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Criminal because my train was late?
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Hello,
I have looked through the threads to see if anyone else has had a similar situation, but cant find any so here goes!
Penalty Fare due to cancelled train
I travelled from the south of england to the north and purchased two advance tickets, Norwich to Peterborough, then Peterborough to York. Each ticket was with a different network, but both bought via thetrainline.com at the same time.
On the day of travel I arrived at Norwich station a good 40 mins before the Norwich to Peterborough train departed and the information board stated that the train was cancelled.
Upon visit to the customer service desk (network rail?), I was told that the train was cancelled due to 'overrun of maintenance work by Network Rail and it was currently being completed. The next train was due to leave an hour later and that the maintenance work would be complete by then, so the next train would be in operation'.
I explained that I had an advance ticket booked specifically (with seat booking) for the train that had just been cancelled and that the subsequent journey - another advance ticket (with seat booking) would therefore be missed (40 minutes transfer time) and what could I do?
The customer service staff said that I would be able to get on the next Norwich to Peterborough train (hour later) and that I would be able to get on the subsequent train from Peterborough to York (another leaving in an hour also). I asked if I would be able to do this as the Peterborough to York train was an advance booking and I was told this wouldnt be a problem as they would know ther had been delays. This seemed reasonable as it was network rail causin the the overall delay in service.
The next Norwich to Peterborough didnt leave an hour later as the maintenance work overran longer, it was actually one hour, twenty minutes later. Upon arriving at Peterborough, I caught the train from peterborough to York. The ticket inspector was checking tickets and after looking at mine said 'this ticket isnt valid for this train, you will have to pay the full fare' I explained the reason I had missed the original advance ticketed train was due to the network rail maintenance work overrun and this had prevented me from arriving at Peterborough station in time. We had explained this to customer services in Norwich and they had stated that it would be ok to get the next Peterborough to York train even though I had an advance ticket'.
The ticket inspector said that 'this wasnt his fault and that I would need to purphase full fare tickets now to avoid a penalty fare'. He just wouldnt accept that the reason I had missed the Peterborough to York was due to network rail. I had paid for the ticket in advance and was not intending to dodge the fare, but it was the only next train I could get..! I felt that I was now in a 'difficult position' as I had not been told at any point by any staff after asking that I would need to buy another ticket or that my ticket wouldnt be accepted or I would of considered other travel options - I could have got someone to pick me up!
I also said when this sort of thing had happened in the past, I have always been allowed to take the next train. The inspector said that 'they couldnt of been doing their jobs properly then..'
As there was no empathy or understanding from the ticket inspector I felt that there was nothing I could do. He said that if I didnt pay (which I couldnt afford) the full fare I would be issued with a penalty notice. If I didnt give details or sign this the police would be waiting for me at York. I felt that it was the only thing I could do. The for stated 'with intent not to pay the fare' and this want the case - I had been delayed due to Network Rail!
After returning home I wrote a letter disputing the liability to the RPSS address given on the penalty notice. After no reply after a week I phoned the only number given, the one to make payments - I could not afford this! I was told I needed to actually send my dispute to IPFAS. Now this means I have wasted a week in lodging my appeal! The IPFAS address was not stated anywhere on the penalty notice....RPSS said I should state this in a cover note and the time elapsed would be discounted in my appeal timeline. I resent (with covernote) to IPFAS over a week ago and have had no reply as yet (recorded post and has been delivered). Meanwhile I have had a demand letter from RPSS (with another £15 admin cost added). They have timed their letter to the original 10 days in which I had to pay. No delay with this! But can not get my appeal through to the right place
Do I pay RPSS?
I cant get hold of IPFAS as there is no contact number, so how do I know what is going on with my appeal?
This has been a very unclear unfair process and I feel that I have been passed from pillar to post, even though all of this was caused by network rail in the first place
Any help would be gratefully appreciated
Thanks
I have looked through the threads to see if anyone else has had a similar situation, but cant find any so here goes!
Penalty Fare due to cancelled train
I travelled from the south of england to the north and purchased two advance tickets, Norwich to Peterborough, then Peterborough to York. Each ticket was with a different network, but both bought via thetrainline.com at the same time.
On the day of travel I arrived at Norwich station a good 40 mins before the Norwich to Peterborough train departed and the information board stated that the train was cancelled.
Upon visit to the customer service desk (network rail?), I was told that the train was cancelled due to 'overrun of maintenance work by Network Rail and it was currently being completed. The next train was due to leave an hour later and that the maintenance work would be complete by then, so the next train would be in operation'.
I explained that I had an advance ticket booked specifically (with seat booking) for the train that had just been cancelled and that the subsequent journey - another advance ticket (with seat booking) would therefore be missed (40 minutes transfer time) and what could I do?
The customer service staff said that I would be able to get on the next Norwich to Peterborough train (hour later) and that I would be able to get on the subsequent train from Peterborough to York (another leaving in an hour also). I asked if I would be able to do this as the Peterborough to York train was an advance booking and I was told this wouldnt be a problem as they would know ther had been delays. This seemed reasonable as it was network rail causin the the overall delay in service.
The next Norwich to Peterborough didnt leave an hour later as the maintenance work overran longer, it was actually one hour, twenty minutes later. Upon arriving at Peterborough, I caught the train from peterborough to York. The ticket inspector was checking tickets and after looking at mine said 'this ticket isnt valid for this train, you will have to pay the full fare' I explained the reason I had missed the original advance ticketed train was due to the network rail maintenance work overrun and this had prevented me from arriving at Peterborough station in time. We had explained this to customer services in Norwich and they had stated that it would be ok to get the next Peterborough to York train even though I had an advance ticket'.
The ticket inspector said that 'this wasnt his fault and that I would need to purphase full fare tickets now to avoid a penalty fare'. He just wouldnt accept that the reason I had missed the Peterborough to York was due to network rail. I had paid for the ticket in advance and was not intending to dodge the fare, but it was the only next train I could get..! I felt that I was now in a 'difficult position' as I had not been told at any point by any staff after asking that I would need to buy another ticket or that my ticket wouldnt be accepted or I would of considered other travel options - I could have got someone to pick me up!
I also said when this sort of thing had happened in the past, I have always been allowed to take the next train. The inspector said that 'they couldnt of been doing their jobs properly then..'
As there was no empathy or understanding from the ticket inspector I felt that there was nothing I could do. He said that if I didnt pay (which I couldnt afford) the full fare I would be issued with a penalty notice. If I didnt give details or sign this the police would be waiting for me at York. I felt that it was the only thing I could do. The for stated 'with intent not to pay the fare' and this want the case - I had been delayed due to Network Rail!
After returning home I wrote a letter disputing the liability to the RPSS address given on the penalty notice. After no reply after a week I phoned the only number given, the one to make payments - I could not afford this! I was told I needed to actually send my dispute to IPFAS. Now this means I have wasted a week in lodging my appeal! The IPFAS address was not stated anywhere on the penalty notice....RPSS said I should state this in a cover note and the time elapsed would be discounted in my appeal timeline. I resent (with covernote) to IPFAS over a week ago and have had no reply as yet (recorded post and has been delivered). Meanwhile I have had a demand letter from RPSS (with another £15 admin cost added). They have timed their letter to the original 10 days in which I had to pay. No delay with this! But can not get my appeal through to the right place
Do I pay RPSS?
I cant get hold of IPFAS as there is no contact number, so how do I know what is going on with my appeal?
This has been a very unclear unfair process and I feel that I have been passed from pillar to post, even though all of this was caused by network rail in the first place
Any help would be gratefully appreciated
Thanks
0
Comments
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Contact these people - http://www.passengerfocus.org.uk/I'm not cynical I'm realistic
(If a link I give opens pop ups I won't know I don't use windows)0 -
Sorry, but I think you may have some problems on your hands.
The fact that you cannot give proof (name of member of staff who told you to get that train).
Also, you should have paid the fair THEN reclaimed the delayed fair via the means stated for that company, who would have refunded some of the ticket.
In sense OP, you have committed a criminal offence, simple as, and the fact this guy gave you a fixed ticket instead made you VERY lucky as they don't give them out to just anyone, as in your case, they know people just won't pay them, so what's the point.
I would pay for this ticket NOW and don't delay in doing so then apply for a refund for the delayed train with your bought ticket, as you should have done in the first case.
You will probs not be a few ££ down but lesson learned!0 -
PS: i have just learned a lesson an hour ago on this forum.0
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As I posted a few days ago KSoni, if you broad a train you must have the means to buy a ticket to travel.
When someone gets on a train and doesn't they commit an offence.
How about OP relied on the staff member who suggested the ticket would be valid!!! did the staff member learn his lesson properly???0 -
How about OP relied on the staff member who suggested the ticket would be valid!!! did the staff member learn his lesson properly???
Has the OP got evidence to prove what the member of staff stated?
In today's world you can't always rely on someone elses word.
The OP should have brought a new ticket to travel on the different train, then at some point requested a refund for the delay/cancellation to the other.0 -
I got your point now. Thanks.Has the OP got evidence to prove what the member of staff stated?
In today's world you can't always rely on someone elses word.
The OP should have brought a new ticket to travel on the different train, then at some point requested a refund for the delay/cancellation to the other.0 -
This OP shows one of the problems of split ticketing - each ticket is treated as a separate journey and it's your responsibility to ensure that you have enough time to catch the next train.
The odds are that the advice about getting the next train was given on the assumption OP had bought a Norwich to York ticket which would have allowed OP to catch a later train if the first was delayed0
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