xxx

mpprh,<BR><BR>Ignore Christina, she often spouts off like she knows it all, when in fact, she obviously does not.

Sue

Mpprh, I agree that it was odd of the clerk to indicate that ordering on the Internet is somehow unusual. Nor should it matter of what nationality the card is - ours wasn't French, and the Internet site accepted it, ergo, it will be in the system. <BR><BR>However, the SCNF site does make it clear that when picking up prepaid tickets - of any kind, not just the TGV - one must bring the CC card with which one purchased the tickets as proof that the tickets are indeed one's property. I can only assume that their system is only set up to 'read' credit cards, not passports or driving licenses. And of course, a desk clerk doesn't have authorization or ability to circumvent a computerized system. <BR><BR>We were able to get discounted fares from the SNCF site by paying in advance, and we picked up the tickets in a French rail station using precisely this procedure. We were not double-billed. However, if any of your friends continue to find the SNCF procedure alarming, they should remember that they can always ask their CC company to intercede should any problem arise. I am sorry for your friend's frustrating experience, but it does pay to read the fine print carefully. Better luck next time.<BR><BR>

Cindy

<BR>Asking for the card is standard, even in the U.S. -- I have to show my card for tickets I order online for my local movie theater, at airlines, etc.

mpprh

Hi<BR><BR>I got a call from Australia last night.<BR>SNCF has still not refunded the money due.<BR><BR>Peter<BR>http://tlp.netfirms.com<BR>

Susan

No, it's not &quot;the French way&quot; - it's a universal technology problem. I recently had to take the train from NYC to Philadelphia, and as I had someone meeting me at the PHL station, I booked ahead over the internet. When I arrived at the station in NYC, the machine didn't recognise my confirmation code, and refused to issue the tickets. I went to the customer service desk, and was told to go stand in the 'handicapped line' at the regular ticket counter to see a supervisor for help. When I did so, some rude American (sorry, but he was) got into a frenzy and started screaming at me: &quot;we all have to stand in line ... we're all waiting here ... &quot; etc etc in a really shrill voice. I tried to explain the situation to him - not that it was any of his business, but he semed so interested - but he rudely turned away as soon as he saw he couldn't intimidate me. <BR><BR>Anyway, when I was about 10 minutes away from missing my train and there were still several people in line in front of me, I decided to take a chance and go back and try the machine again. This time, it gave me someone else's tickets - but also my own! I tried to give the first person's tickets back, but neither the NY service desk nor the ticket collectors on the train would take them. Finally, when I got to Philadelphia, the Customer Service people in the PHL train station did make a note of the mis-issued tickets, and promise to refund the other party - who had by then no doubt either paid for a new seat or missed her train. <BR><BR>I never had these problems in Europe, although have taken European trains far more often than American trains. I guess it just depends where you have bad luck!

Suzie

Christina you really sound like an asshole. Are you? When I guess you are, bitch!

Sue

Peter, I'm sorry that your friend is still having problems. Is he trying to get the first credit card company to post a credit to his account, or is he trying to get the refund from SNCF directly? I'd go for the first route, which would in effect transfer the problem of getting SNCF to cough up to the credit card company.<BR><BR>Rereading your story reminds me that there is some risk of inconvenience when using these &quot;pay-in-advance&quot; options. As Susanb points out, technology is wonderful, except when it ain't. : - ) I guess everyone has to decide for themselves if the discount generally offered to pay-in-advance customers is worth this risk. <BR><BR>Wishing your friend luck.

mpprh

Hi<BR><BR>And still waiting for the credit !<BR><BR>Peter<BR>

Andrew

Is there some reason your friend didn't call his/her credit card company immediately to dispute this charge? In the US, you only have 60 days to do this; if it's the same for the cardholder, it might be too late...<BR><BR>Andrew<BR>

mpprh

Hi<BR><BR>He still has not received the refund.<BR><BR>Peter<BR>http://tlp.netfirms.com<BR>

Mariarosa

Well, having just returned from France and having purchased my train tickets online prior (we were traveling on the weekends during the French school winter holidays), I can say that the SNCF booking made it VERY CLEAR that the credit card that had been used to purchase the tickets had to be presented at the time of pick-up to ensure that the person picking up the tickets was the person who purchased them. This was regardless of whether you used an agent or an automated machine to pick up the tickets.<BR><BR>The clerk swiped my card at the station and I was NOT double-charged. Peter, I think the problem in your friend's case was that your friend did not understand that he needed to present the card and that it needed to be swiped at pick-up to ensure security.

BTilke

What would happen if, for example, your credit card was stolen or canceled? I'm dealing with that right now, as the Intercontinental Hotel in Vienna made seven false charges on my credit card while I was there in early March. The card had to be canceled as a result (and the Intercontinental Hotel is NOT being very helpful about the matter--I won't recommend them again to anyone!)

ira

Hi BTilke,<BR><BR> What is the problem with the charges from the Intercontinental? <BR><BR> Are they insisting that it was you? Do they have a signature to back up the charge? <BR><BR> Is your credit card company investigating the matter?

ndf321

From my understanding, he DID present the card that he originally used, but that when SNCF swiped the card for confirmation, it didn't work. Thus their requirement for a different card . . .<BR><BR>This type of situation is pretty annoying to me, because it seems that a passport that matches the name on the card should be plenty of confirmation of identity. Swiping the card shouldn't be necessary, unless that magnetic stripe is to be considered more reliable than the U.S. Customs agency.<BR><BR>The most annoying thing about it all is that recently I purchased airfare, railpasses and made hotel reservations for June using my credit card, and then I got a card with a much better rate and transferred the balances. But I still have to keep the old account open, and drag the card around with me even though I will be using the new card. Credit card companies entice us to switch brands to save money, but we pay for it in inconvenience.

Mariarosa

ndf321<BR>That makes more sense! I agree that it is really annoying to have to keep a card so it can be swiped on the spot - proof of ID should be enough. I really hope that Peter's friend gets his money back.<BR><BR>Peter - thank you for keeping us abreast of your friend's situation and for all the Uzes recommendations - we visited Uzes this month and it was lovely.