Is it possible to use eurostar tickets purchased on ebay?

Question

i am thinking about buying a eurostar return ticket on ebay. Does anybody know if you can still travel on a ticket that is in somebody else's name? Eurostar says that tickets are "non-transferable" but I'm wondering if they actually check. Does anyone have experience with this?

Answer 1

The seats on Eurostar are reserved so the name of the ticket buyer and their seat number will be recorded. They check your ticket and your passport so you'll be caught.  

Having said that, there will always be chancers. These people are dangerous because they may have got away with it once and will encourage others to copy them.  Ignore their siren cries.

You cannot pretend to be someone else for ticket purposes because your passport will give you away. Eurostar will impose a whopping penalty, or even prosecute you. If you try and use someone else's passport you will end up in prison - and still not be allowed to travel.

Ask yourself why the ticket is for sale? It may be a fake or possibly out of date (remember the seats are reserved) or for a very inconvenient date/time.

Answer 2

Hi - thanks for your question.

According to Eurostar, you are not allowed to transfer the tickets.

As you must have ID to travel on the service, you cannot even pretend to be the person named on the system.

3 other points -

1) If you are caught at the departure station, you will miss your train and holiday,

2) if you travel out successfully, but are caught on the return, the single fare is very high

2) how can you be sure the tickets you buy are genuine? For example, for most Eurostar journeys, you collect the tickets from a machine at the station - you need to input the pin number and the credit card used to buy the ticket, so you run the risk of fraud. Many tickets are fully refundable, so if genuine, the original purchaser could just return / cancel them.

Oh, and just because there are several of these tickets being offered on Ebay, doesn't make it less likely that you'll be caught out, of course - people are either scamming or aren't aware of the rules - to your potential detriment.

Additionally the eBay rules don't allow these sales, but many slip through their (not very well policed) net - they get commission anyway and refuse to deal with your complaint!

++++++++++++

The sale of Eurostar tickets by unauthorised persons is not permitted under the Eurostar Byelaws, made under Section 129 of the Railways Act 1993. We have therefore introduced a new policy which prohibits the sale of Eurostar tickets on eBay unless the seller is authorised to do so.

An authorised person means someone acting in the course of his or her duties who is:

• an employee of Eurostar;

• an agent of Eurostar; or

• any other person authorised by Eurostar or a person operating any railway assets.

Any person who is authorised as described above must make it clear in the listing that he or she is authorised to sell Eurostar tickets.

For the complete Eurostar Tickets policy, please visit: http://pages.ebay.co.uk/help/policies/eu...

++++++++

Sorry I can't be more positive!

Does this help, please?

Alun Hill MCIJ, UK Travel Writer and Broadcaster

Editor, http://www.ShoretEuropeBreaks.co.uk

Answer 3

Certainly not,

I agree with alunhill, also

Yes EUROSTAR does check when they feel the ticket was misused

my flamate work for eurostar:

      A lot of tickets are purchased on a stolen credit card and are re-sold on EBAY>>>>

Who do you think the police will take away for questionning??

the seller?

no, you of course. About 20 tickets are cancelled a day, and not just on ebay.

If you get caught, and you will be probably you have to pay the fare of the day, which is usually full fare.

trust me it will ruin your day. or week end should I say.

It is a very serious, they can also arrest you handling stolen goods!!! (it was done before as Ebay seller could not be traced back!!)

Buy directly from eurostar at least you know you ticket is genuine.

Also The company has someone watching all the tickets for sales, and trust me that person cancel a lot of tickets as well.

so my advice don't try it, you will be sorry!!!

It is very easy to find the sellers!!

Also it is against the Railway Act 2001 section 129, so the Police can arrest you for attempting to travel with a fraudulant ticket.

No later than last Yesterday 3 persons got arrested because they try to travel with a ticket bought on a stolen credit card, Some other got cautionned and 2 walked away before police arrived. You know where they got there ticket from?? yes, you guest it right EBAY.com!!!!!

Of course the seller will say the ticket is genuine!!!

Do you want a criminal record??

It is a big risk to take, all this to save a few pounds??

Not worth it. I rather spend a bit more to start but have peace of mind!!

Book early to get good deals.

Answer 4

The answer is no, tickets are not transferrable and there is little chance of nobody at eurostar picking up the mistake.

Answer 5

Yes it does sound fishy because  tickets are 'non transferable'. Maybe you should contact Eurostar and find out,

because I suspect the answer will be that they are not valid.

Answer 6

National term and conditions of carriage state that all tickets are non transferable, my advice is don't go for the cheaper option, because when you get caught, as the name on your ticket will not be the same as on your passport then you may have to end up paying for a brand new ticket for your journey

Not worth it mate for a few quid

Answer 7

how would you know they are real and not fake?

Answer 8

They should be unless they are registered to a name.

Answer 9

Sounds fishy to me.

You're crossing the border, so they will check your passport and your ticket like on an aircraft. I'd steer clear and look for a special offer elsewhere!