Trouble renewing Senior Railcard

[Layclerk54]

I wonder if anybody could help me. I have been trying to renew a Senior railcard for my wife...a three year one...online. She doesn't want a virtual one but the card version.

I have been on the National Rail site and filled in all the details until the sign in /register page. Then I encounter a 500 error notification and a 'something went wrong' statement . I don't think it is me as the page says that they are 'working on it'.

Thing is, I keep getting this page and if you go on Facebook there are similar experiences posted going back to 1st of June.

Please could anybody out there explain what I have done wrongly....or could any kind soul send me a link that works.

I am no conspiracy theorist but i am beginning to sense they don't want me to have one. Thanks for reading this.

 

[HughT]

This is a known problem - and a fairly longstanding one. You're not doing anything wrong (unless assuming that the site should work as intended is a mistake on your part...) .Here's a recent thread on this forum, for example:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/railcard-website-experiencing-technical-issues.231979/

It was mentioned on Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert site back in May, amongst other places.

As suggested in the forum link above, the best workaround is to phone Railcard customer services team on 0345 3000 250. From experience, they seem to be polite and helpful. They will be aware of the online renewal problem. And please remember it's not their fault the site doesn't work (I'm sure you won't, but it's worrying how often people take out their grievances on the first staff member they encounter, who are often the least well-paid as well - this isn't specific to Railcards, of course!).

 

[CyrusWuff]

Another workaround is to buy the Railcard through the East Midlands Railway website.

Their purchase page is at https://railcards.eastmidlandsrailway.co.uk and they do both Digital and plastic Railcards.

 

[JBuchananGB]

I have been on the National Rail site and filled in all the details until the sign in /register page.

The correct site would be railcard.co.uk I successfully renewed my plastic Senior Railcard there about a month ago, and also purchased one for my wife. In both cases for no charge as paid using Tesco Vouchers.

 

[londontransit]

This is a known problem - and a fairly longstanding one. You're not doing anything wrong (unless assuming that the site should work as intended is a mistake on your part...) .Here's a recent thread on this forum, for example:

https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/railcard-website-experiencing-technical-issues.231979/

It was mentioned on Martin Lewis' MoneySavingExpert site back in May, amongst other places.

As suggested in the forum link above, the best workaround is to phone Railcard customer services team on 0345 3000 250. From experience, they seem to be polite and helpful. They will be aware of the online renewal problem. And please remember it's not their fault the site doesn't work (I'm sure you won't, but it's worrying how often people take out their grievances on the first staff member they encounter, who are often the least well-paid as well - this isn't specific to Railcards, of course!).

I tried getting a new railcard and had some problems too. I cant use the phone so I left a message on their reply system. Then another, and another, and this was months ago. It doesn't matter if they have problems or not with their site they're simply NOT interested in communicating with anyone other than through a godforsaken phone system. Their system sends me loads of email offers and tips about using railcards but as for sorting the issues I had, not a peep. Evidently Railcards are in breach of the legislation on accessibility.

 

[Wallsendmag]

Not sure if our site is working https://www.lner.co.uk/tickets-savings/savings-rewards/special-offers/travel-savings/railcards/

 

[Layclerk54]

Thank you for all your kind and helpful responses. In the end I managed via phone and was helped by an amazingly patient salesperson who was EXCELLENT! But how I wish that I had known that I could have phoned in the first place; the web page I found said that this was not possible!! Thank you everybody.