I don't mean Off-Peak Day Return tickets either, I mean the old Saver
Returns which allow you to come back the next day or any day subsequently
for up to a month.

I was told by the Cambridge ticket office clerk yesterday that I couldn't
use an Off-Peak Return ticket to travel on the 09:20 but that I could use
an Off-Peak Day Return. The clerk insisted even though I said as far as I
knew the off-peak rule for at least the last 40 years has been "no arrival
in London before 10". I bought a day return ticket as I was committed to
using the 09:20 and wasn't sure at the time whether I would stay in London
or not. I also didn't want to miss the train.

When I got to work I checked on the FCC web site which said Off-Peak
Return tickets are valid on the 09:20. So I rang FCC Customer Relations.
They also confirmed that and pointed me to National Express East Anglia if
I wanted to convert my day return to an Off-Peak Return so I could stay
overnight. NXEA's Customer Relations people were also very helpful in
advising me how to claim back the excess cost of doing what I asked for in
the first place.

My question here is, however, to ask if others have had similar issues. Is
it one poorly trained (but not inexperienced) member of ticket office
staff or something wider? Or just another squabble between NXEA who run
Cambridge station and FCC who set the fares and carry most of the
passengers?

--
Colin Rosenstiel