask.

 

[Bletchleyite]

It’s part of the terms of benefitting from Club 50 fares. Perhaps you should have considered that before signing up?

• Acceptable forms of ID are - UK or EU Driving License photocard, Passport (any Nationality) and UK Senior Citizen bus pass

It is a bit odd that they don't check at the point of application. It's effectively just a variant of the Senior Railcard and they do for that.

I do see though that, whilst it is common to have your driving licence in your wallet, if you don't have one then carrying your passport around is a more significant ask.

And there are still people with paper licences.

 

[TUC]

• Acceptable forms of ID are - UK or EU Driving License photocard, Passport (any Nationality) and UK Senior Citizen bus pass

It is a bit odd that they don't check at the point of application. It's effectively just a variant of the Senior Railcard and they do for that.

The difference is that, for those under the age for senior citizens passses, it still leaves passports as the only option for non-drivers. Why would anyone carry such a valuable, but non-wallet sized, document with them regularly?

• Acceptable forms of ID are - UK or EU Driving License photocard, Passport (any Nationality) and UK Senior Citizen bus pass

It is a bit odd that they don't check at the point of application. It's effectively just a variant of the Senior Railcard and they do for that.



And there are still people with paper licences.

I agree though, that the check should surely be at the point of purchase, not in its use?

 

[Haywain]

And there are still people with paper licences.

And they won’t have a “driving license photo card”.

 

[Leisurefirst]

It’s part of the terms of benefitting from Club 50 fares. Perhaps you should have considered that before signing up?

Thank you for your constructive and thoughtful reply.
Yes, I did consider this and will indeed comply as necessary.
It doesn't mean I can't be critical of it AFAIK, I don't remember that being in the T&Cs.

 

[Bletchleyite]

I agree though, that the check should surely be at the point of purchase, not in its use?

Only needed once, too. You can't stop being over 50!

 

[The Quincunx]

Do the T&Cs actually say "license"? If so, that is pretty poor. It's Scotland, not America.

 

[Alex365Dash]

The difference is that, for those under the age for senior citizens passses, it still leaves passports as the only option for non-drivers.

Most non-drivers can always apply for a provisional driving licence for £34 for ten years.

That said, the list of accepted IDs is a bit vague as to whether they accept provisional driving licences or require a full driving licence. I’d assume either is fine, but might be worth asking anyway?

 

[Joe Paxton]

Most non-drivers can always apply for a provisional driving licence for £34 for ten years.

That said, the list of accepted IDs is a bit vague as to whether they accept provisional driving licences or require a full driving licence. I’d assume either is fine, but might be worth asking anyway?

A provisional would be fine - it doesn't explicitly state a "full driving licence", which is I think the normal term used to distinguish one from a provisional.

I appreciate it's not mentioned in the T&Cs, but I'm sure that a CitizenCard - as mentioned by Berliner above - would be accepted without issue as proof of age.

I'm a bit wary of routinely carrying driving licence photocards in wallets / purses as they shows the holders address, which can help facilitate fraud / identity theft. (That said, I've come across plenty of occasions where said address is used to return a lost wallet or purse by honest folk.)

A CitizenCard meanwhile doesn't show the holders address.

 

[Leisurefirst]

Thank you for the helpful replies.
FYI I emailed Scotrail and got this reply today which I will be keeping a screenshot of!

Thank you for contacting ScotRail Customer Relations regarding your Club 50 enquiry.

I can confirm you are not required to carry additional ID with you when using your Club 50, as your Club 50 card has an image of yourself on it as long as you're taking the card with you on your journeys, you should not be challenged on it.

Once again thank you for contacting ScotRail, should you require any further assistance in the future, please get back in touch.