Question about purchasing tickets from thetrainline.com

Thanks Steve. I just wanted to make sure I didn't have to collect the tickets by a certain time. I did an online chat with someone today from the website and they confirmed I could pick up the tickets any time.

Now the problem I'm having is my debit card isn't working. It keeps saying the debit card number doesn't match the card. I could use my credit card, but I'm trying to avoid the 3.50GBP fee.

I use thetrainline.com A LOT! I have never had a problem picking up tickets. You just stick your card in, type in the number and out they pop.

One concern I'd have is whether your U.S. credit card (or debit card) would work in a self-service machine because it doesn't have the chip that U.K. cards have. If you can pick up the ticket from a live person -- and I can't imagine why you couldn't -- this shouldn't be a problem because they can swipe cards without a chip.

Hmmm...I didn't know that about the chip in the card. FYI, I did end up using a credit card (mastercard), so that's the one I'll have to put in the machine. I'm wondering now if you're correct about not being able to recognize it when at the station. Maybe I'll try to call Mastercard and see if they have any info...

Thanks again for everyone's thoughts!

"but I'm trying to avoid the 3.50GBP fee. "

I see it's too late but for future reference buy your ticket from one of the train operating companies, never had to pay a fee so far. They all sell each others tickets. Try this one

http://www.nationalexpress.com/trainslanding.aspx

Linda,

Thanks for the advice. That's actually what I ended up doing (through first great western I believe).

So I assume from Steve's comment that my Mastercard won't work in the machine? I was in London a few years back and remember using my debit card with ease to take out cash, pay for things, etc. Is this a new UK thing or train station-specific? Just curious...

Isabella...it has nothing to do with your debit card. European credit cards now have an embedded chip that is read by many automatic dispensing machines...no chip on your US card means no tickets from the machines. But, as Steve explained, take your booking confirmation and the credit card you used to purchase your tickets up to a ticket window and they should be able to get them for you.

Got it. Thanks for the clarification Norm.

I booked some tickets through this site for travel from Scotland to London. Plan to pick them up at the kiosk at the station. Site came recommended by a friend as the place to get tickets.

I traveled to England in November, and I was able to pick up my pre-purchased train tickets using my chip-free Visa. I had to enter in my reference number by hand and also swiped my card. No problems at all.

And thankfully you can use the manned ticket booth as a backup if you have issues with the self-serve machine.

Thanks for the reassurance, KG. And, like you and others have said, it's good to know there's always a back-up of a--gasp--real live person to help out!

I did my tickets through trainline, and had no problems picking them up. I did have a chipped VISA, but my mom may have used her non-chipped card to pick up her round of tickets. It was an easy process, although I was paranoid and did them all at once in a staffed location to make sure that it all worked.

Just make sure you wait to pick up all the bits! The machines keep spitting them out!