Some conductors still swipe cards. I know my card is visa debit I think hers is too.
On the FGW site I can only find that they dont accept solo, electron and diners cards but I presume this is for online payments?
After a bit of researching and coming from an IT/Retail support background it appears that visa debit don't authorise offline transactions. Thinking about it, I should've known all of this. So basically the transaction was declined on the grounds that the card doesnt process offline trans NOT that there were insufficient funds which is what the conductor assumed.
But still the conductors are in consistent as they will still regulary swipe my card?
He did not hand her a UFN. FGW have not mentioned the word 'fee' once. Just administration charge.
I'll send them a nice letter saying that I've sent them the £5.50 fare and give them a detailed breakdown of what I have found out and say in future she will buy a ticket beforehand or if boarding at the unmanned (no ticket machine) station then she will have appropriate cash