Season tickets and Coronavirus / work-from-home plans

[whole diary]

[gball]

I'm one of the many Reading annual season ticket holders who is already trying to work out the maths on off-peak TFL^▸ (Transport for London) fares (separate thread!) but have now found my company has implemented a work from home period for certain staff including me.  The big unknown is for how long.

Specifically, given the gold card has a number of 'free' weeks that cover holidays, I realise that simply cancelling the card may work out more expensive if I then purchase a new one a few weeks later.   That is coupled with the fact that the card was at 2019 prices, and if I renew, I would be paying 2020 prices.

Has anyone figured out the maths to work out how many weeks the break-even point it (whether Coronavirus related or simply taking a long break)?

If not I will try and work it out, and post it here when I have the results.

[Oxonhutch]

There is something in the terms and conditions which cover extended periods of sickness whereby its validity is extended. You are not using the railway because of sickness because you have effectively signed off. I would explore that avenue.

[grahame]

I'm one of the many Reading annual season ticket holders who is already trying to work out the maths on off-peak TFL^▸ (Transport for London) fares (separate thread!) but have now found my company has implemented a work from home period for certain staff including me.  The big unknown is for how long.

Specifically ...

Welcome to the forum - just the sort of mathematic juggling that some of our members love.  Oh for being able to phone or message someone and get a straightforward answer! 

[Marlburian]

There is something in the terms and conditions which cover extended periods of sickness whereby its validity is extended. You are not using the railway because of sickness because you have effectively signed off. I would explore that avenue.

But it's not the OP^▸ (Original Poster / topic starter) who is sick, and he hasn't signed off but is still working, albeit from home.

In his shoes I would be cross if I was paying for a service that I wasn't using, perhaps for a couple of months.

[gball]

So one step sideways ... I called up GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) ticket sales and they first told me that I should cancel my ticket.   And then after we talked about how losing the 'free' days would possibly end up costing me more, they said I need to go to the local station to work it out!   

I'm not sure why the station and the telesales team would not have access to the same computers, but anyway...   Next stop Reading Station after the rush hour ends.

[Oxonhutch]

You need to see how long your season ticket has been running.  If you cancel late into its validity, it has very little residual value and you might be best just sticking it out.

Or convert it to one from Ryde Esplanade to Ryde St John's.

[Phantom]

I've an annual ticket

Found out I was working with someone in Manchester that has had the virus confirmed
So now on 7 day self isolation - I was curious how my ticket could / would be affected

[didcotdean]

I noticed walking behind the surface car park opposite Didcot Parkway mid morning that it was barely half full, even less than seen during the summer holiday period. Not unusual to see a few scattered spaces on Fridays compared to a full Mon-Thu, but this was something else.  Potentially some wanting a different season ticket refund if that carries on.

[SandTEngineer]

Latest info published here: https://www.nationalrail.co.uk/stations_destinations/coronavirus.aspx

[Sixty3Closure]

Just been browsing that. No refunds on Advance tickets although apparently I can change it to a future date for a small fee. No exactly helpful especially as many Advance tickets aren't especially cheap.

Do I keep pushing it forward a few weeks until the admin charge outweighs the price of the ticket?

[Celestial]

Just been browsing that. No refunds on Advance tickets although apparently I can change it to a future date for a small fee. No exactly helpful especially as many Advance tickets aren't especially cheap.

Do I keep pushing it forward a few weeks until the admin charge outweighs the price of the ticket?

Given govt advice not to travel without good reason, I would imagine TOCs^▸ (Train Operating Company) will be under a lot of pressure from the government to change that policy, and rightly so.  LNER^» (London North Eastern Railway - about) is allowing refunds without an admin fee, so there's a clue there as to what government thinks is the right thing to do.

[Sixty3Closure]

GWR^▸ (Great Western Railway) Twitter feed saying no charge but when I go to amend the booking still a £10 admin fee.

[LiskeardRich]

Because gov are only advising not telling, insurers won’t pay up, and t&cs don’t qualify for refunds, as it’s still your choice. This is what’s upsetting the pub and restaurant trade, if they had an enforced closure they could claim lost earnings, as it’s advisory they can’t

As soon as anything becomes a told you can’t travel, it becomes out of your control and changes things.

[Celestial]

Because gov are only advising not telling, insurers won’t pay up, and t&cs don’t qualify for refunds, as it’s still your choice. This is what’s upsetting the pub and restaurant trade, if they had an enforced closure they could claim lost earnings, as it’s advisory they can’t

The govt briefing made it clear today that any hospitality businesses closing because of the advisory will be able to claim if they have business interruption insurance, and I presume the financial services regulator will lean on insurers to make sure that is the case. Only problem is.... most such businesses didn't pay for that type of cover, so they are a bit stuffed, whether it's advisory or compulsory.

[LiskeardRich]

Because gov are only advising not telling, insurers won’t pay up, and t&cs don’t qualify for refunds, as it’s still your choice. This is what’s upsetting the pub and restaurant trade, if they had an enforced closure they could claim lost earnings, as it’s advisory they can’t

The govt briefing made it clear today that any hospitality businesses closing because of the advisory will be able to claim if they have business interruption insurance, and I presume the financial services regulator will lean on insurers to make sure that is the case. Only problem is.... most such businesses didn't pay for that type of cover, so they are a bit stuffed, whether it's advisory or compulsory.

But the insurance companies are Saying no because it’s only advisory.