I'm trying to purchase train tickets and I've tried both the East Coast & Southern Train sites and it won't take my credit card. I have even e-mailed them and they said they take Visa. I can't see any reason why it won't go through. Has anyone else experienced problems like this & what did you do. I can get them when I arrive, but the prices have already gone up since I first tried to purchase.
Posted by
Northamptonshire, England
33826 posts
Have you told your credit card you want to make overseas purchases?
Posted by
OP
San Diego, CA, United States
219 posts
Yes, I did that.
Posted by
NC, United States
970 posts
April, try Trainline.Com, which sells tickets online for the different UK rail lines. I've used them 3 or 4 times with an American VISA with no problems at all. Later, you feed that card into a machine at the station and it spits out the tickets. If you have problems there, call your card issuer and ask for an explanation.
Posted by
Charlotte, NC, USA
3428 posts
Try this site
http://www.rail.co.uk/train-tickets/
Posted by
Seattle, Washington
682 posts
April, I had the same problem. I tried and tried to purchase tickets from Eastcoast with my Capital One card and they kept rejecting it. Capital One said no attempts had been made by Eastcoast. Then, I tried my American Express card and it was rejected. Finally, my husband tried his American Express card (same account as mine, but different number) and it went through - relief! Since then, I've purchased two more sets of tickets from them using his AmEx card. I still have no idea what the problem was. Responses to my emails to Eastcoast were of no help. Perhaps it was just persistence - I probably made 50 unsuccessful attempts to purchase the tickets before it finally worked. Lots of frustration, but a big savings by buying our tickets early. Good luck!
Posted by
Santa Rosa
16 posts
Try Raileasy www.raileasy.co.uk. I've had the same credit card problem but it was easy on this website and the prices are the same as trainline. Earlier is better. Good luck.
Posted by
OP
San Diego, CA, United States
219 posts
Thanks! It finally worked at thetrainline.com. Strangely I had to put my card as a "Visa" and not a "Visa Debit" - which it actually is. I think I paid 3.50 more, but at least I was finally able to get my tickets!