Hi thank you very much for your kindness, bit depressed about the info, but its good to have reliable facts. Will speak to Surrey Council but I suspect as we live outside Surrey CC borders we will not be eligible for this. Oh well, he's only got another 6 months to go... Thanks again from Jandy

Oh and sorry we were sold a custom season ticket at adult price, due to him being over 16 cost £167 last half-term.

Hi, thanks for replying, the stations are Coulsdon South to Reigate. He had a 16 plus free travel Zip Oystercard until term started in September and I didn't renew it because he travels outside London and I didn't know it applied out as far as Redhill. If its possible I guess I can ask them to issue another for this academic year for him and see if we can at least save some money for the rest of this year... Have calmed down slightly since posting, sorry for the rant, was just really upset to discover that I had spent so much more than was necessary. \thanks for your kind reply, from Jandy

Hi, I just found out that for the past year I have been sold a rail pass for my student son to make a journey only two stations longer than his Oyster card covered. More fool me, you might say, but I have asked Southern Railways on a number of occasions if there were any way to minimise the cost of the journey which has been a struggle for us to pay for, and on each occasion they have never mentioned the Oyster card as an option. Isn't there an official body I could complain to about their refusal to give an accurate and honest answer to the question ' What is the cheapest option for my son, aged 17 full-time student, to travel from Station A to Station B'. I am so angry at them I could just cry... If anyone has any helpful information as to anybody I could complain to that might be able to help us even if all that happens is they have to change this dishonest policy of concealing cheaper fares which they currently use I would at least have the satisfaction of knowing they couldn't rip any one else off this way. OOOh! Feel better now that's off my chest!