lukasdf
23-07-2010, 19:57
Hi everyone,
I am hoping to get some advice on an issue I experienced with train travel between Cork and Dublin last week:
On 15th July, I made the following online booking for myself and my wife:
Date: 16/7/2010 Cork – Dublin, leaving 13:30, arriving 16:25 at €36.00 per person
Date: 17/7/2010 Dublin – Cork, leaving 14:00, arriving 16:50 at €10.00 per person
Total paid: €92.00
I received a "confirmation of reservation" email, and assumed everything would be fine.
I got to Kent Station Cork at 13:05 on the 16th and was unable to get my tickets from the machine, so I turned to the man on the ticket desk and gave him my email printout. After a pointless discussion (I won't go into details), the staff member agreed to look up my reservation on the computer, only to tell me it had been cancelled!
The thing is: I didn't cancel it! I had booked accommodation in Dublin for the night, plus concert tickets (all of this non-refundable). I arrived at the station in time for the train, with my luggage (and so did my wife).
The was more pointless discussion, during which it was alleged that I had cancelled my booking over the phone about 4 hours after the original booking had been made. However, I had not been in touch with Iarnrod Eireann since making the booking on the morning of the 15th, as I was still intending to travel! I had received no email message (or anything else) to tell me about the cancellation of my booking.
The train I had booked eventually left without us (I reckon the seats had been resold). We were told to buy new tickets at the normal price for the next train, but I refused. We'd been at Kent Station for almost 45 minutes at this point, with no one able to explain what was going on.
We ended up having to run home, and then drive to Dublin and back as the concert we'd bought tickets for started at 18:30.
Today, I checked my bank account, and Iarnrod Eireann have charged me €92 for a service they failed to provide. I am absolutely disgusted.
I have written a letter of complaint, which I posted to Dublin on Monday. Is there anything else I can do? How long should I be waiting to hear anything back (if I ever do hear anything...:confused: )
Many thanks in advance for any advice / ideas,
Lukas.
I am hoping to get some advice on an issue I experienced with train travel between Cork and Dublin last week:
On 15th July, I made the following online booking for myself and my wife:
Date: 16/7/2010 Cork – Dublin, leaving 13:30, arriving 16:25 at €36.00 per person
Date: 17/7/2010 Dublin – Cork, leaving 14:00, arriving 16:50 at €10.00 per person
Total paid: €92.00
I received a "confirmation of reservation" email, and assumed everything would be fine.
I got to Kent Station Cork at 13:05 on the 16th and was unable to get my tickets from the machine, so I turned to the man on the ticket desk and gave him my email printout. After a pointless discussion (I won't go into details), the staff member agreed to look up my reservation on the computer, only to tell me it had been cancelled!
The thing is: I didn't cancel it! I had booked accommodation in Dublin for the night, plus concert tickets (all of this non-refundable). I arrived at the station in time for the train, with my luggage (and so did my wife).
The was more pointless discussion, during which it was alleged that I had cancelled my booking over the phone about 4 hours after the original booking had been made. However, I had not been in touch with Iarnrod Eireann since making the booking on the morning of the 15th, as I was still intending to travel! I had received no email message (or anything else) to tell me about the cancellation of my booking.
The train I had booked eventually left without us (I reckon the seats had been resold). We were told to buy new tickets at the normal price for the next train, but I refused. We'd been at Kent Station for almost 45 minutes at this point, with no one able to explain what was going on.
We ended up having to run home, and then drive to Dublin and back as the concert we'd bought tickets for started at 18:30.
Today, I checked my bank account, and Iarnrod Eireann have charged me €92 for a service they failed to provide. I am absolutely disgusted.
I have written a letter of complaint, which I posted to Dublin on Monday. Is there anything else I can do? How long should I be waiting to hear anything back (if I ever do hear anything...:confused: )
Many thanks in advance for any advice / ideas,
Lukas.