On the last day of work before I left on my holiday, I forgot to bring my season ticket with me, which meant I had to buy a rail ticket for that day. No problem though, because if you have a season ticket for that day then you can get a refund on the ticket you had to buy. So today I went down to the station to get my refund and ended up having one of the most bizarre conversations of my life; it went something like this...
CSR: Can I help you sir?
ME: Yes, I left my season ticket at home one day and had to purchase a ticket, I'd like a refund please.
CSR: Certainly sir, do you have the season ticket there?
ME: Yes here it is.
CSR: Thank you sir, and do you have the ticket that you purchased on the day?
ME: Erm no of course not, the ticket barrier keeps them when your journey ends.
CSR: Ah well sorry sir, without proof of purchase I cannot offer you a refund.
ME: Oh that's okay I do have proof of purchase, I have the receipt.
CSR: Oh sorry sir, we don't accept a receipt as proof of purchase.
ME: Pardon? You don't accept the receipts that you issue to customers as proof of purchase?
CSR: That's right sir, we don't.
ME: Your own receipt?! You don't accept them?
CSR: No.
ME: That's ridiculous, a receipt's only purpose is to prove purchase.
CSR: That's as maybe sir, but we don't accept them - its the ticket or nothing!
ME: Well why do you issue receipts then?
CSR: As proof of... *cough* its policy sir.
So it turns out I now have to write a letter to the Customer (no)Service Department explaining how stupid I was to suppose that the receipt I was given when purchasing my ticket was actual proof of purchase and if I ask really nicely, they might (just might mind) offer me travel vouchers to the value; but no cash refund!