SNCF Frustration
 

I'm trying to purchase 4 PREM tickets for an April-May trip, Paris to Avignon and back. I've selected the trains and the fares and am ready to pay online, but there is NO option other than to have the tickets mailed to me (and I don't want to do that, and besides, I've got France as the selected country and I'm not in France at the moment). There is NO option to print the tickets, though early in the process it says you will have that option.

Anyone notice this recently? I've never encountered this before.

we had them mailed to our paris hotel.

Mellen,
I just purchased PREM fares for Paris-Poitiers round trip in May and printed them out. I just looked at the site again and after you choose or decline the insurance, the next page instructs you to "print tickets" or choose to have them mailed. I know that the site was down a couple of days ago so maybe it's just a hit or miss situation.
Bonne chance,
Peg

Thanks, but I'm buying these tickets for a client and don't want any risks at all involved - I want to have them in my clients' hands before they depart.

Guess I'll call the SNCF number...again

minimn:

I chose the insurance and then went to the next page - I'm there now - and it says "Confirmez votre commande en payant en ligne et choissisez de: Recevoir votre billet gratuitement par courier..." No other option....

Oh, wait! Then it asks for your name and address and says you'll receive an email and have the choice to get them by courier or print them out, presumably in the email...

Well, here goes...wish me luck...

Why does this site change every week or so? Just when I think I've got it nailed, it up and morphs...

Hi StCirq,

IIRC, you have to decline the insurance on PREMS tickets in order to print them out.

Were you successful?

((I))

Wow if St Cirq is having trouble, what about the poor novice trying to do this! Incroyable! No way to run a railway!

Yes, and I am the poor novice still tryuing to find out if they are mailing my tickets to Canada... I bought two RT from Amsterdam to Paris (they charged my credit card same day) and had to enter a billing address (my Canadian one), yet I cannot seem to get through to anyone and they will not answer my emails. We leave in one month so I am starting to freak out a bit.

You could always cancel your credit card billing with your card company, explaining the situation.

Wow...thanks, ira. I'd forgotten you couldn't print if you take the insurance.

Back to the drawing board here...

You are welcome, StC.

well...duh...it worked!

Thanks again, ira!

<if St Cirq is having trouble, what about the poor novice trying to do this> I wouldn't necessarily use this as a gauge.

My dear G,

Have you clicked StCirq's name to see how helpful she has been on this forum?

((I))

Ira Dear,

I never said the saint wasn't helpful, but she's hardly the be-all end all, or a bar to measure others by.

I swear, psychology students are using some sites to monitor human behaviour. We are all being watched and timed to see how fast we make our way through the maze....(says Sue, twitching her whiskers and hoping to find the cheese....)

grantop: I've been reading the 'Saint's' posts regarding French matters for a few years and she always seems to be right on - the point was merely that someone who has used the site for a long time had problems - a just point about the frustration the site often presents to users - a novice user would be even more perplexed.

Everybody needs a little help now and then...

The problem with the PREMs printing and buying insurance has been discussed and reported in here several times. I think it would be mentioned in most threads on this topic, if one searched them, or the thread on general instructions of how to use the website for those who have trouble.

Yet one would think that the SNCF would work out these things to make it consumer friendly - i guess they don't read the frustrating posts - it should be as easy as finding a baguette in France and not some end-around by having to decline the insurance to be able to print out - some instructions should be on there. No way to run a railway!