15 year old got a penalty fare from Metro / IRCAS

Doofbox

Hi all,

This is my first post.

My daughter who is 15 was recently served a Penalty Fare when travelling on the Newcastle Metro on a child ticket. The inspector did not believe her age; what child carries their birth certificate or passport with them?
Anyway a £20 fixed penalty fare notice was issued for "Adult travelling on an child ticket" and my daughter was ejected from the train at the next stop at 20:15 on a Saturday night in Newcastle. The ticket inspector took her ticket. As you can imagine, she was utterly distressed. Fortunately she had enough money to buy an adult ticket (as she was too scared to buy a child ticket) to complete her journey. So much for the company having consideration and care for a potentially vulnerable passenger!

So, I completed the necessary appeal through the IRCAS site and uploaded copies of the penalty notice and her birth certificate. My daughter was told by the ticket inspector that this is all that was needed to cancel the penalty fare.

We just received a standard letter from IRCAS stating that the appeal has been rejected! How can this be? She was travelling with a valid ticket and we have proven that she was travelling with a valid ticket. There was no information as to why it was rejected, just a generic letter of rejection.

So what now?

Livingthedream

I would write back to them asking why they have rejected your appeal. Also write a letter to Passenger focus asking them to help.

The way I see it, your daughter had a valid ticket which was challenged by an RPI and a penalty fare incorrectly issued, I would be tempted to tell them where to go and have your day in court.

As what normally happens is the Penalty fare is canceled and a prosecution via a Railway Byelaw infringement but I can't see what Railway Byelaw your daughter has broken.

I would also post on this forum as well as I'm sure a few posters on there would be very interested in this case.

http://www.railforums.co.uk/forumdisplay.php?f=105

Passenger Focus
FREEPOST (RRRE-ETTC-LEET)
PO BOX 4257
Manchester
M60 3AR

Doofbox

Thanks, I have already submitted a second appeal online. I am hoping that that a senior appeals adjudicator will have a brain, but I won't hold my breath. IRCAS refuses to speak about any cases on the phone.
Despite the claims on their website, it seems that IRCAS is not on the side of the legitimate fare paying passenger.

Livingthedream

Doofbox wrote: »

IRCAS refuses to speak about any cases on the phone.

I've known people to use one of these numbers 0845 434 8292 or 0845 434 8289 during working hours to get results from IRCAS.

st999

I would take this to the media, these ticket inspector hitlers have to be stopped.

What next, handcuffed and dragged of a train and thrown in jail because an inspector doesn't believe you?

slscarborough

In our area a 15 year old must purchase an adult fare so are you sure on the age of a child ticket?

gremlin

Hi Doofbox.

Did your daughter not have her POP card with her as this would have her picture on as a form of ID?

I have looked at the website for Nexus and it says that if they haven't got their POP card then they aren't entitled to a concessionary fare.

have a look at the the first paragraph HERE

I wonder if this might be the reason your appeal was rejected.

albionrovers

As above, I thought that adult fair up here in Scotland was always over-14. Can this be checked out OP?

mazza111

In Scotland they should carry the Young Scot card to get concessionary fares. Although my dd who's 21 always asked for wherever she was going and got issued with a half fare lol. She's not one for going on buses due to her disability tho, shame.

Livingthedream

slscarborough wrote: »

In our area a 15 year old must purchase an adult fare so are you sure on the age of a child ticket?

If that's happening in your area that's asking for trouble, as a 15 year old once proven of that age, has every right to be sold a child ticket.

albionrovers wrote: »

As above, I thought that adult fair up here in Scotland was always over-14. Can this be checked out OP?

Children 5 to 15 years old

gremlin wrote: »

I have looked at the website for Nexus and it says that if they haven't got their POP card then they aren't entitled to a concessionary fare.

Not entitled to a concessionary fare, but still entitled to a child fare;

Don’t have an Under 16 Pop Card? If you're under 16 and don't have an Under 16 Pop Card, you'll pay the commercial child fare of 70p at all times. Or you could buy a Child DaySaver.
Child DaySaver It’s £1.10 and is valid for any time of the day. It’s available to children aged 15 and under. You may be asked for proof of age

'May be asked for proof of age', but as the OP's daughter is 15 the Penalty Fare appeal should be upheld once that fact is proven to ICRAS.

Doofbox

We do not live in the Newcastle area and my daughter was visiting the city. A POP card is for local children from the Tyne and Wear area. We live in Co. Durham and a child tichet was purchased not a concessionary ticket.