On social networks, messages are multiplying to denounce the slowness of the compensation procedure.

A month after the promise of a generous voucher drawn by the SNCF to extinguish the anger of travelers faced with an unexpected strike by controllers over the Christmas weekend, many users are still waiting and are starting to find the time long.

“Still pending despite several reminders,” an SNCF customer was impatient on Thursday.

“One month to the day after filing a complaint, (…) I am asked to file a complaint in response to my complaint”, lamented another, exasperated.


1 month to the day after the complaint was filed, I received this lunar answer from @SNCFVoyageurs, an answer which is not really one.

I am asked to file a complaint in response to my complaint… normal.

And of course no voucher.

pic.twitter.com/JrTGBK8vj9

— Camille Dlplc (@CamilleDlplc) January 26, 2023

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An emergency measure

The SNCF had urgently decided on a reimbursement measure a few days before a strike by controllers which led to the cancellation of hundreds of TGVs and Intercités on December 23, 24 and 25.

On December 21, the boss of SNCF Voyageurs Christophe Fanichet unveiled this shock measure to calm the situation: a voucher equivalent to double the price of the canceled ticket, in addition to the exchange or refund of said ticket.

An offer described as unprecedented by the SNCF, which concerned some 200,000 travelers.

Since then, few have been able to benefit from the famous 200% voucher.

“It was an exceptional strike action, we decided to refund the tickets at 200% because it was exceptional,” SNCF Voyageurs CEO Christophe Fanichet told AFP.

“This procedure was new, and therefore takes time to be implemented.

But all the travelers will have the 200%, ”he reassured.

Procedure open until the end of May

“Of the 200,000 travelers affected by the strike, the problem concerns 50,000 people who had already canceled their tickets before taking the 200% approach”, added the director of TGV-Intercités, Alain Krakovitch.

When a ticket is cancelled, the file is deleted from the SNCF reservation system, forcing agents “to do manual processing” for these 50,000 customers.



But even for travelers who have not canceled their trip, such as those who have managed to exchange their ticket, for example, SNCF says it has encountered “small technical problems”.

Delays are getting longer, and errors are also increasing.

“We hope that (reimbursements) will be made in the next few weeks.

It takes a lot of time to find the link between the customer and his travel file,” added Alain Krakovitch.

Travelers whose train has been canceled have until the end of May to make a complaint, ensures the SNCF.

The voucher will then be valid for one year from the date of issue.

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  • Economy

  • SNCF

  • SNCF strike

  • Refund