The key to it is the right fare has been paid. If that's the case, 99% of ticket inspecting staff will be happy. Where is the problem in just endorsing the ticket to say the wrong discount was applied in error in any case? No need for masses of paperwork then just for a simple mistake.
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Mis-sold ticket: incorrect railcard type
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LondonJohn
Member
I could give you a couple of responses from SET that has more b*ll sh*t in it that you would get down on the farm.
My ticket just got checked on the return journey. I pointed out the error and said the office made a mistake and all he said was "Yeah, big mistake.". I then said the office said it'd be OK because it was the same discount and he just noded and walked off, so I have no idea what he thought.
I have seen RPIs on the HS train btw.......once.
I have seen RPIs on the HS train btw.......once.
Smudger105e
Member
Probably the same as what I think - no point in doing anything with the ticket despite it being *technically* invalid. He probably has bigger fish to fry
MarkyMarkD
Member
I've never been inspected by an RPI between Chatham and London (HS1 or not). I've seen a few on a train once, but they were just travelling between stations and not checking on my train.
1D53
Established Member
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I once managed to do 7 day rover with the wrong discount applied and wasn't queried once. Imagine common sense dictates here.
On this particular occasion they got on at Chatham iirc. The train was going to Faversham.
MarkyMarkD
Member
Rather pointless checking Chatham-Faversham on HS as that is not the HS supplement part of the route! I'm sure there are people travelling short distances within Medway towns without tickets, especially in the evenings when barriers are open (for those stations which have them) - probably same as anywhere else with stations very close together.
Some SET inspectors are horrendous at giving out right advice - seems their ticket offices also.
I was once coming back from Margate and a young lad wanted to purchase a ticekt to London with his new deal card but as the TVMs wont sell them he asked an inspector what he should do so he could get the right train....
To which the Inspector told him to purchase a child fare as it was the same price.. I nearly fainted.
I was once coming back from Margate and a young lad wanted to purchase a ticekt to London with his new deal card but as the TVMs wont sell them he asked an inspector what he should do so he could get the right train....
To which the Inspector told him to purchase a child fare as it was the same price.. I nearly fainted.
Nothing wrong with that as long as the Inspector was then willing to endorse the back of the ticket with a short explanation and his name. I generally go by the rule that if you are not willing to endorse it with your name then the advice you are giving is incorrect. The important bit is always that no innocent member of the fare paying public should later get accused/penalty fared/embarrassed etc for being poorly advised earlier in the day by another member of staff.
Id be too wary of it even if he did endorse it really I just dont like the idea of buying such a wrong ticket and then having the embarrassment of having to explain and have people surrounding you thinking you were just trying it on. Bad enough the poor sod didnt have a job.
Also it did strike me odd why he didnt sell him one of his avantix - they're on there arent they?
Thats what I thought at the time but it never crossed my mind until now to check and all ours are(or were) locked away for the night..
The vast majority of guards / conductors / RPIs are sensible people and will accept the ticket as an issuing error as others have said, but the booking clerk should never put a traveller in the position of having to explain why they have a wrong ticket in the first place.
Once you pointed out the error the ticket should have been cancelled and re-issued with an apology and without question. At the very least the clerk should have endorsed 'Issuing error - Wrong R/C' and stamped the back of the ticket with the booking office stamp.
If it was not endorsed in this way and any Guard / Inspector had picked it up s/he should withdraw it and issue a 'zero excess' to allow you to complete your journey without further inconvenience
The reason behind this is very simple. The conditions applicable to the two railcards are different.
I know some people think 'it's a lot of hassle over nothing', but it isn't a good enough reason for not doing your job properly.
Any authorised RPI / guard etc could have withdrawn the ticket and put the traveller to inconvenience because of the unacceptable attitude of a booking clerk. Yes a Penalty Fare Notice could result because with no endorsement the traveller has no evidence that the 'clerk said it was OK'.
A PF is not a 'fine', though I understand why many people use the word. In monetary terms that's exactly what it is, but in law it's a 'civil remedy'. An opportunity to resolve a matter without more serious action being taken.
Yes, any PF should be quashed, but why should the traveller have to suffer the inconvenience of dealing with that just because the booking clerk was a lazy ******.
If it happens again, remind the clerk that if s/he refuses to correct their mistake you don't want to be awkward, but that you will submit the ticket with a formal complaint.
Once you pointed out the error the ticket should have been cancelled and re-issued with an apology and without question. At the very least the clerk should have endorsed 'Issuing error - Wrong R/C' and stamped the back of the ticket with the booking office stamp.
If it was not endorsed in this way and any Guard / Inspector had picked it up s/he should withdraw it and issue a 'zero excess' to allow you to complete your journey without further inconvenience
The reason behind this is very simple. The conditions applicable to the two railcards are different.
I know some people think 'it's a lot of hassle over nothing', but it isn't a good enough reason for not doing your job properly.
Any authorised RPI / guard etc could have withdrawn the ticket and put the traveller to inconvenience because of the unacceptable attitude of a booking clerk. Yes a Penalty Fare Notice could result because with no endorsement the traveller has no evidence that the 'clerk said it was OK'.
A PF is not a 'fine', though I understand why many people use the word. In monetary terms that's exactly what it is, but in law it's a 'civil remedy'. An opportunity to resolve a matter without more serious action being taken.
Yes, any PF should be quashed, but why should the traveller have to suffer the inconvenience of dealing with that just because the booking clerk was a lazy ******.
If it happens again, remind the clerk that if s/he refuses to correct their mistake you don't want to be awkward, but that you will submit the ticket with a formal complaint.
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I just received a letter from Southeastern. They said they'd surprised if I was issued a penalty fare in those circumstances as long as I was able to show a DSB railcard, and RPIs and ticket inspectors would would have accepted what had happened.
They then went on to say that my ticket, stricktly speaking, should have been changed and they've brought to the attention of the station manager who will "remind staff of the importance of providing passengers with the ticket that best fits their needs", and "make certain if there is any outstanding training, this is delivered as a priority".
They then went on to say that my ticket, stricktly speaking, should have been changed and they've brought to the attention of the station manager who will "remind staff of the importance of providing passengers with the ticket that best fits their needs", and "make certain if there is any outstanding training, this is delivered as a priority".
This is why I always buy tickets from machines if there's a choice - that way, any mistakes will be mine and I won't have to deal with other people making mistakes
No machines at Kemsley (which is annoying). I either need to purchase one from the guard (who often fails to appear), buy one when I change at Sittingbourne ( the case here), or walk 20 minutes to Sittingbourne station, which includes a short but steep(ish) hill. Even if I walk to Sittingbourne I stil might need to buy one from the ticket office because I might not fancy walking back in the evening, and it may be too late for the bus.
Ah - yeah, I was a bit shocked when I visited my grandparents' house recently and found that they still don't have any ticket machines at their local station (Chelford), or anything else electronic for that matter (except maybe lights, I don't remember)! Just a couple of very square, locked buildings. I'd sort of assumed that the whole rail network would have had them by then aside from the very smallest of stations.
My local line sees close to a million passengers a year between 4 stations, and there is no facilities to buy. We do however get 2 guards per train at peak times, on a 2 carriage train.
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