Pleeeeeeeeeese Helpppppp with Renfe! Think I'm going insane!
Oct 17th, 2009, 05:30 AM
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Pleeeeeeeeeese Helpppppp with Renfe! Think I'm going insane!
We leave for Spain in about three weeks. I have been attempting to purchase Renfe tickets online- Madrid to Ronda- round trip for the last four days. I had copied the instructions on Tripadvisor and followed them to the letter (So helpful Benny Malaga-Thank you for the time spent spelling it all out). When I tried using my Visa, it didn't work so I called my bank to make sure there wasn't a problem with my card being blocked for some reason. There wasn't. I borrowed a friend's AmEx card and have been trying to use it since, but no luck either.
It's not the end of the world, but I would like to save some money (well over a 100 dollars) getting the web price.
Is there hope for me???? Lissa
It's not the end of the world, but I would like to save some money (well over a 100 dollars) getting the web price.
Is there hope for me???? Lissa
Oct 17th, 2009, 05:48 AM
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The Visa card needs ot be "verified". Unfortunately, I cannot instruct you as to how to do that.
I had to get my Spanish Visa verified.. just to buy at Renfe.. whereas others have had to do nothing.
Hopefully another frequent user will tell you the tricks!
I think AMEX is NOT accepted at ALL from ANY country at renfe.
Worst case scenario you can call and get the Estrella fare on the phone.
I had to get my Spanish Visa verified.. just to buy at Renfe.. whereas others have had to do nothing.
Hopefully another frequent user will tell you the tricks!
I think AMEX is NOT accepted at ALL from ANY country at renfe.
Worst case scenario you can call and get the Estrella fare on the phone.
Oct 17th, 2009, 01:19 PM
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Lissa,
I feel your pain. About once every month of so someone posts about the frustration of trying to deal with the Renfe web site.
I had the same problem earlier this year. It just wouldn't work. Again and again, it didn't work. I tried two different credit cards without any success. And then it did work. I have no idea why. I didn't do anything differently.
All I can say is keep trying and you'll probably end up with your tickets - and maybe a few gray hairs from all the aggravation.
I feel your pain. About once every month of so someone posts about the frustration of trying to deal with the Renfe web site.
I had the same problem earlier this year. It just wouldn't work. Again and again, it didn't work. I tried two different credit cards without any success. And then it did work. I have no idea why. I didn't do anything differently.
All I can say is keep trying and you'll probably end up with your tickets - and maybe a few gray hairs from all the aggravation.
Oct 18th, 2009, 03:51 AM
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lincasanova, yk, Egbert and Shanti I appreciate your suggestions. I, too, have read all of the horror stories associated with the Renfe ticket purchase, but thought I had it beat this time with Benny's help.
Shanti, like you, I'm a determined thing and will keep trying. I'm curious which card worked for you?
Egbert, I tried not using dashes, too. I even attempted to complete the sale using the Spanish language version once I became familiar with the requirements.
If it doesn't work, not the end of the world. Will buy from here or once we're in Madrid.
Muchas gracias all! Lissa
Shanti, like you, I'm a determined thing and will keep trying. I'm curious which card worked for you?
Egbert, I tried not using dashes, too. I even attempted to complete the sale using the Spanish language version once I became familiar with the requirements.
If it doesn't work, not the end of the world. Will buy from here or once we're in Madrid.
Muchas gracias all! Lissa
Oct 18th, 2009, 05:13 AM
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Good luck. I should have mentioned that I used the Spanish version of Renfe to buy all my tickets, even though I don't speak/read Spanish. I found the English version very buggy - at least back in 2008.
Oct 19th, 2009, 09:41 AM
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A few months ago I tried to get Barcelona to Madrid tickets but the charge did not go through. I then used a different card, Capital One Visa, and it worked. I think it's just a matter of try, try again.
Oct 19th, 2009, 01:20 PM
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Misery loves company 
I am in the pool too. Right now I am familiarizing myself with the site.... Two additional questions:
1. For the past few days, I can see tickets up to Dec 12th 2009 but not after that. If it is 60 days or 62 days I would expect that each day I would see it advancing but I don't see that, it has been up to Dec 12th for the past few days. Is that usual or am I missing something
2. Someone mentioned that you can buy Estrella tickets by phone? Is that so? Can I call from the USA and book on the phone using a US credit card? The Estrella fare is not as good as the Web fare of course but better than the general fare...
I am in the pool too. Right now I am familiarizing myself with the site.... Two additional questions:1. For the past few days, I can see tickets up to Dec 12th 2009 but not after that. If it is 60 days or 62 days I would expect that each day I would see it advancing but I don't see that, it has been up to Dec 12th for the past few days. Is that usual or am I missing something
2. Someone mentioned that you can buy Estrella tickets by phone? Is that so? Can I call from the USA and book on the phone using a US credit card? The Estrella fare is not as good as the Web fare of course but better than the general fare...
Oct 19th, 2009, 02:05 PM
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1. Yes, the fares post-December 12th haven't been loaded yet. I've been checking daily, too.
2. Yes, you can buy Estrella tickets on the phone. Folks here have booked them by calling from the USA and using a US credit card, no problem. You'll probably have to notify your cc company beforehand, so they don't block your account.
2. Yes, you can buy Estrella tickets on the phone. Folks here have booked them by calling from the USA and using a US credit card, no problem. You'll probably have to notify your cc company beforehand, so they don't block your account.
Oct 19th, 2009, 03:49 PM
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Shanti-I've been working the last few days and haven't tried but have NOT given up. Will let you know if I'm ultimately successful.
Revulgo-Am back to trying the Visa. Thanks for the tip.
yk-Am going to do it both ways, Ingles y Espanol until success!
Isaldanha-Benny from Malaga (Tripadvisor member)has posted very helpful step by step instructions if you need them.I found them to be a great help as I mentioned in my earlier post. Will probably also call when we get closer to and make arrangements if I am not successful online.
Lissa
Revulgo-Am back to trying the Visa. Thanks for the tip.
yk-Am going to do it both ways, Ingles y Espanol until success!
Isaldanha-Benny from Malaga (Tripadvisor member)has posted very helpful step by step instructions if you need them.I found them to be a great help as I mentioned in my earlier post. Will probably also call when we get closer to and make arrangements if I am not successful online.
Lissa
Oct 19th, 2009, 03:58 PM
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I purchased my ticket from Narbonne, France to Barcelona on www.raileurope.com and had no problem. This would perhaps avoid the problem with credit card numbers not being accepted as mine went through without a hitch.
Oct 19th, 2009, 04:13 PM
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Lissa: Yes I have read Benny's instruction and also the seat61 instructions, both of which are very good. As dry run for an earlier date, I got smoothly as far as entering my credit card number and stopped there...
charp45, I did check raileurope but for the renfe internal tickets, if you book through rail europe you cannot get the heavily discounted web or estrella tickets.
Lincasanova: I feel better after hearing you say that even you can't figure it out
I have booked tickets for travel in France at the SNCF website and my credits card went through with no problem; looks like renfe likes to throw out curved balls...Let all keep trying...cheers...
Letha
charp45, I did check raileurope but for the renfe internal tickets, if you book through rail europe you cannot get the heavily discounted web or estrella tickets.
Lincasanova: I feel better after hearing you say that even you can't figure it out
I have booked tickets for travel in France at the SNCF website and my credits card went through with no problem; looks like renfe likes to throw out curved balls...Let all keep trying...cheers...
Letha
Oct 21st, 2009, 03:34 PM
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Success! I got my Renfe tickets today. Thank you all for your helpful comments and support through this difficult process.
Turns out as lincasanova mentioned in an earlier post, it was the Visa issuer who was blocking the sale-not my bank. They called me after I purchased the first round of tickets from Madrid to Ronda to confirm my travel plans. Visa removed the block and no more problemos, although I DID have to Verify with Visa before they allowed the transaction. A screen just popped up out of nowhere, I filled in the required info and completed the sale. I also used the spanish version to purchase. I had filled out the forms so many times, I knew each line by heart!
Unfortunately, I was able to get the web discount one way only....bummer, but was happy that I was successful overall.
Isaldanha- Stay with it!
Again all, you have my thanks.
Turns out as lincasanova mentioned in an earlier post, it was the Visa issuer who was blocking the sale-not my bank. They called me after I purchased the first round of tickets from Madrid to Ronda to confirm my travel plans. Visa removed the block and no more problemos, although I DID have to Verify with Visa before they allowed the transaction. A screen just popped up out of nowhere, I filled in the required info and completed the sale. I also used the spanish version to purchase. I had filled out the forms so many times, I knew each line by heart!
Unfortunately, I was able to get the web discount one way only....bummer, but was happy that I was successful overall.
Isaldanha- Stay with it!
Again all, you have my thanks.
