Ive blatantly admitted to not using a permit to travel machine before. Guard never did anything.
But an RPI could have issued a Penalty Fare.
Just warned me the rules say i should have done. To which I just said i couldnt see the point.
That's an issue for management rather than the guard, though.
In fact, what is the point in them?
To indicate willingness to pay. But most TOCs realise that there are flaws in this arrangement and most PTT machines have been withdrawn.
The only difference is, if i manage to avoid paying the fare (which i would never do anyway), the TOC ends up 5p better off from the permit to travel machine (thats all i would put in it).
There appears to be some misunderstanding.
Firstly, what method of payment would you use to buy the ticket, as
if you were planning to use cash, you could be asked why you only paid 5p. If you were planning to use a card, then that's a different matter.
Secondly, the amount entered is deducted from the fare, so the TOC would not be 5p better off.
If i manage to pay the fare (which i always do) then the TOC has lost out because they have printed off extra tickets. OK a negligible cost.
A negligible cost the TOC has budgeted for, so not an issue.
Anyway, i never use the machines at my local station (I wont be pointing my local station out!!!)
The consequences of that vary depending on what method of payment you wish to use, and what method of payment the machines take, and whether the train is a Penalty Fare train or not.