Using wrong rail ticket

dizzygran

Im not suggesting the machine stops me from boarding the train, but maybe refuse to print the ticket as it was effectively expired. Again be refused entry onto the station with an expired ticket.

Voyager2002

dizzygran wrote: »

I understand what you are saying. Im just a little miffed that a machine gives out expired tickets. If the machine told me that my ticket had expired i could have had options to choose from. Also getting tbrough a security barrier with an out of date ticket. There was 2 machines that could have stopped me getting on that train. Im sure this will turn out to be costly for me.

True, but apparently what the guard offered you on the train was the lowest-cost option available to you at the time. Had you known of the problem on arrival at the station, you would have paid just as much for a ticket (although you could then have chosen not to travel).

Voyager2002

Voyager2002 wrote: »

True, but apparently what the guard offered you on the train was the lowest-cost option available to you at the time. Had you known of the problem on arrival at the station, you would have paid just as much for a ticket (although you could then have chosen not to travel).

Since you did travel, you obviously need to pay at least as much as the guard quoted to you. I suggest that at this point you write to them and apologise (say you did not understand the situation) and offer to make the payment. Just about any other possible outcome will cost you more -- potentially a lot more.

glider3560

thriftymanc wrote: »

I thought the barrier machines could tell if you were using an expired ticket and stop you from going through - otherwise what's the point of having them at all, why not just let people straight through? That's a genuine question.

They aren't particuarly sophisticated....

Sometimes the ticket gets rejected, but a member of staff just waves you through after not checking the ticket thoroughly.

Ticket machines aren't sophisticated either. There may be reasons why someone wants to collect a ticket after the expiry date (e.g. to claim for a cancelled train, for employer's expenses, etc.).

dizzygran

If i had realised at the earliest time that the ticket was bought with an error made, for example not getting an expired ticket out of the machine or being stopped at the barrier i would have made other arrangements to get home. I did not know my error until 10 minutes before Scarborough. At this point my options had gone.

dizzygran

Why is it in life that people have to be punished for every little error they make? No one is allowed to make the tiniest mistake and people can just say, its ok, no worries. Everyone wants to make profit from other people misfortunes no matter what the cost is to an individual.

glider3560

dizzygran wrote: »

Why is it in life that people have to be punished for every little error they make? No one is allowed to make the tiniest mistake and people can just say, its ok, no worries. Everyone wants to make profit from other people misfortunes no matter what the cost is to an individual.

But there is no punishment. You were aksed to buy a ticket at the standard price. I don't see how that is a punishment?

If you'd been let off, what's to stop people from buying an advance (cheaper) train ticket for one day when its cheaper then using it on another day when the advance fare is higher?

dizzygran

So nothing about getting a refund for the ticket I already paid for? I guess thats just tough poo. What about the last 2 train rides I had from the same station both delayed, sure I got my fare refunded but what about the extra cost to my journey to get home via taxi as I missed my last bus connection? Thats ok too as it didnt cost anyone except myself. Did I argue and moan to the rail company that I had an increase cost of £30? Of course not, its a error, humans make errors now and again. If the guard had offered me say £11 off the full price I may have accepted the mistake and bitten my lip. I know im not going to win no one sees my side of the argument. I could have been prevented from getting on the train but obviously rail security isnt paramount so in effect anyone can pick up a discarded ticket and use it to get onto a train platform no worries. How can a machine not prevent me from not having a expired rail ticket, why print it out with no notification? I never had an option until the mistake was seen but it was too late. Surely that has a role in this?

tomtontom

You're confusing the issue here granny. If you want to complain about problems with previous journeys then do so separately - they are not relevant to this complaint.

If you have a loaf of bread that goes past its sell by date you can't use the cost of it towards a new fresh loaf. Can you see how the same analogy applies here?

dzug1

dizzygran wrote: »

Im not suggesting the machine stops me from boarding the train, but maybe refuse to print the ticket as it was effectively expired. Again be refused entry onto the station with an expired ticket.

I can only repeat - they are not that sophisticated. Whether they could/should be is another matter but the more complicated they are the greater chance of customers getting even more confused than some of them are already