DLR Penalty charge - honest mistake

pippitypip_2

Hi all, my first time on this board,

I've been using London public transport for 15 years and despite one occasion where my season ticket was in my other jacket (you know that awful feeling when your stomach plummets - you know EXACTLY where you left it?) lol this time I'm quite incensed.

I honestly thought my ticket ran out yesterday, as in I would need to renew it on the way home for this morning's travel.

I use mainline and then change for the DLR. Showed my monthly season ticket to the guard on the way into my station, went about a normal Monday morning.

So I'm asleep on the DLR and long story short I get woken up to show my ticket - I do and then get told it's not valid past February. Well that woke me up properly - I took a look and said no - 5th April - see. Anyways I really thought yesterday was the 5th, when it was actually the 6th and got a penalty fare. But the thing is, I honestly thought my ticket was still valid.

Anyhoo - do I have ANY grounds for appeal, or do I have chalk it up to experience and pay the thing?

You always see people getting told to get off the train and purchase a ticket. I've never fare dodged purposely in my life - Ii thought I had a valid ticket and I'm the one who gets a charge. Just my luck!

I did then purchase a ticket for the fare home in case anyone asks!

Many thanks,
pippitypip.

copier_guy

tell them you mates with Ken Livingstone!!

copier_guy

Im sorry, I dont live in London but i saw him get away with it in the news!!

Best of luck with it

surreysaver

At the end of the day, you didn't have a valid ticket. The reason you didn't have one, unless it is their fault (e.g. no ticket machines working), is not their concern. The penalty fare is for not having a valid ticket. If they can prove it was intentional, then it would be a court summons.

dacouch

I believe there is an appeal process

robt_2

Have I missed something - where does 'not valid passed February' come into it?

I know it was an honest mistake - but as you can imagine they must hear the same excuse dozens of times a day, some genuine, some not. You didn't have a valid ticket and thats all that matters at the end of they day, they don't need to care why you didn't have one.

pippitypip_2

Thanks everyone. The ticket guy I think wasn't reading my ticket properly - I didn't see where he got February from either!

I'm just bit ticked off to get a ticket when I've only ever seen people get asked to leave the train when they have no ticket at all, being really blatant about it and they made an example of me where they can see I've had a valid ticket for at least 2009 (I don't keep all my old tickets on me)..

They obviously have some kind of ley way if they usually ask people to leave the train but anyway rant over.

As I thought - the obvious advice is to pay it as the appeal process isn't worth it - thanks all.

gner_ex

pippitypip wrote: »

I use mainline and then change for the DLR. Showed my monthly season ticket to the guard on the way into my station, went about a normal Monday morning.

Which mainline station did you board at? If a ticket inspector there accepted your ticket as valid, then you DO have a case to appeal.

pippitypip wrote: »

As I thought - the obvious advice is to pay it as the appeal process isn't worth it - thanks all.

Not at all. The appeals process is a genuine process where impartial people consider all information then make a decision.

The fact that you then bought a ticket for that day will go in your favour.

hewhoisnotintheknow

write a letter with evidence of payment and all that for the past years or whathave you, might work but you might just have to pay up as you dont have the proper ticket

FARE-COP

gner_ex wrote: »

Which mainline station did you board at? If a ticket inspector there accepted your ticket as valid, then you DO have a case to appeal.

Not at all. The appeals process is a genuine process where impartial people consider all information then make a decision.

The fact that you then bought a ticket for that day will go in your favour.

The reference to a mainline station is an irrelevance in the case of the DLR.

All of the DLR is a controlled ticket area and it does not have an interchange with any mainline station. The DLR has warning signs and ticket facilities at the platform entrances on every station. There is a strict liability offence of being within that area without a valid ticket.

Purchasing a ticket after being reported does not prevent action.

Yes, it is always worth appealing if you feel that you have been hard done by, but I'd always make sure you are truthful and apologetic in your letter if you did not have a valid ticket.

With any Penalty Fare Notice you should also be certain to get your written appeal in within the 21 days that they allow from the date of issue.

oliverp_2

It's worth appealing for the sake of it, but in reality you have no genuine reason for it being withdrawn. The "I thought it was the __ today!" is the most common excuse they receive.