IDTGV - latest credit card foibles?
Dec 12th, 2011, 11:12 PM
#1
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IDTGV - latest credit card foibles?
Hi fellow travellers, trying to book IDTGV Paris to Marseille. Was delighted to find I can book for June now but have fallen at the last hurdle - it won't accept my credit card(s)?
What is the latest trick/advice for this website please?
A few years ago I opened champagne when I successfully booked and printed through the sncf voyages site - thought it was going to be a breeze this time!
Last info I can find suggests just keep trying and with different cards but if anyone has anything else to advise I would be most grateful.
What is the latest trick/advice for this website please?
A few years ago I opened champagne when I successfully booked and printed through the sncf voyages site - thought it was going to be a breeze this time!
Last info I can find suggests just keep trying and with different cards but if anyone has anything else to advise I would be most grateful.
Dec 13th, 2011, 02:13 AM
#2
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seat61.com/france good info might buy from them
if you keep having problems.I have never been able
to make my CCs work there usually just wait to book
or just hop on train like a local on regional trains.
Always way cheeaper never booked.Good luck!
if you keep having problems.I have never been able
to make my CCs work there usually just wait to book
or just hop on train like a local on regional trains.
Always way cheeaper never booked.Good luck!
Dec 13th, 2011, 02:53 AM
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Do you mean which type of card Bilboburgler? I have tried four different VISA credit cards and one VISA debit card. The IDTGV website offers Visa, MasterCard and another one that doesn't exist in Australia I don't think. No Amex option. This is not the sncf page which I did use successfully albeit some years ago.
Dec 13th, 2011, 05:31 AM
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Several people had this trouble a few weeks ago on SNCF. In some cases, including mine, the problem was triggered by the US credit card company.
After I called Citicard and told them about my way-in-the-future trip, they cleared the purchase. It seems to be a new hurdle. You could give it a try.
Good luck!
After I called Citicard and told them about my way-in-the-future trip, they cleared the purchase. It seems to be a new hurdle. You could give it a try.
Good luck!
Dec 13th, 2011, 05:37 AM
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Unfortunately, ozgirl, I have read numerous reports within the last 6 months of those from Australia not being able to use their credit cards on the SNCF websites. iDTGV tickets are today being sold for dates in June up to the 12th (presently 6 months in advance) and if you have completed the booking process only to find that your credit card is not accepted, you might confirm with your bank that they are not placing a hold of any kind on your account. If that does help, you simply may not be able to complete an online transaction using an Australian credit card.
<i>just hop on train like a local on regional trains.</i>
What does this mean? Locals do not <i>just hop on trains</i> without purchasing tickets in advance. This is a good way of being detained and ending up paying a stiff fine. Doing this can give a whole new meaning to the concept of a ¨memorable vacation¨.
<i>What is IDTGV? Can't you still buy from SNCF?</i>
iDTGV trains are operating by the SNCF, sometimes but not always attached to normally scheduled TGV trains. iDTGV tickets are only sold on line, starting 4-6 months before any given travel date. Ticket prices begin at 19€ and increase as tickets are sold.
<i>just hop on train like a local on regional trains.</i>
What does this mean? Locals do not <i>just hop on trains</i> without purchasing tickets in advance. This is a good way of being detained and ending up paying a stiff fine. Doing this can give a whole new meaning to the concept of a ¨memorable vacation¨.
<i>What is IDTGV? Can't you still buy from SNCF?</i>
iDTGV trains are operating by the SNCF, sometimes but not always attached to normally scheduled TGV trains. iDTGV tickets are only sold on line, starting 4-6 months before any given travel date. Ticket prices begin at 19€ and increase as tickets are sold.
Dec 13th, 2011, 06:18 AM
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The SNCF or French Rail operates a number of different types of trains: TER, Téoz, Lunéa, Corail, TGV, and iDTGV are most of the options. Each serves a specific purpose; local, high-speed, over-night, or regional are some of the targeted markets.
The basic difference between TGV and iDTGV is that the iDTGV tickets are deeply discounted and are only sold online, the routes offered are somewhat limited. You might think of the iDTGV trains as a rough equivalent to a discount airline yet the services are almost identical to the regular TGVs. iDTGV trains do have limits on carry on luggage such as do many discount airlines. There are special fees imposed on those carrying a lot of luggage or over-sized luggage.
More information is available, in English or French, on their website:
www.idtgv.com
The basic difference between TGV and iDTGV is that the iDTGV tickets are deeply discounted and are only sold online, the routes offered are somewhat limited. You might think of the iDTGV trains as a rough equivalent to a discount airline yet the services are almost identical to the regular TGVs. iDTGV trains do have limits on carry on luggage such as do many discount airlines. There are special fees imposed on those carrying a lot of luggage or over-sized luggage.
More information is available, in English or French, on their website:
www.idtgv.com
Dec 13th, 2011, 07:58 AM
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thursdaysd, you are confusing the name of a particular type of high-speed train with the name of the entire French railway system. Both have websites from which you can purchase tickets. Sarastro has provided excellent, detailed information above.
Dec 13th, 2011, 09:58 AM
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If it is not possible to use an Australian CC to purchase tickets on the iDTGV site, the next best prices would be PREM fares on the SNCF site. When I purchased tickets last spring, the PREM fare was only slightly higher than the iDTGV fare.
SNCF opens reservations for TGV trains three months prior to the date of travel. You can sign up for an email alert from SNCF at this site:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/weblogic...0R%25C3%25A9sa
SNCF opens reservations for TGV trains three months prior to the date of travel. You can sign up for an email alert from SNCF at this site:
http://www.voyages-sncf.com/weblogic...0R%25C3%25A9sa
Dec 13th, 2011, 10:05 AM
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I've read that, once a credit card is denied ,it cannot be put through the system again for 24 hours. Why not wit a day, call you CC company telling them to expect (and accept) the charge and try again.
Dec 13th, 2011, 11:43 AM
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It's the Australian card thing, someone documented that on here, as I recall. They even got an email from SNCF telling them they would not allow Austrialian CC purchases online.
It has nothign to do with SNCF vs. idTGV as that IS SNCF, it's just the brand name of a kind of train, just like TGV. SNCF runs all those websites.
excerpt from post by Ronael (oct 2009) <<Thank you all for your help and advice - my story is a very long one. In the end solved only by one very lengthy phonecall to TGV in the UK. Don't get me started on how I got their number.........
The lovely English TGV lady told me that Australian credit cards are not accepted on any of the TGV/sncf train websites in Europe at the moment. This is a recent thing because of several breaches of security & fraud attempts.>>
that was 2 years ago, however, so who knows
It has nothign to do with SNCF vs. idTGV as that IS SNCF, it's just the brand name of a kind of train, just like TGV. SNCF runs all those websites.
excerpt from post by Ronael (oct 2009) <<Thank you all for your help and advice - my story is a very long one. In the end solved only by one very lengthy phonecall to TGV in the UK. Don't get me started on how I got their number.........
The lovely English TGV lady told me that Australian credit cards are not accepted on any of the TGV/sncf train websites in Europe at the moment. This is a recent thing because of several breaches of security & fraud attempts.>>
that was 2 years ago, however, so who knows
Dec 13th, 2011, 12:12 PM
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Hi everyone, thanks for all your comments. Overnight I have received a reply from IDTGV stating
"The cards which are accepted on our website are :
Visa and Mastercard from : European Union, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, USA and Switzerland. "
Bummer!
From comments above I am worried now that I won't have any luck with Prems on the voyages website either!
I wonder if anyone has tried a Uk or USA visa gift card? I had to go down this path to activate a sim for my iPad in the US....
I might have to find a British friend who still has their home country cc?
"The cards which are accepted on our website are :
Visa and Mastercard from : European Union, Andorra, Monaco, Liechtenstein, USA and Switzerland. "
Bummer!
From comments above I am worried now that I won't have any luck with Prems on the voyages website either!
I wonder if anyone has tried a Uk or USA visa gift card? I had to go down this path to activate a sim for my iPad in the US....
I might have to find a British friend who still has their home country cc?
Dec 13th, 2011, 05:44 PM
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Ozgirl - that's disappointing and the reason given in the post dug up by Christina sounds pretty lame. Remarkable isn't it that we can use our Australian issued MasterCard or Visa credit cards to make 2K's worth of European hotel bookings on say, hotels or booking dot com (as I did earlier this year), but run up against all these problems trying to book mainline transport between them. It'd be good knowing what the score is for the use of Australian issued cards on all the main train booking sites so that when the heat is on to secure reasonable fares we don't fall at the final hurdle as you have. FWIW I've just fired off an enquiry to the related tgv-europe mob and if the answer is as expected I'll be asking why (they'll be worried I'm sure). My credit card experiences with Rail Europe Australia (which btw I thought fairly competitive on fares and timetable choices - have you run a check of your sectors?) are set out elsewhere here. Of course the suspicion is that our inability to book on certain European sites just might have something to do with their RE Aust set-up and their relationship with other local agents such as Rail Plus.
Dec 13th, 2011, 07:04 PM
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Hi farrermog, yes, I feel rightly discriminated against!! Lol
I can't compare exactly on Rail Europe Australia as they are only 90 days in advance purchases. If I look at same fare for three months from now, last time I looked it was in the vicinity of $AUD 200+ but I just looked again in response to your post and there is a "promotion" fare of $AUD 71. (First class) On the IDTGV it was 36 euro first class.
I wonder if the gift card would work?
I can't compare exactly on Rail Europe Australia as they are only 90 days in advance purchases. If I look at same fare for three months from now, last time I looked it was in the vicinity of $AUD 200+ but I just looked again in response to your post and there is a "promotion" fare of $AUD 71. (First class) On the IDTGV it was 36 euro first class.
I wonder if the gift card would work?
Dec 14th, 2011, 01:54 AM
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EXCITING NEWS!!!
I replied to the email listing the countries that could order via website, confirming that I was from Australia and asking if there was a way around this dilemma.
I have just received an email from a lovely lady, Florence, who essentially has said that she can see the repeated attempts that I have made and she has authorised the card number ending xxxx and that I should go ahead and make the booking!
Have just done so and hold the tickets in my hot little hand as I type. Customer service par excellence!
Maybe this is the Christmas spirit????
I replied to the email listing the countries that could order via website, confirming that I was from Australia and asking if there was a way around this dilemma.
I have just received an email from a lovely lady, Florence, who essentially has said that she can see the repeated attempts that I have made and she has authorised the card number ending xxxx and that I should go ahead and make the booking!
Have just done so and hold the tickets in my hot little hand as I type. Customer service par excellence!
Maybe this is the Christmas spirit????
Dec 14th, 2011, 03:21 AM
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Great news - well done! I was just about to report that tgv-europe had responded by email that its site accepts certain overseas issued cards -
"Payment cards that can be used on http://www.tgv-europe.com/ to make an on-line payment are:
Payment cards issued abroad by the Eurocard, Mastercard and Visa networks
If you pay on line using American Express or a foreign card that does not have an electronic chip (maximum amount of 1500 €), you will only be able to retrieve your tickets from a ticket desk or boutique. You cannot use a Self-Service Terminal."
- so in theory we shouldn't have a problem there.
Avoiding being diverted to Rail Europe (some RE sites are better than others) is another matter and that's where the advice of the Man in Seat61 is useful -
http://www.seat61.com/Pop-up-tgv-europe.htm
Note that if France is selected for ticket pick-up (even if printing the ticket at home) you'll be diverted to the SNCF site and if English is preferred he suggests the Afghanistan (!) solution.
"Payment cards that can be used on http://www.tgv-europe.com/ to make an on-line payment are:
Payment cards issued abroad by the Eurocard, Mastercard and Visa networks
If you pay on line using American Express or a foreign card that does not have an electronic chip (maximum amount of 1500 €), you will only be able to retrieve your tickets from a ticket desk or boutique. You cannot use a Self-Service Terminal."
- so in theory we shouldn't have a problem there.
Avoiding being diverted to Rail Europe (some RE sites are better than others) is another matter and that's where the advice of the Man in Seat61 is useful -
http://www.seat61.com/Pop-up-tgv-europe.htm
Note that if France is selected for ticket pick-up (even if printing the ticket at home) you'll be diverted to the SNCF site and if English is preferred he suggests the Afghanistan (!) solution.
