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Post by sawb on Dec 28, 2015 17:19:58 GMT
Does anyone know how this needs to be done now the ticket offices have gone? Also, do I need to do this every time I get a new disabled persons railcard?
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Post by Tubeboy on Dec 28, 2015 17:26:25 GMT
Not all, but quite a few staff now have a pin on their staff pass which can access additional options on the ticket machines. This includes loading railcards so you can get your discount loaded. I'd suggest going to a busier station where more staff will be on hand. It takes a few seconds.
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Post by MoreToJack on Dec 28, 2015 18:21:42 GMT
To clarify the second part of your question, yes; you would need to get the discount reloaded every time you get a new railcard, as an expiry date will be set.
The vast majority of staff can now use the enhanced functionality, with all new staff also now having full POM training, which will be the norm once Fit for the Future starts to kick in for good. Busier station may have more staff available, but your queue times may be longer, particularly at this time of year when there will be a lot of unfamiliar travellers around at the gateway stations.
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pitdiver
No longer gainfully employed
Posts: 439
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 28, 2015 18:37:36 GMT
I would imagine the queues will be getting longer at the POMs as passengers want to renew their Annual season tickets. I can remember in the past that Amersham could sell 10 Annuals and that would be over £30k sometimes they would take in one shift the same as OXO.
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Post by MoreToJack on Dec 28, 2015 18:49:18 GMT
I would imagine the queues will be getting longer at the POMs as passengers want to renew their Annual season tickets. I can remember in the past that Amersham could sell 10 Annuals and that would be over £30k sometimes they would take in one shift the same as OXO. Very few annuals can be renewed on the machines as there is a limit on the maximum card transaction. I can't remember it off the top of my head, but it's not much. |
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pitdiver
No longer gainfully employed
Posts: 439
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Post by pitdiver on Dec 28, 2015 20:14:05 GMT
I would imagine the queues will be getting longer at the POMs as passengers want to renew their Annual season tickets. I can remember in the past that Amersham could sell 10 Annuals and that would be over £30k sometimes they would take in one shift the same as OXO. Very few annuals can be renewed on the machines as there is a limit on the maximum card transaction. I can't remember it off the top of my head, but it's not much. In which case how are annuals renewed, on line or at Visitor Centres. Could be some irate Annual Card holders! |
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Post by MoreToJack on Dec 28, 2015 20:15:29 GMT
Very few annuals can be renewed on the machines as there is a limit on the maximum card transaction. I can't remember it off the top of my head, but it's not much. In which case how are annuals renewed, on line or at Visitor Centres. Could be some irate Annual Card holders! Both of the above. Stations (not necessarily LU) retaining Oyster facilities can also do them, as can Ticket Stops - although many are reluctant to handle such large transactions. There's been many irate holders already! |
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Post by snoggle on Dec 28, 2015 20:25:41 GMT
I would imagine the queues will be getting longer at the POMs as passengers want to renew their Annual season tickets. I can remember in the past that Amersham could sell 10 Annuals and that would be over £30k sometimes they would take in one shift the same as OXO. People will get a huge fright when they find they can't renew annuals at a LU station any more. It is via the Internet or you have to scrabble to find a London Overground station with compatible Oyster ticketing equipment. Even then I'm not sure Overground stations can set the Gold Card discount on an Oyster card - that's a separate transaction at a LU station. Of course LU have not publicised this massive change in ticketing practice and I expect chaos to unfurl in the next few days when people try, at the last minute, to renew annual tickets. |
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Post by MoreToJack on Dec 28, 2015 23:25:01 GMT
Even then I'm not sure Overground stations can set the Gold Card discount on an Oyster card - that's a separate transaction at a LU station. Anywhere that has Oyster equipment *should* be able to add the GC discount. This includes Ticket Stops, LOROL stations and the handful of NR stations that retain Oyster facilities. Should being the operative word... |
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Post by stapler on Dec 29, 2015 9:19:21 GMT
A friend took an Oyster to Loughton station to have a railcard discount added, but was told the only member of staff who could do it was on a break...
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DWS
every second count's
Posts: 2,487
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Post by DWS on Dec 29, 2015 9:36:40 GMT
A friend took an Oyster to Loughton station to have a railcard discount added, but was told the only member of staff who could do it was on a break... Bit like when I went to B & Q to buy some electrical parts, the member of staff I asked about where I could find the part I was looking for said " I am only filling the shelves" When asked if I could find another member of staff to help me, the reply was the person for the Electrical section was on leave for a week, and I should return then  |
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Post by snoggle on Dec 29, 2015 10:27:38 GMT
Even then I'm not sure Overground stations can set the Gold Card discount on an Oyster card - that's a separate transaction at a LU station. Anywhere that has Oyster equipment *should* be able to add the GC discount. This includes Ticket Stops, LOROL stations and the handful of NR stations that retain Oyster facilities. Should being the operative word... Well yes and that is the problem. Why should the public face a lottery and ridiculously convoluted process to get what they are entitled to? This is one of those really stupid instances of cost transfer from LU to its passengers. I am not sure I would trust a Ticket Stop to handle the setting of discounts nor selling an annual ticket without a massive surcharge for paying by plastic. Another example of a "lottery" and worse potential extra financial cost for the passenger. TfL really should have retained a "master" ticket office in local areas across London so people had easy access to a full ticket selling, refund and "card problems" service. The majority of offices could have gone but retaining a core network would have removed the need for people to travel to Zone 1 or Heathrow in order to get full face to face ticketing service. |
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Post by marri260 on Dec 30, 2015 10:24:02 GMT
This is actually something that I think has become easier since the ticket offices have closed. Really simple once you know how.
Lost count of the hundreds that I did at Northwick Park after the new university intake started a few months ago!
All depends on the member of staff though as has been said. At most of the smaller stations it's a pretty rare thing to have to do, so not everyone probably feels comfortable or has experience doing it.
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Post by crusty54 on Dec 30, 2015 11:09:07 GMT
Most Travelcard users travel to Zone 1 where there are the Visitor Centres so the core offices are there.
Also given that most people now use the Internet to buy goods is it too much to ask people to buy a season ticket on an Oyster card on line?
The real problem is likely to be company cheques but I'm sure a way will be found.
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