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

wealdroam

I'm disappointed to see that the title of this thread specifies a railcard, yet the body of the original post mentions a rail pass.

I know what a railcard is, but what is a rail pass?

pennypinchUK

Sadly, you're responsible for checking you've the means to pay/your rail pass each time you get on a train. It's unfortunate you didn't check, but as they say, that's life, as frustrating as it is at times.

JuliusCaesar

You deserve to pay the fine because lending your railcard to a friend is illegal. In fact you deserve to be sent to jail.

geor51

I am a pensioner and have a free bus card which also entitles me to discounted rail travel. One day I got the train with my friend and forgot my travel card. She paid £1.95 for her ticket and mine cost £6.95. I didn't complain as I knew it was my own fault for not checking I had my card.

Indie_Kid

Can't understand why people are suggesting writing to the train company to get a refund? it's your responsibility to check that you've got your railcard, etc.

joehoover

Indie_Kid wrote: »

Can't understand why people are suggesting writing to the train company to get a refund? it's your responsibility to check that you've got your railcard, etc.

Because you are allowed to claim a refund twice in a year for tickets purchased if you forgot your card. If you got on a train before you noticed (ie no ticket gates at that station) you will have to pay the fine but can appeal for a refund (again only twice in a year), it isn't guarunteed you will get it but most likely they would as you would send them a copy of your season ticket.

elwoodsusanm

Split it - £20 each

joehoover

You should pay and take it as a lesson learned. Just think if they had lost it instead. You can claim for a replacement but they only allow this so many times, in many cases just the once. Some people may pay £4-£5000 a year on a season ticket and if you lose that and reach the limit where they won't replace it you would have lost a lot more than a fine. Mention it to your flatmate if they ask again, say you paid a fine and if it gets lost you would be out of pocket a lot more so you can't risk it.

In future just tell them how to use a ticket machine. Like I do when I get about 5 people a day asking for a cigarette, I just tell them about these miraculous things called shops where you can trade things you want for cash.

wealdroam

joehoover wrote: »

Because you are allowed to claim a refund twice in a year for tickets purchased if you forgot your card. If you got on a train before you noticed (ie no ticket gates at that station) you will have to pay the fine but can appeal for a refund (again only twice in a year), it isn't guarunteed you will get it but most likely they would as you would send them a copy of your season ticket.

Oh... so you seem to know that it is a season ticket being discussed. Is that a guess?

You also say "if you forget your card". What card? This "allowed to forget your card twice a year" concession does not extend to railcards, does it?

Sunny_Saver

If you can't pay the fine, do n't commit the crime.