Penalty fare for lost ticket

guns28

I received a penalty fare, whilst travelling on a National Express East Anglia service from Norwich to London.
The reason the penalty was issued was that I was unable to produce a valid ticket (lost ticket).
I had paid for my travel in advance and had a ticket covering my entire journey but somehow managed to temporarily misplace it when getting off the train (my ticket was checked on board the train but I couldn't locate it at the station exit). I say temporarily because when I arrived at work later that day, typically enough, there it was, in one of my many pieces of luggage I was carrying.
I appealed the penalty fare - even sending in my original tickets (I have a copy) , but have just received notification that is has been refused - please see below:

A Penalty/Unpaid Fare Notice was issued as production of a valid ticket or other authority to travel was not possible on the date concerned.
I note that on this occasion, although a ticket/authority to travel was purchased prior to travel, production for inspection when required was not possible.
It must be stressed that the safekeeping of a ticket is the rail users responsibility. A ticket must be shown or handed over when required to the staff of any Train Operating Company. If the passenger fails to do so they will be treated as having joined the train without a valid ticket and, where applicable, will be liable to pay a Penalty Fare or Unpaid Fare Notice. A ticket is the passengers' evidence of their right to make a rail journey. Tickets or other evidence produced at a later date can not be considered as a ticket must be shown to the member of staff when requested at the time of travel.

How would I be able to appeal this further because I believe I have been unfairly treated?

Any help you can provide will be greatfully received.

moonrakerz

guns28 wrote: »

The reason the penalty was issued was that I was unable to produce a valid ticket

(my highlighting)

You've answered your own question, I'm afraid ! That's what the Ts & Cs say.

ticketcollector

I guess your next route would be passengerfocus.

omelette451

I'm not sure what if anything you can do next but in that situation I'd have stood there taking as much time searching through my bags as it took to find it...

CHR15

Sounds like there is no defence against it.

You are being fined for not producing the ticket, you are not being fined for not HAVING a ticket.

A bit like displaying a valid tax disc in the car, even though you have it at home in a drawer.

robt_2

Unless you can prove that the ticket you found was yours and was the same ticket that was checked on the train I suggest you give up.

In other words, give up.

gner_ex

Was the ticket gripped on the train? If it has either a printed mark that shows the date and headcode, or some recognisable initials done in biro, you may have a case.

Why on earth did you pay them again though? Thats like admitting guilt. Remember that the barrier staff at liverpool have all the scroats from essex etc to deal with, so they are used to all the stories.

Bearing in mind you can be honest here - did you really find a ticket in your bag, or did a considerate passenger give you one as you left the station?