South West Trains Penalty

4743hudsonj

blindmouse wrote: »

So did you go to the next station on the bus where there was a machine or did you board the train in your original place where there was no machine as you stated in your 2nd post ??

as stated before

ignorance is no defence

that isnt a telling off but advice to you for the future

you cant go into a shop and take something if their is no cashier and say you intended to pay later

however the fines are rather iffy

YOU need to ask them for reasoning on this, unless somebody on here works for the company we cannot offer much more help

blindmouse

4743hudsonj wrote: »

as stated before

ignorance is no defence

that isnt a telling off but advice to you for the future

you cant go into a shop and take something if their is no cashier and say you intended to pay later

however the fines are rather iffy

YOU need to ask them for reasoning on this, unless somebody on here works for the company we cannot offer much more help

They have already stated the reasoning because of the paperwork involved so far and I think it sound like a bargain really. Plus they laid on transport to a machine that did work.

tbw

blindmouse wrote: »

They have already stated the reasoning because of the paperwork involved so far and I think it sound like a bargain really. Plus they laid on transport to a machine that did work.

I may be mistaken but I thought the OPs 'fine' related to something back in January. The bus thing only related to last week - after the company removed the ticket machine . I don't see the company had much option if they wanted passengers to use the train - if there is no ticket office and no machine they had to arrange for tickets to be issued somehow so it wasn't really a case that they were being extra helpful. It doesn't seem to have anything to do with the OPs earlier problem.

pinkshoes

Being honest with the train lines does not pay. They are SCUM. Even if the machine was broken, I bet you they'd still insist on taking your details and sending you a £250 fine!

If you read their webpage, it tells you how to appeal:


Those machines are horrible, and I would never put my credit card in, as it would probably swallow it, or clone it! Just write to them and tell them the ticket office was closed, you tried to use the machine but it wouldn't accept your card, and you even offered to pay the £20, so feel the £250 is unfair.

Do they no longer do a "permit to travel" in those machines, where you just put 10p in, then pay the rest later??

muffintop

If the OP has the gall to withstand the stress, I would go to court. I would be surprised if, on a guilty plea with the explanation that the OP has provided as mitigation, the fine would be much more than £50 plus £35 costs or so for the issue of the summons.

The main problem would be that the OP will get a criminal record for a dishonesty offence which may well affect his / her ability to travel to the USA and Australia.

The alternative is to fight it. I wonder whether this is a summary only offence which would mean that, if the complaint is not made to the magistrates court to issue the summons within 6 months of the offence being committed, it will be too late to bring the prosecution. The date of the laying of the complaint is crucial.

tincat

Does anyone else find it off that they won't give anything in writing, like a statement? Surely that's not right? Hope you don't have to pay so much op.

sue12345_2

hi kevin123
what's the outcome? i'm in similar position too :< and am not sure what to do

dacouch

muffintop wrote: »

If the OP has the gall to withstand the stress, I would go to court. I would be surprised if, on a guilty plea with the explanation that the OP has provided as mitigation, the fine would be much more than £50 plus £35 costs or so for the issue of the summons.

The main problem would be that the OP will get a criminal record for a dishonesty offence which may well affect his / her ability to travel to the USA and Australia.

The alternative is to fight it. I wonder whether this is a summary only offence which would mean that, if the complaint is not made to the magistrates court to issue the summons within 6 months of the offence being committed, it will be too late to bring the prosecution. The date of the laying of the complaint is crucial.

Have they changed the rules regarding criminal convictions and entering Australia recently then? A criminal conviction used to be a required before entry

isplumm

Hi

Before appealing or deciding whether to go to court you need prove that the ticket machine didn't accept cards ... which as it isn't there any more you might struggle ....

I believe that there are numerous cases of fare dodgers being taken to court ... do a search & see if you can see what the fines were .,.

Mark

Freddie_Snowbits

Question Did you make an effort to purchase a ticket before boarding the train. I know that the station near my home allows you to make part payment on a ticket/travelcard, as long as you get one at your destination or from the ticket collector.

If not, you are a prat.