WHICH? MAKES SUPER-COMPLAINT OVER RAIL DELAY REFUNDS
Which? is making a super-complaint to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) calling for an investigation into rail delay refunds.
In a press statement Which? says: “We’re calling for action to make the process clearer and easier for consumers.
“Train companies are making it far too difficult for passengers to get compensation for a rail delay or cancellation, or even find out if they’re eligible.
“So Which? is using its super-complaint powers to ask the rail regulator to take action.
“To help you know your rights when travelling by rail we’ve also produced a number of guides you can use to claim your train delay compensation.”
Make rail refunds easier
“We’re also launching our campaign to Make Rail Refunds Easier calling for clear information on how to get a refund for delays and for all train companies to offer cash as default.
“We also want to see train companies held to account if they fail to encourage passengers to claim refunds for delays.”
Launching the campaign, Which? executive director Richard Lloyd said: “Current proposals to improve compensation for passengers are too far down the track.
“Even if an automatic compensation system was included in all new franchises from tomorrow, it would take until at least 2025 to cover the whole network.”
He added that “millions of passengers are left out of pocket each year, so train companies must do more to put their passengers first and make rail refunds easier.”
47 million delays and cancellations
The Which? statement continues: “The latest figures show 47 million passenger journeys were either cancelled or significantly late in one year.
“Most train companies’ passengers are entitled to compensation if they’re delayed by half an hour or more.
“But our survey of nearly 7,000 rail passengers found only a third of passengers who may have been entitled to compensation actually made a claim and only a third remembered being told their rights after their last delay.
Unnecessary compensation barriers
“Which? also conducted a mystery shop at 102 train stations asking basic questions on rail delay refunds.
“The results revealed that not enough is being done to remove the unnecessary barriers to claiming compensation for passengers:
“We were only given a full explanation for the conditions for claiming a refund due to a delay or cancellation in one in five instances
“In six out of ten visits we left the station unaware of what we might be entitled to
“In around three in five cases we weren’t told that we could request our compensation in cash, even after prompting
“In nearly four in ten visits we were given insufficient, if any at all, information that we needed about how long a delay needs to be before we’re due a refund
“A super-complaint is a unique legal power that allows certain consumer bodies, such as Which?, to complain to regulatory bodies about market features that are significantly harming consumers’ interest.
“Now that Which? has submitted its super-complaint, the ORR has 90 days to respond.” (Source: Which? website)
Commenting on the super-complaint from Which? calling for more action to make refunds for delayed rail passengers easier, Labour London Assembly Member Tom Copley AM said:
“Millions of London passengers who are entitled to refunds end up missing out because of the cumbersome process train operators insist on to claim money back.
“With automatic refunds technology readily available, train operators should be rushing to introduce the system. Instead, what we’ve seen in London is some train operators actively putting barriers in the way of refunds, for example putting up posters apologising for delays but omitting any detail on how to claim compensation.
“Which? are entirely right that train operators should be made to make the refunds process as easy as possible, including adopting automatic refunds as a standard practice. Anything less would suggest train operators are more interested in chasing profit than delivering a fair service for passengers.”
Tom Copley is a Labour Londonwide assembly member (Source: GLA Labour party press release)
