Solving problems with IRCTC/Cleartrip registration

Klompen is referring to the information Old India Hand put up above, but mainly in this post: http://www.indiamike.com/india/india...1/#post1361251

Hi everyone, I too was using cleartrip and was able to make some reservations until they required the registration with IRCTC. To make a long story short, I have an IRCTC account and a cleartrip account, which I am trying to sync with IRCTC. The first step to register the IRCTC account with Cleartrip worked after I modified the zip code in the IRCTC account from 5 digits to 6 digits (by adding 0). After that I got an email from IRCTC with the email OTP. But the mobile OTP was sent to a phone that doesn't exist, since I don't have an indian mobile. So I emailed care@IRCTC.co.in to request the mobile OTP and they have yet to respond. Has anyone had any luck getting that code?

Here is my second question. Since I am currently unable to buy any more train tickets and my trip is coming up fast, I tried to use the IRCTC website as well, which according to care@irctc.com only accepts american express cards from foreigners. I have tried twice and my amex card is declined for these possible three reasons:
There was a problem in processing the transaction due to one of the following reasons:
You have used Back/Refresh button of your browser.
You may have processed the transaction from more than one window.
Bank has resent the transaction with the same transaction ID.
Now, the card is good since I have used yesterday for other online transactions and so I have a feeling the problem is the address info that I am supposed to put in. In fact, if you look at the printscreen I have attached, you'll see that all the fields are required and will be verified with the credit card company. The problem is that the zipcode of my real billing address in the US I had to change it to 6 digits for Cleartrip to accept the syncing with IRCTC. So my question is? Has anyone with no indian mobile number been able to set up an IRCTC account with a 5 digit zip code AND make a payment with American Express with the same IRCTC account?
Since I am still waiting for the mobile OTP code from IRCTC to use cleartrip, I don't want to mess things up by changing back the zip code in IRCTC from 6 to 5 digits, unless I run out of options.
(Sorry if have been too long and/or not clear enough)

It appears we are in exactly the same boat, although I don't actually have a Amex, so slight worse off! But have you found the IRCTC website very slow and always timing out? I have to wait until I'm home and send through waiting for my mobile activiation number and hopefully it will work with Cleartrip. But can I use Mastercard and Visa then?

OIH = Oldindiahand.

I'm awaiting a activation code from IRCTC.

Me to, fingers crossed for us both! What card do you have to pay?

Yes, just to add to the aggravation of not being able to make train reservations anywhere, the IRCTC website has been very slow and timing out until an hour ago. It's better now. I also tried the card a 3rd time and still didn't go through and I tried visa once and that didn't work either, although the IRCTC reprentative that sent me the first OTP code said that they would only accept american express for foreigners' accounts. Which is why most people like us are trying to set up accounts with cleartrip, makemytrip, and so forth. I have emailed care@irctc.com twice already about the mobile OTP code and still got no reply. It only took them few hours the first time I requested it. Don't know what's going with them. Let's hope for a quick resolution to these problems, although I am looking at trains availability and seats are gone!

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Al I can tell you is it's been said here it works best to call IRCTC about it, rather than to wait for their email replies.

Good luck with it.

What is there full number with codes from UK as I have tried the number on their website but it doesn't work!

I just tried 011-39340000, the automated system picked up, it rang a few times, nobody picked up and then it said "goodbye." I thought it was 24 hours. Can anyone confirm the best number to call IRCTC about the Mobile OTP code and their hours of operation? Thanks!!

I dunno, but the international dialing code for India is 00-91. You'd now typically drop the first 0 of the area code you're calling to. (If of course it isn't some service or mobile number.)

See also http://www.timeanddate.com/worldclock/dialing.html.

If they'd be operating 24/7 I don't know, either. Wouldn't be too sure of it. (Kindly note India is GMT +5:30 hours, right, depending on daylight saving time at home.)

Ah, look, of course Dave mentions it in his very first post here:

So that would be 00-91-11-39340000.

Ok so just got through, guy sounded like he had been sleeping

He said I just have to wait for the mobile code in email and that if this does not work again I must email the same email address again with a screen shot (which I have done several times) so not very helpful. Fingers crossed it works this time. Second issue is I do not have an Amex and he said I can only book with that! Got declined for one as applied yesterday too due to a mistake of a late payment on a card Now what??? Do you know if you can book on someone else's card?

Anyone know what the deal is with makemytrip?

I have booked online with both Cleartrip and Makemytrip right before they started requiring signing up for an IRCTC account and I have paid with both Amex and Visa. So my understanding is that after we sync the Cleartrip account with the IRCTC account, then we can book on Cleartrip and pay with Visa, Mastercard, Amex. In terms of processing a payment with someone else's card, I don't know but I will ask IRCTC when I call them tomorrow.

Sorry, my mouse is giving out on me, not making any of my doings here any easier. So I'm not quoting or linking on to posts or anything:

My understanding (and not from experience, I've never tried) is that currently:

-- One can register with IRCTC, using the method as outlined in post #1 of this thread.

-- Apparently, they only accept Amex.

-- It is said one needs to be pro-active about it, and so best to follow their procedures, then get in touch with them by phone, instead of waiting for their email replies.

-- It should then be theoretically possible to couple this account to an account with ClearTrip.com. Who reportedly may accept more international credit cards. People seem to report on this with varying degrees of difficulty.

-- I haven't been aware for quite some time of any other sites accepting international cards for train bookings. So not MakeMyTrip or anyone.

-- Kindly revert to post #1 of this thread for the procedure to follow to register with IRCTC.

-- If nothing else works, look up the tourist reservations counter (bureau, office, whatever it may be called) in your place of landing. They exist in all of the metros where people will naturally land, and in some other major cities. They are typically to be found at one of such a city's main railway stations, though in some places, they may not be at a station. Enquire with your hotel, fellow travelers you meet, and such. Staff at any railway station should be able to tell you where it should be. Good travel guidebooks will likely list them for many places. These are official desks, run by the Indian Railways. It depends, but they're often pleasant and non-hectic and helpful environments.

Now see how far you get with getting your intended rides booked. Assuming you had something worked out that you were planning to book online, you can book all that here in one go, availability provided, of course. As in most countries, you don't need to be at a pertinent station to book for entirely different stretches. You can book any stretch at most any station, save for perhaps at some really minor ones.

And as always, good luck with it.

Machadinha, thanks for the advice. I just called them again and spoke to an operator and a supervisor. First the operator told me they had sent me the mobile OTP already (maybe he saw that a mobile OPT code was sent to me the first time I set up the IRCTC account) and when I insisted that I needed a new one to "verify for partner website" and that I didn't get any email from IRCTC, he had me talk to his supervisor who told me that it can take up to 48 hours for IRCTC to send me the Mobile OTP code because they have to verify my passport info (again). I keep my fingers crossed that I will get it today, otherwise I will call them tonight.