How to get money back for an electronic ticket of Russian Railways: terms and conditions of return

With the advent of the Internet, it has become much more convenient for people to shop and order tickets. What could be easier? You go to the site, register, and then choose the desired direction, date and time. And most importantly, without leaving home, you can choose a suitable seat in the carriage. And the payment takes place in a matter of seconds. Once! And the required amount was withdrawn from the card or electronic wallet. If you wish, you can print both the ticket and the check. But what if you still haven't been able to use your purchase? How to get a refund for a Russian Railways e-ticket? Where and how can this be done?

What are the ways to actually return tickets?

If you have a situation due to which you could not use a previously ordered e-ticket, then you can always give it back. Moreover, such a surrender provides for the return of the funds spent.

Depending on the terms and circumstances, the amount received will be paid in full or in part. But how can you return an electronic ticket to Russian Railways?

In turn, tickets can be returned in the following ways:

by handing over to the railway ticket office;
using a personal account on the Russian Railways website or the resource of an intermediary company (for example, a tour operator with which the ticket was purchased).

Sometimes you can return tickets using self-service terminals.

What determines the choice of a ticket return method?

When returning electronic tickets to Russian Railways, remember that your choice directly depends on several factors. So, if you have not used your ticket yet, but you have already managed to print it, then you can issue it only at the ticket office of the railway station.

And vice versa, if your ticket remains on the virtual form, then you can receive compensation for its non-use online. However, this procedure should be done no later than one hour before the train leaves.

Reasons, terms and conditions of return

Don't know how to get a refund for a Russian Railways e-ticket? We will tell you under what conditions you can painlessly do this. Of course, there can be many reasons for returning, but we will consider the most basic of them (those provided by the return rules). For example, it is quite possible to return a ticket purchased for domestic trains at your own request. Suddenly you changed your mind about leaving today and plan to do so in a couple of days.

Therefore, if you issued a refund about 7-8 hours before the train departure, then minus fines and fees, you will receive an amount that does not differ much from the original ticket price. Also, the return of the ticket is allowed two hours before the departure of the train. Only in this case, only the original ticket price is included in the amount of compensation. In such a situation, money for a reserved seat is not returned. Moreover, how to return an electronic ticket to Russian Railways: through the cashier or online, will depend on the timing and time of delivery, the presence or absence of a paper form.

The second case when you will be able to get the full cost of the ticket, but also excluding the reserved seat, is an illness or injury that happened shortly before the planned departure.

But if you have booked tickets for a train traveling abroad, then you will be able to return them no later than a day before departure. Moreover, the refund will occur minus a fine (if it is all the fault of a disrespectful reason). Also, for each seat indicated in the tickets, a fee is charged within the limits of 185 rubles 40 kopecks.

What is the best way to use a ticket refund?

It is possible to return electronic tickets to Russian Railways (money can be returned only if the rules for the return of travel documents are observed) either in the usual way or in a claim procedure. Moreover, in a working or ordinary manner, you can receive a refund using an electronic form only in three cases:

if for some reason you did not complete the electronic check-in for the train;
if you have registered and there is more than an hour left before the departure of your train;
if the electronic check-in is passed, but you missed the train.

In the claim procedure, the return of Russian Railways electronic tickets is possible in the following situations:

if 12 or more hours have passed since the train departed, but you did not manage to get on it;
if you missed the train for a good reason, for example, due to illness (but this requires a certificate from a medical facility);
provided that the ticket was returned approximately one hour before the train departure;
in the case when you paid for your ticket by bank transfer and decided to return it.

How is the return of Russian Railways tickets: rules and conditions of return online

In case you decide to send your unused e-ticket online, follow these rules:

log into your account on the official website of Russian Railways (pass.rzd.ru);
click on your last name or click on the "My orders" button;
find your e-ticket that you plan to return;
click on the button "Request ticket status";
click on the button "Checkout" that appears on the right;
select "yes" in the pop-up window and agree to the proposed amount of compensation.

And if everything is done correctly, the button "Issued a refund" will light up in the status of your ticket. Here's how to return an e-ticket to Russian Railways without leaving your home. By the way, if you would like to see and print all the information regarding all fees withheld from your compensation amount, click on the "Refund Coupon" box. And it is this paper confirmation that you should keep with you until the money is returned.

How long does it take for a refund?

According to the current rules of Russian Railways, the return of funds is carried out within 7-30 calendar days from the date of application. Moreover, this operation takes place without your participation (automatically), therefore, you do not need to enter the card details and other information about you. The crediting of funds confirms the message that appears in your order status "Issued a refund".

Note! Before refunding the money for the electronic ticket of Russian Railways, the method that you used to make the payment will be checked. So, if you paid not with a card, but using virtual currency or through terminals in cash, then the return of funds will be carried out only through the railway cashier of the return.