Theft from South West Trains

pupgrum

I had used several photo cards in the past. When I lost one I got another, and I think I must have used 3-4 photo cards in the past. I purchased a one month train ticket using the only photo card that I managed to find, used it for a week, forgot to bring it with me one day so on that day I purchased a return ticket. Today I took my photo card to show I already paid for the month and asked if I can get a refund for that one day's ticket.

The idiot of a train officer states the number of the one month ticket doesn't match the number on the photo card. I'm guessing the ticket officer who sold me the one month ticket accidentally linked the ticket to one of my past photo cards. He refused to give the refund, gave my tickets back and after 10 seconds I noticed he didn't give back my one month ticket. I asked if he took it, the guy denied it but also implied he took it by saying if someone caught me with the photo card and that ticket it would be confiscated. He told me to report the one month ticket to lost property and also said he can't issue me a replacement card because he didn't like my photo card and I need to find the other photo card before he'll give me a replacement one month ticket.

I paid the photo card and the one month ticket using the same credit card under my name. I pointed this out and also requested he checks the CCTV to prove I did use that photo card to buy the one month ticket and it's the previous ticket officer who made a mistake. The photo in the photo card is also obviously me. The ticket officer didn't bother calling the police meaning he doesn't honestly believe I'm committing fraud.

Should I talk to someone else and say I lost my photo card and ticket to get a new one altogether, or pursue a complaint? A complaint would satisfy me more but I'll have to wait probably over a month to get my ticket back, and that's if I get it back this way.

wealdroam

pupgrum wrote: »

I had used several photo cards in the past. When I lost one I got another, and I think I must have used 3-4 photo cards in the past. I purchased a one month train ticket using the only photo card that I managed to find, used it for a week, forgot to bring it with me one day so on that day I purchased a return ticket. Today I took my photo card to show I already paid for the month and asked if I can get a refund for that one day's ticket.

The idiot of a train officer states the number of the one month ticket doesn't match the number on the photo card. I'm guessing the ticket officer who sold me the one month ticket accidentally linked the ticket to one of my past photo cards. He refused to give the refund, gave my tickets back and after 10 seconds I noticed he didn't give back my one month ticket. I asked if he took it, the guy denied it but also implied he took it by saying if someone caught me with the photo card and that ticket it would be confiscated. He told me to report the one month ticket to lost property and also said he can't issue me a replacement card because he didn't like my photo card and I need to find the other photo card before he'll give me a replacement one month ticket.

I paid the photo card and the one month ticket using the same credit card under my name. I pointed this out and also requested he checks the CCTV to prove I did use that photo card to buy the one month ticket and it's the previous ticket officer who made a mistake. The photo in the photo card is also obviously me. The ticket officer didn't bother calling the police meaning he doesn't honestly believe I'm committing fraud.

Should I talk to someone else and say I lost my photo card and ticket to get a new one altogether, or pursue a complaint? A complaint would satisfy me more but I'll have to wait probably over a month to get my ticket back, and that's if I get it back this way.

I gave up reading this when I got to "The idiot of a train officer..."

Back to your title...
There is no theft here. Train tickets belong to the railway.

daytona0

One thing which rings bells is that you've had 3-4 photo cards in the past. To me this suggests that you are a relatively disorganised person (nothing wrong with that per se!). I wouldn't discount the possibility that the "idiot" returned your photo card and you misplaced it. Especially if you are getting all worked up over a day pass!

Of course the "forgot to bring it with me one day" bit kinda supports this!

The "idiot" you refer to is probably a jobsworth BUT you don't help yourself by having non-matching cards/passes! With all of the chancers who ride on public transport, you can appreciate them to an extent (especially when you're in London, and you have that London vibe about you - although I can probably see it happening on Mersey Rail too in fairness).

Bottom line is that you caused the mis-match by losing your cards, and you caused yourself to incur a charge for the daily pass. They don't actually HAVE TO refund you for the daily pass*!! You probably have no rights to a refund, so kicking up a fuss and asking for CCTV footage (like that would be of high quality to see your credit card number/your pass number anyway!) is just futile.

*Unless they have some policy in place, in which case did you meet the conditions?

pupgrum

daytona0 wrote: »

One thing which rings bells is that you've had 3-4 photo cards in the past. To me this suggests that you are a relatively disorganised person (nothing wrong with that per se!). I wouldn't discount the possibility that the "idiot" returned your photo card and you misplaced it. Especially if you are getting all worked up over a day pass!

Of course the "forgot to bring it with me one day" bit kinda supports this!

The "idiot" you refer to is probably a jobsworth BUT you don't help yourself by having non-matching cards/passes! With all of the chancers who ride on public transport, you can appreciate them to an extent (especially when you're in London, and you have that London vibe about you - although I can probably see it happening on Mersey Rail too in fairness).

Bottom line is that you caused the mis-match by losing your cards, and you caused yourself to incur a charge for the daily pass. They don't actually HAVE TO refund you for the daily pass*!! You probably have no rights to a refund, so kicking up a fuss and asking for CCTV footage (like that would be of high quality to see your credit card number/your pass number anyway!) is just futile.

*Unless they have some policy in place, in which case did you meet the conditions?

So instead of trying to get a replacement card I'm better off with a credit card charge back. They have after all taken my money and now withholding my ticket when it's them who made a mistake.

daytona0

pupgrum wrote: »

So instead of trying to get a replacement card I'm better off with a credit card charge back. They have after all taken my money and now withholding my ticket when it's them who made a mistake.

So are they withholding your ticket or are you accusing the "idiot" of stealing it? I'm confused

If its any consolation, your post has confused me as well so I couldn't imagine dealing with you when you're unhappy about a day ticket you had to pay for when you "forgot your monthly pass"

KeithP

Perhaps Pupgrum is using someone else's season ticket with his own photocard to try and reclaim the day return fare?

Even if that isn't what happened, I can easily see why the gentleman in the ticket office had his suspicions.

pupgrum

KeithP wrote: »

Perhaps Pupgrum is using someone else's season ticket with his own photocard to try and reclaim the day return fare?

Even if that isn't what happened, I can easily see why the gentleman in the ticket office had his suspicions.

I just happen to steal someone's season ticket that was paid with my own credit card.

pupgrum

daytona0 wrote: »

So are they withholding your ticket or are you accusing the "idiot" of stealing it? I'm confused

If its any consolation, your post has confused me as well so I couldn't imagine dealing with you when you're unhappy about a day ticket you had to pay for when you "forgot your monthly pass"

Withholding my ticket that I PAID for and pretending I lost it, denying to have withheld it, is not different to theft. That's money he stole from me.

pupgrum

An idiot is someone who stubbornly thinks the one month ticket isn't mine when he can easily check the card number used to pay that ticket, ask to see my credit card, and ask for something with my name on it to prove that credit card belongs to me. And yes, South West Train do keep a record of the card used to buy the ticket.

powerful_Rogue

If you're sure they have stolen your ticket, report it to the BTP and see what they have to say.

hollydays

Perhaps the idiot was disorganised too and forgot he'd taken it, after all, he was an idiot.
Op, you need to take some responsibility yourself here.
Give yourself a kick up the bum and put it down to experience.