I am so angry@ penalty fare

somersertboy

yep-its a fine outcome,thanks again for all the fab advice everyone.Will let you know if i manage to squeeze anything out of em!

_ollie_

Good luck

caela_2

somersertboy wrote: »

On the 04 June 2010 I booked on-line a train journey from Yeovil (Somerset) Pen Mill to Stafford to collect a car I had purchased.
I was due to travel out on Mon.7th June with the train departing at 12.05.I opted to collect my tickets from the station.It said on the site (cross country)to allow time before getting on your train to get your tickets issued, which I did.Got to the station at 11.45 AM and the ticket office was closed!

I got on the train as no machines at this station and thought I could get my ticket from a conductor.

Hi there,

Firstly, sorry to see some negative responses on this thread when you are already so stressed. I didn't get time to read the whole thing but you are completely within your right to fight this one out. I found this little nugget which you may find very helpful (not sure what the outcome of your case is yet, but maybe others can benefit from it too).

It's from the site http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/rail/legislation/pf/penaltyfarespolicya?page=9#a1039 and regards the penalty fares:

"7 When the SRA may prevent an operator charging penalty fares:

7.1 Rule 13 of the Penalty Fares Rules allows us to stop an operator charging penalty fares if we have reason to believe that they are not following the rules, the regulations or their own penalty fares scheme. Operators must make sure that other operators (or other parts of their own company) do not introduce changes which affect their penalty fares scheme. For example, if a scheme says that certain ticket facilities will be provided at a station, and ticket machines at that station are removed or ticket office opening hours reduced, an operator will no longer meet the requirements of their scheme."

That's pretty bullet proof if you ask me and sounds like the operator is to blame, they are all just passing the buck. Best thing is to always write in.

Hope it helps x

Livingthedream

caela, its not a Penalty fare it's a unpaid fare notice, which are two completly different beasts, but thanks for the info, hopefully somebody with a penalty fare can use it :beer:

robt_2

caela wrote: »

Hi there,

Firstly, sorry to see some negative responses on this thread when you are already so stressed. I didn't get time to read the whole thing

Evidently - as you are offering help for something that the OP doesn't have . The SRA hasn't existed for four years either.

unluckymike

Could've got arrested by the BTP which would have been worse than a penatly fare or an unpaid ticket notice.

Where I live they don't exist which causes a whole lot of crap on the trains as there is simply not enough police coverage for the abusive passengers on the trains.

rupenshah

Hi All,

Thought i would share a success story as many of the threads would make you believe that there is very little chance of winning an appeal.

I had a ticket which had a time printed so I could only take the 12:30 train. I missed that train and took the 13:00 train.

The ticket inspector said i had to either buy a single fare which would have cost £32.50 (more than the return ticket i bought for £22.50!) or he would issue me with an Unpaid Fare notice and i could appeal it.

So i did and it was upheld.

The appeals procedure was very easy, it was all done online.

Livingthedream

rupenshah wrote: »

So i did and it was upheld.

Well done on taking the system on and winning, but I think you were very lucky, as the train company had every right to issue an unpaid fare notice.

Just out of interest, how did you word the appeal / what did you use in your defence?

geordie_taxi

Livingthedream wrote: »

Well done on taking the system on and winning, but I think you were very lucky, as the train company had every right to issue an unpaid fare notice.

Just out of interest, how did you word the appeal / what did you use in your defence?

no he was not lucky at all just correct railway companys think their big and clever with their rules but most only work is you fare dodge soon one of these companys will end up on watchdog and their methods exposed

wealdroam

geordie_taxi wrote: »

no he was not lucky at all just correct railway companys think their big and clever with their rules but most only work is you fare dodge soon one of these companys will end up on watchdog and their methods exposed

Can we have that again please... in English if possible.

Thanks. :beer: