Train Penalty Fare BUT I have a ticket!

Farley85

Hi,

I'm really hoping someone can help me with this matter. Would be much appreciated!

2 days ago I was returning from Peterborough to Finsbury Park on First Capital Connect. Despite buying an open return before my outward journey (Finsbury Park to Peterborough) I could not find my return ticket or receipt of purchase when asked to present it to the inspector. As a result I paid a penalty fare of £43.20. As is the way of things when I got home I found my return ticket tucked away inside my bag.

As I bought a valid ticket and now have it in my possession
I wish to appeal the penalty fare. Could someone please advise me on the wording of my appeal and the best way to go about it.

Many thanks in advance!

Farley

Livingthedream

For this case there's No specific wording required to appeal your Penalty fare, I would just use words like 'how embarrassed you were on the day that you couldn't find your ticket', helped the 'Revenue Inspector by answering all his questions honestly' and finally stated that it was a honest mistake from yourself and you will take better care of your ticket in the future.

The reason you have to lay it on thick and be nice to the Train Company(TOC) is that you actually broke a byelaw offence and it's the TOC's way of punishing you without taking you to court, as well as been a nice little earner for the TOC, therefore, the TOC don't in theory have to uphold your appeal and could demand you pay the Penalty fare.

But take photocopies of your letter and your original ticket you send just incase they misplace your letter and ticket, which unfortunately has been known to happen.

Stigy

As Livingthedream has said, they don't have to accept your appeal, and could demand the Penalty Fare in full. Obviously if this is the case, the worst thing you could do would be ignore them (I'm sure you won't!) as they could then cancel the Penalty Fare and proceed to the Magistrates' Court in order to prosecute the initial ticketing issue (under railway byelaw 18.2 usually in your case!).

The problem is, you couldn't produce your ticket when requested to do so, which is your obligation. Producing the ticket at a later date is all well and good, but the TOC don't know you from Adam, and the ticket you produce could have been used on the day in question by somebody else, or not be your ticket in the first place. Some rail staff say if you can produce the ticket your appeal will be successful, but I think this is more their way of making life easier for them on the front line and is frankly untrue unless you're a monthly or above season ticket holder. It's your right to appeal though, and I'd urge anybody to do so as they really have nothing to lose at this stage!

Good Luck!

Edit: Ignore what I said about ignoring the PF as I see you have already paid it.

[Deleted User]

Hi,

Penalty Fares

Why do you operate a penalty fares scheme?
We expect all of our customers to purchase a ticket before they board our trains. People who travel without a ticket have an impact on our revenue and that means additional costs may be passed onto customers who have paid, and this is not fair. The Penalty Fare Scheme acts as a deterrent to those customers who may consider travelling without buying a ticket. We recognise that sometimes genuine circumstances can mean that a ticket has not been purchased and our Revenue Protection team will take this into account. Part of the Penalty Fares scheme also provides the opportunity to appeal to IPFAS (Independent Penalty Fares Appeals Service) and they are independent from First Capital Connect. If you receive a penalty fare notice then you will be told the date that you may appeal by and be given the address for IPFAS so that you can make an appeal. Our Customer Relations team cannot override a Penalty Fare notice so please contact IPFAS in the first instance.

You could get a refund on the unused portion of your ticket, but you lose £10 for admin.

How can I get a refund on an unused ticket?

Depending on the type of ticket you have purchased (please see the terms and conditions for your ticket type), you can obtain a refund, minus a £10 administration fee, by returning the ticket to the retailer within 28 days of the expiry of the ticket.
If you purchased your ticket from a train station and you are unable to return to that station to apply for a refund, you can surrender the ticket at any manned station and they will forward your ticket to the station of purchase for you.
If you purchased your ticket through our website you will need to contact The Trainline on 0870 0101 296.