LNER e-Ticket: Can I convert it to a "conventional" printed ticket?

[Swanley 59]

I have just booked online tickets for my wife for a work-related trip from Morpeth to London on Thursday 9 March. Unfortunately, I selected the e-Ticket delivery option rather than a printed conventional ticket, which she needs to reclaim her expenses from her employer.

Is it possible to convert the e-Ticket to a printed ticket if I call at the booking office at the station?

 

[Haywain]

Is it possible to convert the e-Ticket to a printed ticket if I call at the booking office at the station?

No. Why wouldn't a copy of the eTicket be acceptable to the employer? They really need to get with the times.

 

[XAM2175]

Why wouldn't a copy of the eTicket be acceptable to the employer? They really need to get with the times.

As a guess, because it's possible that the ticket could have been refunded? With CCST you have to surrender, or at least destroy or deface, the ticket in order to obtain the refund and thus you couldn't subsequently also claim a re-imbursement.

This needn't necessarily be a problem, but obviously not every company trusts its staff to the same extent.

 

[Swanley 59]

No. Why wouldn't a copy of the eTicket be acceptable to the employer? They really need to get with the times.

I agree that it is ridiculous.

She is a contractor for a government department and is employed through an umbrella company, which seems intent on making it as difficult as possible to reclaim expenses. The last time she used an e-Ticket, it took 4 months before her expenses were refunded. With conventional tickets, they have usually turned it around within a month.

As a guess, because it's possible that the ticket could have been refunded? With CCST you have to surrender, or at least destroy or deface, the ticket in order to obtain the refund and thus you couldn't subsequently also claim a re-imbursement.

This needn't necessarily be a problem, but obviously not every company trusts its staff to the same extent.

That is exactly the issue.

 

[Haywain]

As a guess, because it's possible that the ticket could have been refunded? With CCST you have to surrender, or at least destroy or deface, the ticket in order to obtain the refund and thus you couldn't subsequently also claim a re-imbursement.

This needn't necessarily be a problem, but obviously not every company trusts its staff to the same extent.

A company that doesn't trust its staff to be honest about claiming expenses should (and should be told to) book the travel itself.

 

[Swanley 59]

A company that doesn't trust its staff to be honest about claiming expenses should (and should be told to) book the travel itself.

My wife is sometimes required to travel at very short notice by the government department she is contracted to, but has to reclaim out-of-pocket expenses from the umbrella company that employs her.

Such is the life of a contractor!

 

[Haywain]

My wife is sometimes required to travel at very short notice by the government department she is contracted to, but has to reclaim out-of-pocket expenses from the umbrella company that employs her.

Such is the life of a contractor!

If your wife is capable of booking train tickets at short notice so is the company that employs her.

 

[freddie1729]

If you're quick you can refund it with no fee within 2 hours of booking. https://www.lner.co.uk/support/refunds/#refund

 

[Swanley 59]

If you're quick you can refund it with no fee within 2 hours of booking. https://www.lner.co.uk/support/refunds/#refund

Thank you!

I still have 30 minutes in that case.

 

[AlbertBeale]

Presumably an e-ticket can be printed out rather than being used on an electronic device? Or is that not good enough to solve the expenses problem?

 

[yorkie]

I have just booked online tickets for my wife for a work-related trip from Morpeth to London on Thursday 9 March. Unfortunately, I selected the e-Ticket delivery option rather than a printed conventional ticket, which she needs to reclaim her expenses from her employer.

Is it possible to convert the e-Ticket to a printed ticket if I call at the booking office at the station?

It can simply be printed, if the company requires a printed version.

By the way "conventional" (aka credit size stock) paper tickets are being withdrawn and their replacements are barcode tickets, so there is no getting away from this. The question going forward is whether you want the flexibility of a barcode ticket that is in PDF format (which you may print if you wish) or a flimsy piece of paper. Both are perfectly fine for expense claims.

Presumably an e-ticket can be printed out rather than being used on an electronic device? Or is that not good enough to solve the expenses problem?

Exactly.

As a guess, because it's possible that the ticket could have been refunded? With CCST you have to surrender, or at least destroy or deface, the ticket in order to obtain the refund and thus you couldn't subsequently also claim a re-imbursement.

This argument (not yours, I know!) is tenuous but only even slightly stacks up if the company insists on the original paper ticket being posted to them. A photo of a paper ticket would be no different to an e ticket in this regard!

 

[Swanley 59]

Thanks everyone for the replies and advice. The umbrella company for whom my wife works has, in the past, insisted upon original documents of everything - receipts, train tickets, proof of parking, etc - in an expenses claim. However, upon checking, which entailed speaking to the right person eventually, it turns out that they will accept a printed PDF of an e-ticket as proof of booking.

The 21xt century has welcomed them with open arms.

 

[Haywain]

The umbrella company for whom my wife works has, in the past, insisted upon original documents of everything - receipts, train tickets, proof of parking, etc - in an expenses claim. However, upon checking, which entailed speaking to the right person eventually, it turns out that they will accept a printed PDF of an e-ticket as proof of booking.

Well done for following up and getting a sensible answer. I suppose expecting them to print it so it can be submitted by email might be a bit much?

 

[alxndr]

The concern could also be that someone buys a cheaper ticket/split tickets and then doctors it to look like a more expensive one. It's far easier to alter a PDF in that way than it is a cardstock ticket, and unlike train companies there's no way for them to check by scanning the barcode.

 

[Class800]

It can simply be printed, if the company requires a printed version.

By the way "conventional" (aka credit size stock) paper tickets are being withdrawn and their replacements are barcode tickets, so there is no getting away from this. The question going forward is whether you want the flexibility of a barcode ticket that is in PDF format (which you may print if you wish) or a flimsy piece of paper. Both are perfectly fine for expense claims.

Exactly.


This argument (not yours, I know!) is tenuous but only even slightly stacks up if the company insists on the original paper ticket being posted to them. A photo of a paper ticket would be no different to an e ticket in this regard!

The only time I've heard of this being required is for claims against EU funded grants

 

[Haywain]

The concern could also be that someone buys a cheaper ticket/split tickets and then doctors it to look like a more expensive one. It's far easier to alter a PDF in that way than it is a cardstock ticket, and unlike train companies there's no way for them to check by scanning the barcode.

Thank goodness no-one has ever forged a paper ticket.

 

[alxndr]

Thank goodness no-one has ever forged a paper ticket.

I said it was easier to alter a PDF, not impossible to forge a paper ticket. One is far more specialist than the other.

 

[Haywain]

I said it was easier to alter a PDF, not impossible to forge a paper ticket. One is far more specialist than the other.

As I said upthread, a business that is concerned about people claiming money they haven't paid out has the option of taking the travel booking in-house.