On 03-Mar-12 02:46, Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 15:27:42 on Fri, 2 Mar 2012,
Stephen Sprunk remarked:
This Web page discusses payment methods that also apply to paying
on train: http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/times_...t_methods.html

Credit/Debit/Charge Cards

All National Rail train companies accept the major cards
such as Visa, Visa Delta, MasterCard, Maestro and Amex.
Some train companies also accept Diners Club International,
Solo and Electron.

Nothing on this page says that gift cards are accepted. Gosh. They
must know the card number ranges!

Why would they care if it's a gift card? A card is a card; as long as
the transaction is authorized, that's all that matters.

That's the big "if". There are many ticket vending machines, and
portable machines, which are simply not "online", so they can't
authorise at all.

Then the merchant is taking a risk on each transaction, regardless of
the card type.

Given the cheap and ubiquitous mobile data networks, there is no excuse
for not being able to do online authorization. (If the rail network has
spotty signal coverage, this will help motivate them to fix that, which
also results in better service for customers and therefore the ability
to increase fares.)

S

--
Stephen Sprunk "God does not play dice." --Albert Einstein
CCIE #3723 "God is an inveterate gambler, and He throws the
K5SSS dice at every possible opportunity." --Stephen Hawking