Why do some people begrudge showing their ticket?

[AndyLandy]

I've always wanted to know how it would be on the other foot if I went into their place of work and acted like a petulant child. I know two wrongs don't make a right but there are some people in this country that really need to learn how to behave in public.

I've often been known to state that we need to reintroduce National Service in this country, but rather than armed forces, require everyone to spend two years working in customer-facing retail.

I don't work in this industry, but I've done my fair share of customer-facing jobs and it really gives you an appreciation of what it's like to get aggro from disgruntled people. I strive to be as polite and friendly to people, whatever the situation. Even if it's just a simple "thank you" to a bus driver when I disembark.

 

[trainophile]

Playing devil's advocate here, but possibly *some* people infer from being asked to show their ticket that they are suspected of not having one. Hence the defensiveness, which comes across as disdain or aggression.

Deep sigh... "well if you really must see the damn thing I will grudgingly faff around finding it, to prove to you that whatever it is you suspect me of is unfounded". Or in other words... :roll: .

I'm always more than happy to show my ticket, but this is my theory regarding those who are not.

 

[telstarbox]

VT don't run north from Manchester. Do you mean north of Warrington? When I've used Virgin north of Preston there's always been a Scottish 'train manager' on board whose done a full inspection.

Sorry, should have said 'north of Warrington' but I meant the northern half of the WCML. I've done several trips between Warrington and Carlisle without a ticket check on VT (nearly all at the weekend).

 

[Roverman]

Yes that happened to me when I took my mum to Glasgow last month, there was a change of staff (at Preston I think) and the new Train Manager did a full ticket inspection, this was announced beforehand so people had plenty of warning. I had our tickets out on the table ready. Not sure why anyone would have a problem with that, unless they are naturally obtuse.

I think time has a lot to do with it, on a stopping service he/she may not have time to check tickets as much as someone who is on a Scotland run, as they have around 1 hour between Carlisle and Glasgow to check tickets.

AndyLandy-Love the idea of a National Service 'behind the counter' bagsy I'll be the Sergeant Major!!

 

[dvboy]

Sometimes you can just tell if a passenger is trying to hide something by their reluctance to show their ticket, like a passenger sat next to me recently whose railcard had expired and she pulled it half way out of her wallet, it was clear something was up and the RPI rightly excessed her £60-odd for a single to Glasgow. On the other hand, there are passengers who are more than happy in their readiness to show their tickets, it's these who railway staff may often just take a cursory glance at.

 

[rdwarr]

I'm always happy to show my ticket and I always make eye contact with the inspector and say "Thanks". It annoys me when people just hold their tickes out and carry on reading their book or something. Only takes 10 seconds to be polite.

 

[Flamingo]

I've always wanted to know how it would be on the other foot if I went into their place of work and acted like a petulant child. I know two wrongs don't make a right but there are some people in this country that really need to learn how to behave in public.

I always remember (and have occasionally used) Billy Connelly's reply 'to a heckler "Don't tell me how to do my job - do I come around to where you work and tell you how to sweep up properly?"

 

[D2022]

Yes I do work in a customer facing role, and my customer is the Network Rail Amey Great Western Electrification Alliance.

I objected as his actions caused he doors to be closed for over a minute after the train had stopped. Not acceptable as people weren't impressed.

The ticket was a single, with seat reservations for that train which he also looked at. He even asked where I was getting off, to which I said Swindon obviously as I'm stood at the door with my arm on the handle.

 

[table38]

I always remember (and have occasionally used) Billy Connelly's reply 'to a heckler "Don't tell me how to do my job - do I come around to where you work and tell you how to sweep up properly?"

or from one of those Police Stop Camera Action shows the other night:

Don't tell me how to do my job, and I won't come round to your house and tell you how to watch Jeremy Kyle

 

[Captain Chaos]

What train was it?

 

[D2022]

I always remember (and have occasionally used) Billy Connelly's reply 'to a heckler "Don't tell me how to do my job - do I come around to where you work and tell you how to sweep up properly?"

With all due respect my attitude towards guards is fine, just certain ones do my head in. I've had enough of being treated like cattle by First group and accused of fare evasion, invalid tickets etc by guards when my tickets are always correct. I work for the railway, I even used to work for FGW, yet get treated like a pig.
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What train was it?

Probably around mid day, I can't recall what time I left Bath Spa. It was late into Bath if that narrows it down lol

 

[ATW Alex 101]

With all due respect my attitude towards guards is fine, just certain ones do my head in. I've had enough of being treated like cattle by First group and accused of fare evasion, invalid tickets etc by guards when my tickets are always correct. I work for the railway, I even used to work for FGW, yet get treated like a pig.

Well you could write a letter or email to FGW with any complaints?

 

[D2022]

Well you could write a letter or email to FGW with any complaints?

They always go ignored, I know far too many people who have done exactly that. First never reply, if they do its usually a 'Thanks we will look into the matter' sort of thing.

 

[AndyLandy]

They always go ignored, I know far too many people who have done exactly that. First never reply, if they do its usually a 'Thanks we will look into the matter' sort of thing.

If you give them the details to work out which train you were on, they might still raise the issue with the guard on that service. They will likely just send you a "It's fine, we'll look into it" type message, but that doesn't mean they won't do something internally.

Oh, and whatever your grievance, there's no call to be rude to people. A guard is quite entitled to check your ticket, even if you're disembarking. The presence of barriers at your destination has no bearing on that whatsoever.

 

[Roverman]

Don't tell me how to do my job, and I won't come round to your house and tell you how to watch Jeremy Kyle

FANTASTIC! Quote of the week!

 

[yorkie]

I objected as his actions caused he doors to be closed for over a minute after the train had stopped. Not acceptable as people weren't impressed.

It's difficult to see how this could take a whole minute, but if so then I think you will find FGW management would be interested to hear about it. Obviously you'd need to inform them which train it was. My advice would be to take it up with FGW Customer Services and don't post further about it here.

 

[D2022]

If you give them the details to work out which train you were on, they might still raise the issue with the guard on that service. They will likely just send you a "It's fine, we'll look into it" type message, but that doesn't mean they won't do something internally.

Oh, and whatever your grievance, there's no call to be rude to people. A guard is quite entitled to check your ticket, even if you're disembarking. The presence of barriers at your destination has no bearing on that whatsoever.

I have to disagree, I've had issues with them before saying they will look into it, they didn't, the situation with a particular member of staff escalated over a few weeks and eventually I snapped at him when he provoked me, only then did FGW look into it, and sacked him. But mot before I nearly got nailed by First group first.

I've no objection to him checking tickets. Nor the location, it was my view that he intentionally held the doors closed for a minute just to stamp it, if it was really that vital he should have opened the doors first and asked me to wait a second.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

It's difficult to see how this could take a whole minute, but if so then I think you will find FGW management would be interested to hear about it. Obviously you'd need to inform them which train it was. My advice would be to take it up with FGW Customer Services and don't post further about it here.

Ok, I will refrain from bringing it up on here. I will email the people at First, after them stealing money (literally, I have two transactions I so say made to them where they took money for tickets I've never ever purchased) I don't intend dropping issues I have with them.

 

[martinsh]

I really do not understand why some people huff and puff so much when asked too produce a ticket on a train.

Because you will have just woken me up !

 

[Starmill]

The attitude seems to be " You can see I have a piece of orange card, what more do you want?"

I personally cannot condone this attitude under any circumstances. It's just that some staff only want to see that you have an orange piece (or even worse, yellow piece) of card and are satisfied. Not really guards, but a certain security firm I'm far too fond of banging on about.

 

[trc666]

We get a lot of that "my ticket's at the bottom of my bag" on our barriers and people with 1st class singles / returns seem very reluctant to put their ticket through the barrier, they want to be let out by staff rather than do it themselves. You will also find that Gold Card holders tend to tailgate through wide gates by putting their hand on the sensor because it's too much hassle to simply take their ticket out of the wallet - it's the suits that tend to be very arrogant if challenged for tailgating or if asked to put their ticket in the barrier.

 

[D2022]

The link is now dead but I seem to recall there's been a good few times when you have posted on here with regard to FGW on Facebook - it was rather obvious to me reading through FGW's Facebook wall just who you were. Can I suggest that if you used more polite language as per your girlfriend apparently did (I can't see it remember), then they may be more inclined to help / respond to you. The impression I get is that basically you're an ex-employee and just give them grief at every opportunity? Certainly seems to be my impression on here.

Yeh I removed the post, it's being dealt with anyways. I just didn't pass that on to my other half.

I do give them hassle where the deserve it yes, with good reason. Due to their delays and service mess I've lost two jobs where I commuted and missed some pretty important events due to their service being appalling. I've probably only posted a few times, but when I do intend them to be noticed, I do have an axe to grind with them, as do many other people I know.

Also worthy of note is one particular guard, I won't name said employee. But basically I pulled him up for bullying my girlfriend over the course of around a year when she commutes to college. So now has been moved to me and her sister aswell. Just for sticking up for her, I don't accept guards who actually bully.

 

[12CSVT]

Middle-aged, suited & booted are often the rudest and most unreasonable passengers to deal with.

Those sort usually think they're above the law. They're infinitely worse then they've had too much to drink.

 

[gingerheid]

My mood depends on how many times I've already been asked to show the ticket, how tired I am, and how late the train is!

I try to be polite, but sometimes you can have to bring your ticket out 10 times in three and half hours including twice on the same train (if it's ECML via Newcastle) and it gets to be a drag!

Not your fault? Well of course not, but it's you that just asked me to show the ticket AGAIN, and I don't yet know whether or not you're one of the people that shouts to the whole carriage that I'm being slow while I'm fishing it out AGAIN, so that might lead to me being a bit wary of you!

 

[ANorthernGuard]

I've had this, only on my local line though. When I was a regular rail commuter I got to know one particular RPA quite well, I discovered that the revenue team had an astounding knowledge of which passengers travelled where and when, and which tried various ploys to avoid payment. Forget the "swat team" revenue bods, the regular Guards and RPAs operate on a very effective risk based approach!

I would say I know quite a high percentage of where my regs are going, considering how many routes I do I surprise myself sometimes!

 

[Butts]

I think what must put a lot of people off is if for example at Edinburgh Waverley you find the Station "mob handed" with Revenue Staff during the two rush hours, and bereft of them first or last thing.

It seems this lack of consistency indicates they are going for "easy money"

 

[GodAtum]

I used to get a regular train service that wasnt busy so the guards know my face and just say good morning.

I have wrote 2 letters in the past to Southern advising them that a number of people travel in 1st class without a valid ticket on a certain service.

 

[MKB]

Because you will have just woken me up !

Absolutely! A big selling point of the train over the car is the ability to work or relax en route. By all means check our tickets at the start and end of each sector, but please leave us in peace otherwise.

 

[ANorthernGuard]

Absolutely! A big selling point of the train over the car is the ability to work or relax en route. By all means check our tickets at the start and end of each sector, but please leave us in peace otherwise.

States in the nrcoc you can have your tickets checked at any time as often as we feel necessary so.... No lol

 

[island]

Sometimes you can just tell if a passenger is trying to hide something by their reluctance to show their ticket, like a passenger sat next to me recently whose railcard had expired and she pulled it half way out of her wallet, it was clear something was up and the RPI rightly excessed her £60-odd for a single to Glasgow.

Should have been charged up for a new ticket, if not TIRed!

You will also find that Gold Card holders tend to tailgate through wide gates by putting their hand on the sensor because it's too much hassle to simply take their ticket out of the wallet - it's the suits that tend to be very arrogant if challenged for tailgating or if asked to put their ticket in the barrier.

Not excusing it but the bigger issue with gold cards is that if they're put through the barrier four times a day they will not last more than a couple of months, and they can be quite a faff to have replaced.

 

[reb0118]

I think what must put a lot of people off is if for example at Edinburgh Waverley you find the Station "mob handed" with Revenue Staff during the two rush hours, and bereft of them first or last thing.

It seems this lack of consistency indicates they are going for "easy money"

No lack of consistency. You will be consistently subject to a check during the peaks but not at other times. These checks are actually a Transport Scotland requirement as part of the franchise deal.

That said, I do think we need greater (random) checks at other times esp. on the North Berwick line - also between Polmont & Falkirk Grahamston to catch all the one stop wonders!