Senior Rail cards

[yorkie]

I tried to buy a senior rail card on line today, because I live a long way from the Rail station.
It cold not be excepted because I had not got a current driving licence or a passport.
That means I could not take part in the offer for purchasing a rail card on line.
Do the powers that be assume that all seniors have the above items.
I think it is another discrimination to older people.
Any one got any comments.
Yorkie

[John]

I am presuming that this has something to
do with fraudulent applications.

I will have a look at this because it is interesting
when not having something it is reasonable
not to have, prevents you getting something
else.

[John]

The only way you can get one is go to a railway station.
I am not saying local because it many be unmanned.

You have to take your Birth Certificate as proof of age.

They may all mention ID - but this is what they are after.

I know you may know the above - but it may assist others
and explain why you need to go. They can also phone
but need a Passport or Driving Licence

It would appear that you get your railcard at
the time you apply at a railway station.

I am basing this on the fact that you can apply for
one if you are visiting this country and get it issued
at the time.

Surely they would not expect the people who
actually live here to wait.

I would be inclined to write to your MP as we have
NI Numbers that are age driven. You will probably
never get a sensible answer from the issuers.

[yorkie]

What's daft John is you can purchase your ticket on line, and it could run to over a £100 with no problem,but can't get your rail card.
There is no mention on site that you have to provide any other document other than your credit or debit card.
So in my mind John the offer only applies on line to people who have a car licence or a passport and discriminates against a certain section.
My point being I think it is a bit of a con.
Yorkie

[John]

Of course it discriminates and I gave the solution.

But we have an inept government who have all
these Quangos in place that should be looking
at matters like this.

More engaged in long lunches and filling expense forms.

Unfortunately there is so much fraud going on that
systems have very little give. They take the easiest
way out.

Look on the bright side it would probably be easier under
this government to arrange a sham marriage then get a
railcard...

[John]

It is a disgrace, the government who are in charge of this
can obviously check your passport and car licence number
against age.

So why not your NI Number?

The government website direct.gov.uk that is spending
lots of public money on glossy advertising is not able
to get the details of this simple scheme right.

It needs highlighting but most agencies that have something
to do with pensioners are government directed. But they
try to hide it. Age Concern etc.

If I was in the same position I would contact my MP.
You may get a load of rubbish back - but on the occasions
I have written.

The system later changes as if they made the improvements and
were suddenly in tune with the end user.

Remember a simple email to your MP will do. They
have adequate administration to cope (they need
this just for expense claims...)

[yorkie]

John I sent an E mail to my MP Yesterday. I have not had any feed back as yet.

What are your thoughts on The Respect MP George Galloway being deported from Cairo today, after being arrested at the Rafah Crossing from Gaza to Egypt.

Yorkie

[John]

Thanks for letting me know. They have got
this habit of not replying straight away - it
makes them look busy.

The Convoy matter in Egypt is a disgrace.

This government seem yet again to be ignoring a situation because
the US is not involved.

It has been going on for a month - so little time for them to take an interest.

George is still a Member of this Parliament and they need to remember this.

I have been following this story on the Al Jazeera News Channel ( www.aljazeera.net ).
which cuts through the BBC (Brown's Broadcasting Corporation) sanitised version to produce
the actual situation.

Of interest Cairo is the most polluted City in the World. It should be sorting that out.

You would also expect Egypt to have more compassion, given their own people's lifestyles.

[yorkie]

Thanks for your reply.
They are my sentiments entirely.
We have both used the word compassion this week on different subjects of course.
The wife is taking me out now, have to go, hope she has plenty of money, I am just a poor old Yorkshire man.

[Hells Granny]

I do not have a driver's licence at the moment due to cataracts, and my passport expired in 1997, so I understand your frustration as I share it.

As far as I am concerned, it is the only reason justifiable for getting an Identity Card.

As to all the different numbers we have think how many there are. National Insurance Number, National Health Number, Pension Numbers Tax Credit numbers, Passport Numbers, Driver Number, bank account numbers, maybe membership numbers of things like National Trust or English Heritage, it goes on forever.

I see absolutely no reason why we shouldn't have one number to distinguish us for all Government purposes, (A combination of NI and NHS number, perhaps).

Cheers, HG

[yorkie]

Well if you agree with me send your MP an E mail, as to how you feel.
That' what I have done,
My MP thinks it is a reasonable request to make.
I told him because it is definitely discriminatory, as you can get things a lot cheaper on line.

[Hells Granny]

My MP is already running scared of me!

Cheers, HG