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Probably a Silly Train Ticket Question, but Maybe a "local" will know

I just booked a train ticket on the tfw.wales site and for some reason, I accidentally checked at some point the "print at station" on how to receive my ticket. Normally, that wouldn't be an issue, but when I book things online I use a credit card that issues a new number and exp date/cvv code for each transaction to avoid fraudulent use. If I have to show the card used at booking on the machine, I won't be able to as the physical card has a different number on it. I went back in and tried to change it according to the chat bot's instructions and it is wanting to charge me 10 GBP (I don't have the symbol for GBP on my keyboard only $) which I don't mind paying, but want to make sure I am doing it correctly and that in doing that, I would actually be able to change the ticket print out. I went to the "edit ticket" link and clicked all of my ticket exactly the same, date, time, seats, etc. and didn't even get to the choice of printing it out and it still asked me to pay 10 GBP without my having changed anything (and it still showed it as print at the station) so that is why I think I may be missing something.
I went ahead and sent an email to customer service to ask if I was doing that correctly/10 GBP is correct and received an automated response that I would hear from them within 20 days, which will be too late for me. ha! I will have already gone on the trip.
My question is, do I need to pay the fee or am I doing it wrong entirely? Thanks!

*EDIT**********
For what it is worth, I just went back in to the TWF site to book another train and my account is apparently locked to purchase the tickets only as "print at the station" type of tickets. It must be due to it being an international card? Or the virtual card. Either way, that is the only option it allows me to have. The box is pre-ticked and I no longer can uncheck and choose "PDF".

Posted by
9593 posts

It shouldn't make any difference.

Sometimes I buy train tickets on line using pay pal but still have to use my credit card at the machine.
All the card is doing is to confirm that I am still Joe Bloggs, not a random Fred Smith who got hold of the alphanumeric collection code I was e-mailed.

It is that code which is the really important piece of information to retrieve the tickets.

Posted by
356 posts

Assuming that Wales is the same as England, you turn up at the ticket machine at the station, choose the "collect prepaid ticket" option, enter the booking reference number (not your credit card generated number) and it will ask you to put a card in the machine - it will probably also ask for your card PIN. It doesn't have to be the same card.

Posted by
2681 posts

It doesn't have to be the card used to buy tickets - cards expire and people throw them away - a booking reference and a card will do

Posted by
1493 posts

I don't know about other rail companies but the Avanti West Coast machines now do not require you to input a card at all - just type in your reference number.

Posted by
86 posts

It shouldn't make any difference.

Sometimes I buy train tickets on line using pay pal but still have to
use my credit card at the machine. All the card is doing is to confirm
that I am still Joe Bloggs, not a random Fred Smith who got hold of
the alphanumeric collection code I was e-mailed.

It is that code which is the really important piece of information to
retrieve the tickets.
I hope you are feeling better! :)
I hope this is the case.

Get well soon!