DLR fine - touched in oyster card but fare not registered

ticketboss

maniacmartin wrote: »

On another forum the OP admitted to hearing the reader double beep, which indicates an error and would have been accompanied by a red light. As such I think it would be pointless to try and appeal against this penalty fare.

Thats not exactly what I said on the other forum, I cannot say categorically that it beeped twice.

yorkie2

ticketboss wrote: »

Hi Henry, Thank you for posting your experience, thats very useful to know. I've got a statement from my work saying that I was there on work business and one from my colleague stating that they saw me touch in. So just like your experience, it would have been a gainless venture to try and dodge the fare.

I agree, and so did the inspector.

You've not been accused of attempting to dodge the fare.

If you had been accused of attempting to dodge the fare, you'd be facing prosecution instead, and in a very different situation.

yorkie2

ticketboss wrote: »

... I will take it further as I'm fuming about my treatment at the hands of Serco. I don't want to say its ruined Christmas, but its certainly not contributed towards the festive spirit that the PTA couldn't show a a bit of pragmatism....

The inspector treated you entirely correctly and within the rules, however I do agree with you that Penalty Fare schemes are inherently unfair.

Fortunately here in York, we don't have to put up with Penalty Fares. So, you have my sympathy.

However I believe you are complaining to the wrong people, as the rules were followed correctly but your complaint is that the rules are unfair. So you need to complain to people who can get the rules changed!

If you wish to object to Penalty Fares, then surely you need to complain to your MP? If enough people did this, I am certain that the DfT would change the Penalty Fare rules to be less anti-customer.

ticketboss

yorkie2 wrote: »

The inspector treated you entirely correctly and within the rules, however I do agree with you that Penalty Fare schemes are inherently unfair.

Fortunately here in York, we don't have to put up with Penalty Fares. So, you have my sympathy.

However I believe you are complaining to the wrong people, as the rules were followed correctly but your complaint is that the rules are unfair. So you need to complain to people who can get the rules changed!

If you wish to object to Penalty Fares, then surely you need to complain to your MP? If enough people did this, I am certain that the DfT would change the Penalty Fare rules to be less anti-customer.

Hi Yorkie, I know that you are saying hate the PF system, not the people who apply it. I intend to write to a few places about it, starters for 10 will be my local MP, then a complaint to TFL, a passenger ombudsman, maybe someone in the GLA, who knows maybe send it to a few papers or consumer action programs, they may give it a go.

I also advocate that other people complain who feel they have been unfairly PF'd, as you say if enough people may make enough noise the policies may get changed.

As an aside, I remember being a kid out in London for the day and one of my parents lost their ticket on the tube (mid 90s) and the PF was £10. Its £80 now (40 if paid within 21 days) so it strikes me that its turned into a bit of a cash cow. I shouldn't have said that, now it sounds like dodging runs in the family

Generali

TBH I'd pay the £40 and be done with it. It may be unfair but quite frankly life's too short.

On your death bed do you think you'll be saying, well at least I didn't pay the penalty fare even if it cost me several hours of time with the kids/friends/family/watching TV/doing my hobby.

[Deleted User]

I would go to a tube station ticket office and ask for a full print out of your oyster card, this includes times and usually errors too. Combine that with the time on the receipt of your fine and that should tell a story.

I've had times before when maintenance is taking place on the ticket machines on the DLR where they have rebooted the readers, it has given a green light but didn't register on the card at least but it did on the network.

ticketboss

Generali wrote: »

TBH I'd pay the £40 and be done with it. It may be unfair but quite frankly life's too short.

On your death bed do you think you'll be saying, well at least I didn't pay the penalty fare even if it cost me several hours of time with the kids/friends/family/watching TV/doing my hobby.

I most definitely would not regret it, I've many helped people get money back and apologies from companies and their employers over various injustices over the years. I'm known as Victor Meldrew to friends/family on account of prolific complaints/letter writing, you could say its almost a hobby lol.

I would have far more regret for just taking things on the chin and rolling over like an obedient dog.

Generali

ticketboss wrote: »

I most definitely would not regret it, I've many helped people get money back and apologies from companies and their employers over various injustices over the years. I'm known as Victor Meldrew to friends/family on account of prolific complaints/letter writing, you could say its almost a hobby lol.

I would have far more regret for just taking things on the chin and rolling over like an obedient dog.

It's nothing about being an 'obidient dog', it's about an efficient use of my finite time resource.

If you get a kick out of fighting bureaucrats then good on you, have a blast. I prefer playing soccer with the kids and cycling. We all have our hobbies.

For me? I'd pay £40 to have an extra 10 hours or more to spend with my family. Different strokes.

chuckley

my local reader is faulty. it takes 2 days to register refund topups and also after a certain time at night it 'registers' a swipe out on the machine but when you check your online acc it doesnt...

yorkie2

chuckley wrote: »

my local reader is faulty. it takes 2 days to register refund topups and also after a certain time at night it 'registers' a swipe out on the machine but when you check your online acc it doesnt...

What station is this? Have you reported it to the Train Company?