I lent out my railcard and got fined. Who should pay?

JayD

Well not having your card with you because you didn't get it back from your friend, was not really any different to you leaving it on a sideboard, or in a coat pocket.

You forgot to make sure you had it with you when you needed to use it - so you pay.

sarahlondon24

Not getting into the whole fraudulent thing, I think everyone has lent a friend their travel card from time to time...You did your friend a favour, your friend didn't hold up their side by returning your card...yeah you should have checked but they should have returned it.

If your friend was any kind of friend they would offer to pay the fine as they benefitted, didn't hold up their end of the agreement and the result was a fine.

planenut

Doh! just remember the phrase "not transferrable"!

alanchippy

I really can't believe you ask this question. You defraud the transport company, then board without the card then expect someone else to pay your penalty. Which world do you live in?

zaax

You were very lucky that the card wasn't checked whilst he was using it, if was you would have lost your card.

sinizterguy

You deserve it all - the fine and possibly more that you got away without.

pixiebel81

You were both in the wrong, but you were in wrong twice (lending your pass and not checking you had it before travelling) whereas your friend was only once (forgetting to give it back to you) so you should pay. However if I was your friend I'd feel partly responsible and offer to pay part of the fine.

BlaEm

Naughtiness aside, sounds like you got a pretty mean ticket inspector - I've seen similar things happen and the person is just made to buy a day ticket (or a full priced ticket if rail pass = discount card). In my opinion you'd then be quite within your rights to ask your friend to reimburse you the difference, as by not returning it to you they were the reason you had to shell out for a full price or new ticket.

However, the penalty is for boarding a train without a ticket, which is your responsibility for not checking - maybe ask your friend to contribute some (half? the cost of a day ticket, as above?) but expect that they may refuse.

bonsaioctopi

You pay the penalty fare. It's the same as you forgetting to put it in the bag- you should have checked. It's your duty to board the train with the correct ticket, and that is what the penalty is for after all. If I were the friend I'd buy you a drink but wouldn't offer anything towards the fine, though I'd feel a little bad for you.

tizzicat

I've forgotten my train season ticket and, although I had to pay the fine at the time and buy a return ticket for the day, providing you only do it twice in one year, the full amount is reimbursed.


Having said that, maybe your train company has different rules, but as you shouldn't have leant your ticket out, it really is your fault.