Accidentally scanned return ticket at exit gate – any issue?

[milgram]

Hi all,

I had an Off-Peak Return. At the destination exit gates, I accidentally presented (three times!) the return portion of the ticket instead of the outward. The gate didn’t open automatically, but a member of staff manually opened it after checking the screen, without seeing there was an issue.

Is accidentally presenting the return ticket at the exit (with staff manually opening the gate) considered an issue for the validity of the return leg (or even the outbound one), or is this just treated as an mis-scan?

Thanks.

 

[saismee]

Won't cause any problems with revenue staff though it may be automatically rejected at the barriers on your way back. You will just have to show staff if it doesn't open automatically. It happens all the time to an unbelievable amount of people. I believe it will show the rejected scan on a revenue inspection device but it also shows a reason with it and won't say it was used for travel.

 

[milgram]

Won't cause any problems with revenue staff though it may be automatically rejected at the barriers on your way back. You will just have to show staff if it doesn't open automatically. It happens all the time to an unbelievable amount of people. I believe it will show the rejected scan on a revenue inspection device but it also shows a reason with it and won't say it was used for travel.

Thank you. It did work on the gates during the return trip without issue.

I guess I shouldn’t expect any threatening email then?

 

[z444z]

I guess I shouldn’t expect any threatening email then?

Probably not but even if you do nothing could possibly come of it. What was your journey and which train company(s) did you use?

 

[saismee]

I guess I shouldn’t expect any threatening email then?

No, these only come from doughnutting (A->B, C->D with B->C unaccounted for) or from scanning a ticket multiple times on different train services.

 

[milgram]

Probably not but even if you do nothing could possibly come of it. What was your journey and which train company(s) did you use?

Cambridge <-> Kings Cross. One way with Great Northern and return with Thameslink

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 25 Jan 2026 ==

No, these only come from doughnutting (A->B, C->D with B->C unaccounted for) or from scanning a ticket multiple times on different train services.

Hmm well I did scan it multiple times I guess?

 

[Haywain]

Hmm well I did scan it multiple times I guess?

There is nothing remotely unusual in scanning the wrong ticket portion several times in quick succession.

 

[milgram]

There is nothing remotely unusual in scanning the wrong ticket portion several times in quick succession.

Thank you. I’m a bit concerned that because the agent at the gate let me out I didn’t have a chance to “correct” the mistake and make records show I finished my journey, but I don’t know how these things work, and maybe I’m overreacting?

 

[saismee]

There is nothing remotely unusual in scanning the wrong ticket portion several times in quick succession.

Or scanning the right ticket multiple times. Sometimes the scanners are a bit trigger happy and read it 2-3 times in a row.

Thank you. I’m a bit concerned that because the agent at the gate let me out I didn’t have a chance to “correct” the mistake and make records show I finished my journey, but I don’t know how these things work, and maybe I’m overreacting?

Absolutely overreacting, your actions and their actions are entirely normal and can happen hundreds of times daily in any barriered station. Unless you were stopped on a train or at a gateline without a valid ticket, you have nothing to worry about.

The gateline attendant shouldn't have let you through with the wrong half of a ticket, but getting people to correct this just slows down checking tickets and it really doesn't matter. It's also possible that they didn't even notice it was the incorrect half.