Q: I have a season ticket but because of train strikes I’ve not been able to use it as much as normal, can I get a refund for the missed days?   

A: If you’ve paid for advance train tickets or passes or if you have a season ticket, then you should be able to get a refund if a train is cancelled or delayed because of a train strike. 

How the process works depends on the individual rail company and they have all the details on their websites. You will usually need to choose ‘Industrial Action’ as the reason for the delay if you weren’t able to travel on a strike day. 

This type of refund is known as ‘delay/repay’ and most companies allow you do this quickly via their websites. 

For season tickets, be it a monthly, annual, or flexi ticket, the money is calculated on a pro-rata basis, although this does vary by company.  

However, very few train firms automatically refund you. In fact, many make you jump through a zillion hoops to get your cash back and you may be charged an admin fee for doing so. 

There are many reasons why you may need to ask for a refund, not just train strikes, and  according to Network Rail, if your service has been cancelled, delayed, or rescheduled, you ‘may’ be entitled to a fee-free change or refund from the original retailer of your ticket.  

If you have advance tickets and can’t – or chose not to – travel because of the cause of the delay you should also be able to get your money back. But train operators have a few caveats to this, which is why the Network Rail statement features the word ‘may’ when mentioning refunds. 

For example, when services aren’t completely suspended, some train operators say they will allow you to use your ticket on alternative services instead. This could be travelling on an earlier or later train or possibly by a rail replacement bus, for example. But if there is an alternative on offer, the train company may deny you a refund.     

However, if you can’t get the service (be it the actual train or a replacement) and you’re denied a refund, you can make a formal complaint to the train operator. If this doesn’t work, you can also make a complaint to the Rail Ombudsman. 

Martyn James is a leading consumer rights campaigner, TV and radio broadcaster and journalist. 

Photo credits: Pexels

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Our latest blog discusses the various ways you can get help with rent costs in the current cost-of-living crisis.

Rents are soaring at their fastest pace in five years, hitting tenants in the pocket at a time when supermarket and energy prices are rocketing.

Private rental prices paid by tenants in the UK increased by 2% in the 12 months to January 2022 – the largest annual growth rate since February 2017, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Experts say that many tenants will start to “feel the pinch” over the coming months, especially as the cost of goods and services is rising faster than any time since March 1992, according to the ONS.

Sarah Coles, senior personal finance analyst, Hargreaves Lansdown says: “The cost-of-living crisis is squeezing more than three quarters of us.

“For those whose finances were already stretched to breaking point, this could signal the moment it becomes impossible to make ends meet. And even people who’ve previously felt reasonably financially comfortable are starting to feel the pinch.”

Young tenants say that rapidly rising rents and supermarket prices are forcing them to reassess whether they can afford to live alone.

Renting vs commuting

Michael Ekman recently got a new job as a video editor in London. However, he says rocketing rents have forced him to put off moving to the city in favour of commuting.

He says: “Due to the extortionate rent prices, it’s almost cheaper to live in a different city than London and then commute down there, it’s about a two-hour journey.

“In the new role that I’m starting, I have to commute down there about twice a week. And I think just the fact that commuting is a cheaper option instead of renting a place in London is really insane.

“It’s really difficult to live on a liveable salary in London, without having to almost scrape by and just provide yourself with the basic needs, and I think that’s really crazy.

Ekman is currently living in the north of England, and he started looking at other flats in his area, but he noticed the price of renting in his area has also increased.

He says: “So if I were to ever leave the flat that I have now, chances are, I’d have to pay a much higher rent anywhere else that I go.”

How to beat soaring rents

While you might feel powerless to stop rent rises, there are things you can do to ease the burden a little.

• Negotiate: Few tenants seem to know this, but there is nothing stopping you from trying to negotiate a better rental price if you think it is overpriced. If you plan to do this, then you will need to provide proof that there are similar properties close by on the market for much less.
• Sign up for longer: Alternatively, you can always offer to put down a larger deposit or agree to a longer tenancy in exchange for a lower monthly rent. However, like above, this will require you to persuade your landlord that it is in their interest.
• Get a roommate: Sub-letting a room is a great way to share the burden. However, you’ll need to check with your landlord if this is ok first and you will need to work out if you will be liable to pay tax on the rental income you receive.
• Live in a shared house: If you currently live alone and are worrying about the rent, then consider moving in with others. Typically, rooms in house shares cost less and so you could save money. However, check the clauses in your current rental contract before you up sticks and leave.
• Move out of the city: Typically speaking, the further from the centre you move, the cheaper the rents. Although that isn’t always the case. Wherever you move, though, ensure you are able to easily commute to your workplace.
• Giving up your parking space: If you don’t use your parking space, you could ask your landlord if you can give it up in exchange for a lower rent.  
• Look for an apartment in winter: Rents usually increase in the summer because of the school and university season, when loads of students are looking for a place to rent. That’s why, there is higher demand, thus higher prices.

Photo by Yaopey Yong on Unsplash

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The government is rumoured to be planning tax hikes on pensions to help pay down the debt it has accrued during the coronavirus crisis.

As reported in the Telegraph, Chancellor Rishi Sunak is looking at plans to tax pensions in order to help pay off debts it has built up during the coronavirus crisis.

It is reported to be looking at reducing the lifetime allowance, the amount an individual is allowed to put into a pension before tax penalties kick in, from above £1 million currently to around £800,000.

It is also looking at ending higher-rate tax relief for higher earners. This is where people who meet the 40% income tax threshold also get 40% tax relief on their pension contributions.

The government, despite the plans being unconfirmed, has already faced a backlash from MPs and pensions experts, branding the ideas as complex and risky.

WATCH – Mouthy Money co-editor Edmund Greaves talks about the pension tax proposals with James Max on talkRADIO:

Flexi train tickets good news for reluctant commuters

Commuters will be able to use new ‘flexi’ season tickets from 28 June and can be purchased now.

Flexi tickets will allow commuters to travel on any day eight days they like in a 28-day period. The idea behind the changes to season tickets is thanks to travel habits changing during the pandemic.

It will also, giving people more flexibility to travel from further out less frequently, relieving capacity pressure on rail lines.

The Department for Transport says it will save some commuters hundreds of pounds. For example, Woking to London would be £260 cheaper with a flexi ticket, while Liverpool to Manchester tickets would save £230.

Despite this, some commuters have warned this will not bring as much benefit as expected, with examples on The BBC of passengers who will save just £7 on their fares.

Aldi tops list of cheapest school uniforms

Supermarket Aldi has the cheapest school uniforms on the market this summer, with an early start to the price war.

The bargain outlet is offering jumpers for £1, two-pack polo shirts for £1.75 and trousers or skirts for £1.75 too. The next best deal comes from Morrisons with a complete outfit costing £11.

• Your Questions Answered: Have you got a burning money question? We want to help! We’ve got a panel of experts on hand that can explain and give guidance to you for your personal finance problems. Find out how.

Image courtesy of HM Treasury.

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