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UK to trial automatic refunds for shoddy train service
Everyone reading this will have been inconvenienced by a delayed train at some point, if not frequently, but it's unlikely you went to the bother of seeking compensation. Probably because noting down the length of the delay and filling out a refund form at a ticket office or online seems more trouble than it's worth for a few quid. Railways Minister Claire Perry thinks it's high time the process was simplified, which is why she's proposing a new system that would refund passengers for delayed or cancelled trains automatically. As The Times reports, up to 90 percent of affected passengers don't chase compensation, resulting in as much as £100 million going unclaimed each year. Refund policy was changed a few months ago so passengers could request cash instead of vouchers, and under Perry's plan, those entitled to a refund would see money owed automatically deposited into their bank account, or added to their smart ticket balance.
