Penalty Fare on Southeastern

Ltd_Company_advice

Hi all,

Just wanted to see if anyone had any good experience with the Penalty Fare appeal process?

I was travelling from New Hythe in Kent to Maidstone West in Kent this morning and got a penalty fare at Maidstone West.

I have travelled from either West Malling to Maidstone East or New Hythe to Maidstone West every day for the last 2 months roughly and everyday I have bought a ticket, even on days when I have arrived at Maidstone West and I haven’t been able to buy one from the guard I go up to the ticket office and buy a ticket when I could quite easily walk off and not bother. This is because New Hythe station doesn't have ticket buying facilities.

I do contract IT work in lots of different places and with this I run my own company so I have to make a note of all my expenses and keep all of my train tickets. Which in turn reduces my tax bill every year, so it is in my interest to buy a ticket!

Even this morning when I was stopped at Maidstone West for not having a ticket/permit I already had £3.30 in my hand to buy a ticket from the ticket office at Maidstone West. Again the guy issuing the ticket was not interested. You could see the look on one of the guards faces that was also waiting at the bottom of the stairs was one of dismay maybe at the attitude of the member of staff not to listen and the fact that they probably don’t listen to anyone.

I can produce a ticket for pretty much everyday for the last 2 months. (Bar days when I’ve not worked)


I also had to pay the Enforcement officer as well because he asked me how much my fare was and that I would have to pay that now. I told him exactly how much the fare was (£3.30 for a return) and gave him the money in his hand (Which I already had out ready to pay the person at the ticket office) and walked off. I paid for a return ticket and he didn’t give me a ticket at all.


Anyone got any experience of being let off these fines? It's only £20 but it's not the point!

Just to add to my misery I actually work a lot closer to Maidstone Barracks than Maidstone West but went to Maidstone West because I itended on buying a ticket there, which you cannot do at Maidstone Barracks!


Thanks



Gareth

Coupon-mad

You may have to wait until an experienced 'railway issues' poster such as Stigy sees this.

Here is a recent case where a rail penalty fare went further:

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/3934535

But you can appeal. Stigy or another poster will help with advice later I hope.

Tigsteroonie

According to Wiki, New Hythe station has a PERTIS machine (permit to travel) which should be used to avoid having to pay a penalty fare for no ticket.

Is that machine there, is it working, is it obvious if you're not using the northbound platform? Those questions might be relevant if you want to appeal.

Livingthedream

Strange that stigy hasn't answered, must be on a back shift at the moment, but unfortunately it sounds like the Revenue Protection Officer carried out his duties to the letter of the law and was correct in doing so.

In SouthEasternrailway's frequently asked questions it's covering the scenario you have described, how the penalty fare system works and how to avoid one.

The only reason that would uphold an appeal is if the 'Permit to travel' machine was either not working/vandalised or in some occasions has been removed.

If one of the above is true then appeal as you will be successful, however, please don't try and tell porkies as strict records of machine maintenance are kept for this reason.

Ltd_Company_advice wrote: »

I can produce a ticket for pretty much everyday for the last 2 months. (Bar days when I’ve not worked)

On the MSE side of things wouldn't it be more cost effective to buy a season ticket it would also save the hassle of worrying about future Penalty fare problems.

rdwarr

Livingthedream wrote: »

Strange that stigy hasn't answered, ....

May be because this is in the Parking section. Lots of great advice from the experts will be found at http://www.railforums.co.uk/

Livingthedream

rdwarr wrote: »

May be because this is in the Parking section....

Unfortunately people just see the word 'Fines' in the sub forum name and think that's were I post Railway Penalty fare problems.

Happens all the time, a quick search shows quite a few, but if it concerns you that much then please contact the forum team and ask them to move this and future railway related threads.