Southern rail penalty fare - advice please

sk8erboi

On 20th June this year I travelled from Brighton to Victoria on a single fare ticket which I'd purchased in advance online. On arrival at the ticket gate I couldn't find my ticket and the inspector said I'd have to pay a penalty fare of £41.40 to pass through the barrier. I told him I had proof of purchase of the ticket, as I'd purchased it online. He said that if I paid the penalty fare I would be able to claim it back from the Independent Fare Penalty Appeal Service (IFPAS) if I could prove that I'd purchased a valid ticket and explained that it was mislaid. I duly paid the penalty fare and was issued with a receipt.

Five minutes later, on the bus home, I found the rail ticket hidden deep in one of my pockets!

I sent the ticket to IFPAS the next day by recorded delivery, together with a copy of the penalty notice and a covering letter explaining the circumstances. I have just received a reply saying they would not refund the penalty fare, and that my appeal has been unsuccessful, since a valid ticket could not be produced on request. Interestingly, they have not returned my ticket to me, although I still have the receipt for it.

Clearly, the ticket inspector gave me false information when he said that IFPAS would refund the penalty fare if I sent them proof of ticket purhase. I was wondering what others thought. Do I have to accept this and put it down to experience, or is there anything else I can do?

charliegirl_3

Hi the barrier staff member was correct in requesting you pay as a passenger must hold a valid ticket to travel under the National Rail Conditions of Carriage. It does not matter if one has been bought previously but was lost/stolen/mislaid. As you have not had success with IFPAS I would suggest you try the operator of the train you alighted from. Take photocopies of anything you send, and let them know it was a genuine mistake and that you then followed the advice of the member of staff and applied to IFPAS. They may not refund the full penalty fare but might give you a gesture of goodwill, it's worth a try. But if they don't then unfortunately you will just have to let it go and keep better hold of your tickets next time. good luck with it x

chuckley

this happened to me with an poyster card. my case had split and card had dropped out at somepoint from swiping in and it going in my bag.

anyway they said i could go through if i could provide proof of loading the card with sufficient funds. luckily I had topped up just b4 and had the receipt!

therefore your proof of purchase along with the ticket and explanation should be sufficient! did u photocopy it before you sent it?! id appeal it! defo fight this one!