TFL/Southeastern Penalty Fare Appeal

spikeycat

I got on a train without a ticket in October - the ticket machine at the station was broken, and the ticket office was closed. I always buy a ticket or make sure my travelcard covers the journey, but couldn't do so as there was no opportunity at the station to buy a ticket. (It's a 10 minute journey by train)

When I got to my destination, I was met by ticket inspectors who refused to let me buy my ticket for the journey after I had explained about the ticket machine being broken. They said that I could not prove the ticket machine was broken and I would have to appeal against my £20 fine. So I signed the piece of paper so that I could appeal (or face being arrested at the station apparently!).

It took me 3 letters to the penalty fares department to win my appeal.

So now I am being offered the opportunity to pay my £2.10 fare.

But shockingly, they are expecting me to pay £40 administration fees on top!!!

If I've won my appeal, why should I have to pay £40 for the privelidge?! It would have been cheaper to pretend to be a fare dodger and pay £20!

Do you think I will have to pay the £40 charge, or can I appeal against that too?

margaretansari

spikeycat wrote: »

I got on a train without a ticket in October - the ticket machine at the station was broken, and the ticket office was closed. I always buy a ticket or make sure my travelcard covers the journey, but couldn't do so as there was no opportunity at the station to buy a ticket. (It's a 10 minute journey by train)

When I got to my destination, I was met by ticket inspectors who refused to let me buy my ticket for the journey after I had explained about the ticket machine being broken. They said that I could not prove the ticket machine was broken and I would have to appeal against my £20 fine. So I signed the piece of paper so that I could appeal (or face being arrested at the station apparently!).

It took me 3 letters to the penalty fares department to win my appeal.

So now I am being offered the opportunity to pay my £2.10 fare.

But shockingly, they are expecting me to pay £40 administration fees on top!!!

If I've won my appeal, why should I have to pay £40 for the privelidge?! It would have been cheaper to pretend to be a fare dodger and pay £20!

Do you think I will have to pay the £40 charge, or can I appeal against that too?

My son appealed against a penalty fare issued by Southeastern Trains. The appeal was upheld but was accompanied by a demand for £20 administration charges. Southeastern's Debt Collection Agency had not previously sent any letters to our home regarding the penalty fare or any request for payment for any charges. When my son phoned them, they claimed they had sent 3 letters re the penalty charge. Despite numerous requests to send copies of the letters, they failed to do so. They did, however, inform my son by phone that unless he paid £40 to them immediately, he would be taken to court. Their aggressive bullying resulted in the £40 being paid. Southeastern Trains Customer Services have since refused to provide a copy of their Penalty Fare Rules or to answer other questions relating to their Code of Practice. Their conduct is questionably legal and they appear unaccountable.

RadoJo

When a similar issue happened to me, I told the inspectors at the station where I alighted and they called someone (presumably whoever is responsible for maintenance) who confirmed that the machine was broken and they actually let me through without paying anything to make up for the inconvenience. Given that you did nothing wrong, and have had this confirmed by the company who issued the penalty, I see no reason why you should be further penalised with this admin fee. Had the inspectors had the ability to check the status of the machine at your station of departure, they wouldn't have had to issue a penalty fare and there would have been no admin costs at all.
OP - I would fight this, as there's no reason why you should be £40 down due to circumstances beyond your control.

Freddie_Snowbits

spikeycat wrote: »

I got on a train without a ticket in October

Did you make an attempt to buy the fare at the first opportuninty to do so?

If not TUFF

I am off the impression that to allow Public Transport to function in this country, a local season ticket should be used on all services, thus freeing the driver or others from collecting fares and getting on with moving people instead. To do this, a local season ticket in a mid sized town should cost about £25. Penalty fare should be £2,000, thus prohibitive. I feel you have got off lightly in your case