London Banter - View Single Post

Londona729 · December 16th 15, 07:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Paul Corfield[_2_]

On Fri, 11 Dec 2015 17:00:18 +0000, Scott
wrote:

On Fri, 11 Dec 2015 10:55:10 +0000 (UTC), d wrote:

They've started handing out leaflets at stations starting "We're making some
changes in ticket halls to enhance customer service".

Do they honestly expect daily commuters to believe this horse****? I think
most people would have a lot more respect for them if they manned up and said,
"Look, we've had budget cuts and the ticket offices had to go but we're
doing the best we can. Apologies" instead of this moronic New Labour style spin.

This comes with the caveat that I do not live in London and do not
know all the ins and outs.

However, with all the Oyster journeys and ticket machines, would a
staff member in a yellow jacket circulating amongst the passengers not
be more usefult than a staff member behind a screen?

The simple answer is "it depends".

If you're topping up an Oyster Card with £10 then a machine should be
fine.

If you want to buy an Annual Bus and Tram Pass - sod off because TfL
have not included them on ticket machines so you can't buy them any
more at LU stations.

If you want to have your card checked and a journey reset on the spot
then a ticket office is more convenient.

If you want your Gold Card discount reset when you renew your Annual
Travelcard then sod off - TfL don't allow you to buy Annual
Travelcards or receive your Gold Card at tube stations without ticket
offices.

TfL are also removing the ability to purchase Network Card discounted
One Day Travelcards at LU stations. It's also removing the facility
to buy those tickets in advance.

The acceptance of company cheques for annual travelcards has also been
scrapped with little notice to people.

A hidden part of the agenda is to "simplify" the offer and to do this
TfL have simply scrapped a whole load of things ticket offices used to
do. I suspect a load of people have been inconvenienced but there's
been no uniform voice to channel that inconvenience.

Some things have been put on line but there has been no open
communication with passengers as to what to do in a wide range of
circumstances. I suspect a lot of people are going to horribly caught
out in the next few weeks as they get to the time when they renew
annual season tickets and don't have a facility to do it "on the
spot". I suspect a lot of revenue will go to train companies and away
from LU. The last three ticket offices close on 18 December 2015.

--
Paul C

Totally agree, additionally the ticket office could print detailed receipts and journey history statements showing your last 10 journeys (especially useful for those with unregistered oysters)