How to appeal a Penalty Fare in style

[transmanche]

A University of Oxford student was travelling home on a First Great Western train when he was stopped for not having the railcard to go with his ticket. He was told he could only appeal in writing. This is what he sent in response:

http://www.buzzfeed.com/jimwaterson/this-man-was-told-to-appeal-a-penalty-fare-in-writing-so-wro

I'd give him his refund, just for appealing in style! Certainly must be nicer to receive this than an expletive-riddled tweet...

Image is a photograph of a poem sent to IPFAS, appealing againt a penalty fare.

 

[bb21]

Someone trying to be clever I see.

It makes me cringe, but at the same time it did bring a wry smile to my face. If I were reading it, I would probably let him off this once for making that effort.

 

[GatwickDepress]

A smart-alec channelling the spirit of McGonagall, eh? Gave me a chuckle though, so I suppose that time and effort wasn't all wasted.

 

[Minilad]

I remember what my Dad always used to say to me.
"No one likes a smart arse"

 

[IanD]

Sounds like a complete and utter twit. Obviously not studying English Lit.

 

[Greenback]

It's not something that would persuade me to lenience.

 

[talltim]

I remember what my Dad always used to say to me.
"No one likes a smart arse"

My colleague does, she's always going on about pert derrières

 

[SS4]

No dice. Pay up

 

[thewiltog]

I think it's brilliant. I'm pretty sure it's a parody of Byron, and he manages to keep the rhyme scheme and the meter consistent without it seeming forced.

 

[Lockwood]

10/10 for effort, and the FGW twitter team at least has a sense of humour. Maybe this team does as well?

Is that a real thing, or could it perhaps be a fake?

 

[rebmcr]

If I were working in the appeals office and did not have one already, I would buy a large [REJECTED] rubber stamp specifically for this.

 

[Greenback]

If I were working in the appeals office and did not have one already, I would buy a large [REJECTED] rubber stamp specifically for this.

I wouldn't go to the expense of a stamp, I'd just write 'Pompus Drivel' across it in red pen. If I didn't have a red pen I'd use green. Or blue. It warrants no additional expenditure, and precious little effort to actually reject it.

Stuff like this reminds me of the musical complaint sand response that used to feature in That's Life many years ago. Dreadful, and even at the age of ten I could see no merit in it.

But perhaps I've just always been a miserable so and so!

 

[transmanche]

My word, we do have some curmudgeons here!

 

[Yew]

I wonder how this ended? Personally I would be inclined to show leniency, purely due to the creativity, similar to some interesting graduate scheme applications I've seen

 

[jon0844]

The rejection letter should be written in a similar style and published on the FGW Twitter account or Facebook page.

That would be classy!

 

[SS4]

I wid be tompted to root the reploo in the steal of officer Crabtree

 

[AndyNLondon]

If I were handling this appeal,
And in a witty mood did feel,
I might compose a reply in verse.
The request itself - of course reject:
To carry the railcard one must not neglect,
And here I stop, lest my lines get worse.

 

[Starmill]

Depends who reads it that's all I can think!

By which, I get the impression that IF I worked for IPFAS, this sort of thing would simply be ignored. Although I applaud the effort... to waive the PF would make me feel as though I were endorsing "Yeah I made a mistake but I'm really really clever and good at showing off, so please let me off?" - which I don't like and is basically all it is. Send him a FGW pen or something for the trouble.

 

[Greenback]

to waive the PF would make me feel as though I were endorsing "Yeah I made a mistake but I'm really really clever and good at showing off, so please let me off?" - which I don't like and is basically all it is. Send him a FGW pen or something for the trouble.

I wouldn't even do that. You've described exactly how I feel. I'm not impressed by show off's and attention seekers who are trying to show that they are better than others, and that includes those trying to demonstrate their superior intellect!

All this is really doing is saying 'I know there are rules, and I broke them, but look, as I'm so clever they shouldn't really apply to me'.

 

[Nick W]

Let's be honest, I'm sure he's more than happy to pay his penalty fare; he was just aggrieved and wanted bad publicity for FGW.

 

[Greenback]

If that's the case, I hope it backfires on him!

 

[LexyBoy]

More likely he was just having fun, it's not unknown you know. I don't think anyone would seriously think that a smartarse reply would get the PF rejected - though giving the examiner a smile just might. Any fule kno' the proper way to do it is to scream bad customer service and complain on T*****r.

More to the point, there are no students at All Souls.

 

[Greenback]

Fun? Fun? I don't agree with such a concept!

 

[asylumxl]

More likely he was just having fun, it's not unknown you know. I don't think anyone would seriously think that a smartarse reply would get the PF rejected - though giving the examiner a smile just might. Any fule kno' the proper way to do it is to scream bad customer service and complain on T*****r.

More to the point, there are no students at All Souls.

I imagine he just wanted to give a worker some mild amusement and slightly brighten their day.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

Fun? Fun? I don't agree with such a concept!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt8Rpmclnp0

This video should help. I couldn't find an English version of the video.

 

[Greenback]

I love Spongepants Squarebob, especially in Welsh!

Maybe I'm not such a miserable sod after all!

 

[Lockwood]

If I were handling this appeal,
And in a witty mood did feel,
I might compose a reply in verse.
The request itself - of course reject:
To carry the railcard one must not neglect,
And here I stop, lest my lines get worse.

This is why we need a like button

 

[transmanche]

I love Spongepants Squarebob, especially in Welsh!

Maybe I'm not such a miserable sod after all!

SpynjBob Pantsgwâr!

(Which is odd as there isn't a J in the Welsh alphabet... it only gets used for English loanwords.)

 

[mirodo]

Sounds like a complete and utter twit. Obviously not studying English Lit.

But, judging his eloquent display of anguish, he may be studying English Language.

 

[trainophile]

I know there are rules that have to be enforced, but this guy's crime was not fare dodging, or buying a child fare when he's an adult, but forgetting his rail card. I also know that's no excuse, but as the railway is not out of pocket in any way, then maybe some generosity of spirit could be shown, especially in view of his efforts to explain his predicament in an amusing way.

Seems a bit mean of the guard not to let him excess on the train to a non-railcard fare, but I suppose that's policy too, or everyone would buy discounted tickets and say they'd forgotten their card if they got caught.

It's a pity we're not able to carry a photo of our rail card on our phone, which would be acceptable evidence that we possess one, if on a rare occasion we'd forgotten or mislaid it. I believe it is possible with some TOCs to show a phone image of a ticket (or have I got that wrong?).

 

[jon0844]

If you wanted to be quite fair, just allow people who forget their railcard to have one 'free' claim in any 12 month period.

Then issue a penalty fare as normal, which can be appealed when you produce your valid railcard. And that railcard will then be endorsed (either on the railcard, or on your account) so that you can't claim again.

You could also add the admin charge (£10) to this, which seems fair.

But, until that's done, treat your railcard as being as important as a passport or carrying your wallet, mobile phone, front door keys etc.