The Anonymous Widower

I Was Overcharged at Liverpool Street Yesterday

Getting the right ticket to go and see Ipswich from London is quite a problem, even at weekends, when everything is Off Peak.  As I have a Freedom Pass, I only need to buy a return from the Zone 6 Boundary (Harold Wood) to Ipswich.  I usually upgrade to First for the outward journey. The trouble with doing a full upgrade is that often the first and quickest return train is a slow one and I get off these at Stratford and then take the London Overground to Dalston Kingsland.

This type of ticket is not really complicated, but you can’t buy it on-line, so I had to go to the ticket office at Liverpool Street first.

Yesterday the ticket office at Liverpool Street was very crowded and because Ipswich is a gluten-free desert, I wanted to have lunch in Spitalfields first, so I didn’t have much time available.

I asked for the return from the Zone 6 boundary and the outward First upgrade, but felt that it was a bit expensive.  I checked with the clerk and she said that was what I’d got.  But as they don’t give you your tickets until you’ve paid, I couldn’t check.  It was only when I checked outside the ticket office that she’d sold me an unwanted First Class upgrade for the return journey.

after my lunch, I did think of queuing again, but the ticket offce was still busy, as was the one at Ipswich.  I’ve now written to National Express East Anglia. Here’s the main part of what I said.

I have a Freedom Pass and a season ticket at Ipswich Town, so when I go to matches, I use the train, as I have had a stroke.  I generally travel buy a Standard Class return ticket from the Zone 6 Boundary (Harold Wood) to Ipswich.  On a Saturday, I upgrade to First Class outward, as this means I can lay the paper out properly.  Coming back, I usually return to Stratford and then take the Overground home to Dalston Kingsland, as if the train is crowded or it is raining it is quicker and more convenient.

Yesterday, the ticket office was very crowded, so after a long queue, I asked for the Standard return and the outward First Class upgrade.  Only when I walked away in a bit of a hurry, as I wanted to have lunch before catching the train, did I realise that I had been sold return First Class upgrade, which I hadn’t asked for.  I had queried the price, but the girl in the office had said it was right, but as I didn’t get the tickets until after I had paid, there was no way I could check.

So basically, I was overcharged £7.

I did try to complain at the time, but this would have meant going through the long queue again, which would have meant missing my train.

At Ipswich, the ticket office was very busy too.

How do I claim my seven pounds back?

Incidentally, the train I came back on from Ipswich to Stratford didn’t appear to have any First Class accomodation anyway.

I would prefer to be able to buy these tickets on line, but I don’t think I can.  So I suppose the only way to get the right ticket is to make a special visit to Liverpool Street earlier in the week.

It will be interesting what the reply is.

April 10, 2011 - Posted by AnonW | Sport, Transport/Travel | Football, Ipswich Town, Trains