I've had mine for four years, and, it is a good deal.

I got my forms from the Post Office ahead of time, and picked up my freedom pass at 10.00am on my 60th birthday.

Don't forget also your senior rail card, which, at a third off, really does pay for itself on one long trip.

Another tip: For many trips out of London started after 9.30 (not for all rail lines) get a ticket from 'boundary of zone six', not from your departure station. This can save loads for journeys to some places in the home counties. For example, with a senior rail card, you can get a day return to, say, Maidstone or Tunbridge for ?4.50. Hemel Hempsted costs around ?3.00! And, of course, you can hop on local buses anywhere south of the Scottish border and it doesn't cost a penny.