Refused train ticket.

wealdroam

consumer987 wrote: »

wealdroam
i tryed the quote thing you suggested ( post was meant to tho )
"
The following errors occurred with your submission: Sorry as a new user you are not allowed to post with links."

maybe because yours has an icon in it?, i'll try again if this thread needs to carry on any further.

Yes, that's the reason for that error.
Just delete the bit between [url] and [/url], or the bit between [img] and [/img], before posting.
The good news is that you will soon have enough posts not to even need to do that.

consumer987

wealdroam wrote: »

Consumer987, it looks like that link that Tho has provided gives you your answer:

So it seems we found an answer, that I was allowed to travel after all, as i was not able to purchase a ticket or a permit for my particular train journey even though i had the suggested notes and coins found on their site and was prepared to pay.

I should have been allowed to buy on route in this instance.

I knew this was daft all along.

what a palaver!

tho_2

It was because mine had a link in the quote.

I know what it's like to not have much in reserves but thank you for assuming anyway.

I feel sorry for your situation. But #1 you did have funds to pay. (card or tenner without change) You refused.

#2 the very maximum fine you would have got for fare evasion is £20 (for you because your fare was less than £10) Yes, it's a lot to some people but not life changing so you can stop fretting about pensioners stumbling onto the wrong train. (unless by accident they get on a Edinburgh - London direct express)

#3 as shown in the link. There is a perfectly acceptable way to board the train if the ticket office is unable. I apologise for the suggestion that you broke the law, but it wouldn't have been if you went to see the guard at the first opportunity. I very much doubt that if you'd gone to see the guard, said what happened, he'd have been ringing the ticket office for a story. He'd have issued you a ticket, or asked to ensure you bought one at your destination.

IF and it's a big if, the guard hadn't believed you, then it would have been your word against the ticket office, and that's a strong lie in court when there's more than likely cctv of you in the office repeatedly trying and being refused handing over a ten pound note.

The ticket office can stop the train and refuse you permission to board and get you big fines, but only for disruptive behaviour against railway personnel. And you didn't do that because the police would have been involved, and you wouldn't be asking on here.

Again. I'm sorry for your experience. Tell the rail company involved. But you COULD have boarded the train.

consumer987

#1 No, I did not refuse. I wanted to pay, I had the money in hand. My card ( of which was a private item in my wallet was not an option at that time) I had cash, the train company claims to except all uk cash. but they could not take my money on that day,

He refused my note as he could not give change. They had an issue at the till and were unable to provide the ticket so I should have been advised to pay on route as I did not refuse, I was prepared to pay. His cash system was unable to facilitate the transaction, he made no suggestion to take the whole note, either. It was the equivalent of 'out of order' unless I had exact change. I needed the change myself, so I should have been allowed to pay on the train, as the policy dictates.I was within my rights and not resisting.


#2 A fare evasion? Why should I be fined when I was prepared to pay? We now know the policy, but at the time I did not. Hence I did not feel comfortable boarding without a ticket, permit or support from the office. Too much risk.

#3 yes we now find out there was perfectly acceptable way to board, I was within my rights, but I was threatened if I board at the time! Big difference! I could not board the train in that circumstance. You 'tho' may have an idea of the fines that could be applied. But I did not know or have time to research the fines I may have to pay at that time. Far too much risk.

It must have been against code of conduct to keep telling me to go shopping repeatedly when my train was moments away.

I don’t think you understand, the ticket office also threatened me if I board, and would not support the claim of 'no change' either if there was a case to answer. For all I knew he would call the train or the next station to say I boarded without a ticket and try his best to have me fined? this was a big element in my decision. He was not a nice character. And how do i know if the cctv would be on? When your in that situation, the mind cannot take all this in and process it, with the train approaching the platform you just take the best option you can. and for me no large fines was my option and to leave the station to find an alternative.

I have contacted the company.

wealdroam

Again, is there a ticket vending machine at this station?

stclair

Which station and train company we talking about here?

k3lvc

stclair wrote: »

Which station and train company we talking about here?

Meet the brick wall that is the OP :rotfl: - seems we're not allowed to know the station, rail company, how much the ticket cost, what cash he had, why he couldn't use his debit card and how he finally got to his destination

yorkie2

There is a huge amount of text, but a quick glance (sorry, I don't have time to read the full text) suggests the necessary details are not forthcoming, so I am not in a position to be able to provide advice.

If the full details were posted, then we could provide appropriate advice.

Enterprise_1701C

Again, you are saying you were "within your rights".

Problem being they do not have to sell you a ticket or allow you carriage.

You have no "right" to buy a ticket or travel on the train. If you had that right they would not be able to deal with unruly passengers.

Round our way we do not have a station as such, we have a stop with shelters. If we cannot buy a ticket before we get on the train we simply buy one at the other end, they know the problems we have with the machines. We do not have a ticket office or anything like that.

Vaskor

"Just as a aside. The fine wouldn't have been life changing...
£20 or twice the fare to the next station, whichevers greater..."

Depending on the train operator, that could be highly risky. In 2009, I was hauled in front of a magistrate's court after a malicious SWT employee falsely claimed my ticket was invalid. Fortunately, the magistrate was more reasonable, but before the hearing I was threatened with £300 of fines and a criminal conviction, and I was never offered the chance to pay a penalty fare. I subsequently was shocked to find that I had been targeted by a gang of malicious SWT employees who did this regularly, and that the SWT MD had publicly stated that profits could come before ethics.