“Please help me persuade Southern to improve information about online refunds” – Jo Ivens

Description

Jo Ivens

I have applied for a refund on a journey I didn't make because of today's disruption on the Brighton-London line.

My comment is that your website is really not user friendly, especially when it comes to finding out how to get a refund. One link to the FAQs is broken, you have to work out what the heck a Rainy Day guarantee is, realise it probably doesn't apply, but that's the only thing on there about refunds, then get sent through a whole series of pages to log in and find your journey and apply for a refund.

I ended up with 4 separate pages open, all telling me something not that helpful.

I suggest you have a look at your website and refocus on the customer rather than your irritating advertising; simplify the journey and reduce number of clicks.

Problem History

  • 1 Jo Ivens reported the issue on FixMyTransport. close 11:53 23 Sep 2011
  • 2 Jo Ivens wrote to Southern close 11:53 23 Sep 2011

    Here is the letter that Jo Ivens wrote.

    Website Refunds

    I have applied for a refund on a journey I didn't make because of today's disruption on the Brighton-London line.

    My comment is that your website is really not user friendly, especially when it comes to finding out how to get a refund. One link to the FAQs is broken, you have to work out what the heck a Rainy Day guarantee is, realise it probably doesn't apply, but that's the only thing on there about refunds, then get sent through a whole series of pages to log in and find your journey and apply for a refund.

    I ended up with 4 separate pages open, all telling me something not that helpful.

    I suggest you have a look at your website and refocus on the customer rather than your irritating advertising; simplify the journey and reduce number of clicks.

  • 3 Southern Railways Customer Services responded to Jo Ivens close 11:56 23 Sep 2011
    Dear Sir/Madam,
    We have received your query with reference number
    [5279-1316775349].

    Thank you for your email.
    Thank you for your enquiry, we appreciate you taking the time to
    contact us. We aim to respond in full to your enquiry within 5
    working days.
    You can also contact us by phone (08451 27 29 20), fax (08451 27
    29 30) or in writing (Southern Customer Services, PO Box 3021,
    Bristol, BS2 2BS). You can also submit a webform at:
    [1]www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/contact-us/contact-us-form

    Kind Regards,
    Southern Customer Services

    Reminder of your message

    ----------------------------------------------------------------

    Dear Southern,

    I have applied for a refund on a journey I didn't make because
    of
    today's disruption on the Brighton-London line.

    My comment is that your website is really not user friendly,
    especially when it comes to finding out how to get a refund. One
    link to the FAQs is broken, you have to work out what the heck a
    Rainy Day guarantee is, realise it probably doesn't apply, but
    that's the only thing on there about refunds, then get sent
    through
    a whole series of pages to log in and find your journey and
    apply
    for a refund.

    I ended up with 4 separate pages open, all telling me something
    not
    that helpful.

    I suggest you have a look at your website and refocus on the
    customer rather than your irritating advertising; simplify the
    journey and reduce number of clicks.

    ------------------

    Here is some information from FixMyTransport about the location
    of
    this issue:

    Location name: Train route between Brighton and London Victoria

    ----------

    To view a map of the precise location of this problem, or to
    provide an update on the problem, please visit the following
    link:

    http://www.fixmytransport.com/campaigns/...

    [ PLEASE NOTE: Your replies to this problem report will be sent
    to
    Jo Ivens and will be published online. This message was sent via
    FixMyTransport.com - a not-for-profit service dedicated to
    helping
    people get public transport problems resolved. If there is a
    more
    appropriate email address for messages about this type of
    problem,
    please let us know by visiting
    . This will help improve
    the service for people travelling. We also welcome any other
    feedback you may have. ]

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    This e-mail message has been scanned and cleared by NetIQ
    MailMarshal.

    Southern Railway Ltd is registered in England No. 06574965.
    Registered office: 3rd Floor, 41-51 Grey Street, Newcastle Upon
    Tyne, NE1 6EE

    This email is sent subject to our email disclaimer which can be
    accessed here http://www.southernrailway.com/emaildisc...

    Southern is the trading name of Southern Railway Ltd. Registered
    in England under number: 06574965 Registered offices: 3rd Floor,
    41-51 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6EE.

    This email is sent subject to our email disclaimer which can be
    accessed at: [2]www.southernrailway.com/emaildisclaimer

    References

    Visible links
    1. file:///tmp/www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/contact-us/contact-us-form
    2. file:///tmp/www.southernrailway.com/emaildisclaimer
  • 4 Shaun McDonald commented close 14:53 23 Sep 2011

    I find the Southern site very annoying when you click the news on the home page, and are not taken to that news item, instead take to the list of news items which isn't what I was looking for.

    anorak
  • 5 Southern Railways Customer Services responded to Jo Ivens close 09:24 30 Sep 2011
    Dear Sir/Madam,

    Thank you for contacting us.

    Your email has been passed to our Refunds team and they to
    respond to you within 10 days.

    If you wish to contact us further regarding your query then
    please contact our Customer Service team directly at:
    [1][Southern problem reporting email] or by phone on 08451 27 29 20 or
    in writing to Southern Customer Services, PO Box 3021, Bristol,
    BS2 2BS quoting ticket number [5279-1316775349] on all
    communication.

    Alternatively please use the contact us page You can also submit
    a webform at:
    [2]www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/contact-us/contact-us-form
    quoting your ticket number.

    Kind regards,

    Colin Chick
    Southern Customer Services

    Your message :

    Dear Southern,

    I have applied for a refund on a journey I didn't make because
    of
    today's disruption on the Brighton-London line.

    My comment is that your website is really not user friendly,
    especially when it comes to finding out how to get a refund. One
    link to the FAQs is broken, you have to work out what the heck a
    Rainy Day guarantee is, realise it probably doesn't apply, but
    that's the only thing on there about refunds, then get sent
    through
    a whole series of pages to log in and find your journey and
    apply
    for a refund.

    I ended up with 4 separate pages open, all telling me something
    not
    that helpful.

    I suggest you have a look at your website and refocus on the
    customer rather than your irritating advertising; simplify the
    journey and reduce number of clicks.

    ------------------

    Here is some information from FixMyTransport about the location
    of
    this issue:

    Location name: Train route between Brighton and London Victoria

    ----------

    To view a map of the precise location of this problem, or to
    provide an update on the problem, please visit the following
    link:

    http://www.fixmytransport.com/campaigns/...

    [ PLEASE NOTE: Your replies to this problem report will be sent
    to
    Jo Ivens and will be published online. This message was sent via
    FixMyTransport.com - a not-for-profit service dedicated to
    helping
    people get public transport problems resolved. If there is a
    more
    appropriate email address for messages about this type of
    problem,
    please let us know by visiting
    . This will help improve
    the service for people travelling. We also welcome any other
    feedback you may have. ]

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    This e-mail message has been scanned and cleared by NetIQ
    MailMarshal.

    Southern Railway Ltd is registered in England No. 06574965.
    Registered office: 3rd Floor, 41-51 Grey Street, Newcastle Upon
    Tyne, NE1 6EE

    This email is sent subject to our email disclaimer which can be
    accessed here http://www.southernrailway.com/emaildisc...

    Southern is the trading name of Southern Railway Ltd. Registered
    in England under number: 06574965 Registered offices: 3rd Floor,
    41-51 Grey Street, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 6EE.

    This email is sent subject to our email disclaimer which can be
    accessed at: [3]www.southernrailway.com/emaildisclaimer

    References

    Visible links
    1. mailto:[Southern problem reporting email]
    2. file:///tmp/www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/contact-us/contact-us-form
    3. file:///tmp/www.southernrailway.com/emaildisclaimer
  • 6 Southern Railways Customer Services responded to Jo Ivens close 18:35 05 Oct 2011
    Dear Sir/Madam,

    Thank you for contacting us.

    In order to claim a refund, please send in your tickets. If the
    tickets are not printed please send in the booking confirmation,
    along with a brief letter of explanation, to the following
    address:

    Refunds, PO Box 3021, Bristol, BS2 2BS

    Please include in the correspondence whether your tickets were
    purchased by card of cash, as you will need to be refunded in
    the same way. If the tickets were purchased by card and you are
    happy to include your card details in the letter, please do so.
    If not, please include a number on which we can call you in
    order to obtain them.

    If you wish to contact us further regarding your query then
    please contact our Customer Service team directly at:
    [1][Southern problem reporting email] or by phone on 08451 27 29 20 or
    in writing to Southern Customer Services, PO Box 3021, Bristol,
    BS2 2BS quoting ticket number [5279-1316775349] on all
    communication.

    Alternatively please use the contact us page You can also submit
    a webform at:
    [2]www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/contact-us/contact-us-form
    quoting your ticket number.

    Kind regards,

    Terri Owen
    Southern Customer Services

    Your message :

    Dear Southern,

    I have applied for a refund on a journey I didn't make because
    of
    today's disruption on the Brighton-London line.

    My comment is that your website is really not user friendly,
    especially when it comes to finding out how to get a refund. One
    link to the FAQs is broken, you have to work out what the heck a
    Rainy Day guarantee is, realise it probably doesn't apply, but
    that's the only thing on there about refunds, then get sent
    through
    a whole series of pages to log in and find your journey and
    apply
    for a refund.

    I ended up with 4 separate pages open, all telling me something
    not
    that helpful.

    I suggest you have a look at your website and refocus on the
    customer rather than your irritating advertising; simplify the
    journey and reduce number of clicks.

    ------------------

    Here is some information from FixMyTransport about the location
    of
    this issue:

    Location name: Train route between Brighton and London Victoria

    ----------

    To view a map of the precise location of this problem, or to
    provide an update on the problem, please visit the following
    link:

    http://www.fixmytransport.com/campaigns/...

    [ PLEASE NOTE: Your replies to this problem report will be sent
    to
    Jo Ivens and will be published online. This message was sent via
    FixMyTransport.com - a not-for-profit service dedicated to
    helping
    people get public transport problems resolved. If there is a
    more
    appropriate email address for messages about this type of
    problem,
    please let us know by visiting
    . This will help improve
    the service for people travelling. We also welcome any other
    feedback you may have. ]

    _________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

    This e-mail message has been scanned and cleared by NetIQ
    MailMarshal.

    Southern Railway Ltd is registered in England No. 06574965.
    Registered office: 3rd Floor, 41-51 Grey Street, Newcastle Upon
    Tyne, NE1 6EE

    This email is sent subject to our email disclaimer which can be
    accessed here http://www.southernrailway.com/emaildisc...

    Southern is the trading name of Southern Railway Ltd.
    Registered in England under number: 06574965
    Registered offices: 3rd Floor, 41-51 Grey Street, Newcastle upon
    Tyne, NE1 6EE.

    This email is sent subject to our email disclaimer which can be
    accessed at: [3]www.southernrailway.com/emaildisclaimer

    References

    Visible links
    1. mailto:[Southern problem reporting email]
    2. file:///tmp/www.southernrailway.com/your-journey/contact-us/contact-us-form
    3. file:///tmp/www.southernrailway.com/emaildisclaimer
  • 7 Myf Nixon commented close 09:52 06 Oct 2011

    Gah, it is very annoying how they address the issue you were trying to find on the website, but not your wider issue about the website. Even if they just passed your comments on to the web team - that way they could fix the actual website and they wouldn't have to answer so many queries about refunds. Chuh!

    anorak
    admin
  • 8 Jo Ivens commented close 10:02 06 Oct 2011

    Yes, Myf, that is exactly what I thought.

    I'm not actually stupid and I did *eventually* manage to work out their refund system. My point was about the shoddiness of their website.

    This is of course why people don't bother to complain - this kind of response is akind to being ignored.

Comment
  • started 23 September 2011
  • supporters 2
Train route between Brighton and London Victoria operated by Southern, Gatwick Express
Problem Reporter
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