Adult Caught on Child Ticket going through Barrier

[Mintona]

How innocent! Are you really unaware of how young girls start dressing like that these days?

The fact that as soon as I said no they said "fine, two adult singles then" confirmed they were actually lying. No argument at all.

I know how young girls start dressing like that, but I also know when they are trying it on.

 

[scotsman]

I know way too many people who try it on. Friends of mine see it as the norm...

One of them got caught on a child ticket, he got sold a SOS. He moaned to me, I explained what an MG11 was. He never tried that again.

Also, c2c showed the value of social media by taking a screenshot of a tweet reading "I wonder how much money I've scammed out of c2c...", then passing it to their prosecutions team and replying informing them that.

 

[yorkie]

16+ year olds claiming to be 15 is rife, and a lot of the time guards would never suspect anything. I've known people be offered child tickets at the age of 17/18. It's even worse among football supporters getting into grounds, with some claiming to be 6 years younger than their actual age. I suspect that 16 year olds who pay full fare on trains may actually be in the minority!

 

[richw]

I've known people be offered child tickets at the age of 17/18

When I was 18 I joined the train at penryn, travelling to truro, guard came round selling tickets. I simply asked for a single to truro. Guard told me price, I questioned if was correct and he said yes. Turned out he'd done me a child ticket by mistake as he believed I was under 16, yet i have always looked old for my age, I could grow a full beard at 14, and I am tall and welll built from my rugby background and time in the gym!. I asked if he wanted the difference and he said no don't worry bout it, as it creates more effort than its worth for less than a pound difference.

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk

 

[DaveNewcastle]

Please forgive me if this appears to be off topic, but it might produce a useful comparison.

How often (i.e what percentage) do staff while they are inspecting tickets with a Child, Railcard discounted ticket or other concession, doubt that a passenger qualifies (though age or other criterion) when:
a) the discount is CHILD;
b) the discount is 16-25;
c) the discount is SENIOR;
d) the discount is DISABLED;
e) other Railcards;
f) Privs and staff travel;
g) Warrants, passes and anything else.

If you can guess for me, please, I'd be grateful, even if its a vague hunch. Thanks.

 

[richw]

Please forgive me if this appears to be off topic, but it might produce a useful comparison.

How often (i.e what percentage) do staff while they are inspecting tickets with a Child, Railcard discounted ticket or other concession, doubt that a passenger qualifies (though age or other criterion) when:
a) the discount is CHILD;
b) the discount is 16-25;
c) the discount is SENIOR;
d) the discount is DISABLED;
e) other Railcards;
f) Privs and staff travel;
g) Warrants, passes and anything else.

If you can guess for me, please, I'd be grateful, even if its a vague hunch. Thanks.

All but a) just need the traveller to match the railcard, which proof of age, disability etc will of been provided at purchase of the railcard. I've always wondered how to prove a child is a child as I've never come across a child with proof of age carried. The only catch is when they try to pay with a credit card. Debit cards are issued to under 16s, but credit card 18+ only.

Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using Tapatalk

 

[trc666]

Today had a woman who was clearly in her 30s try to claim she was 14 when coming through the barrier (exiting) on a child ticket - had to let her go as there were no revenue. :/

 

[Flamingo]

Child discount, I would question about 20-30% if I had to pick a figure off the top of my head.

Don't forget, 67% of statistics are made up!

 

[adamcoppard]

At the other end of the spectrum I've had a ticket office refuse to sell me a Child Off Peak Day Return (the type I asked for) as the seller assumed I was 16 and refused to sell me one. I had to take my passport between then and my 16th Birthday.

 

[Flamingo]

I had a guy yesterday produce a passport, now the picture did not look like him, but I felt I had to accept it (although I think it was his kid brothers. The rest of his story had more holes than a piece of cheese, but short of ringing up the passport office I didn't have much option but accept it. He was all attitude as well, but I couldn't take the chance of kicking him off in case it was genuine.

 

[tony_mac]

I do have a friend who is a little worried about her son taking the train because of this.
He is very tall for his age, but is also shy and will likely get very nervous if he starts getting questioned.
(I dare say some people would take this as a sign of guilt, but anyway...)

Is there something he can do to prove his age? He certainly won't be trusted to carry his passport around with him!

 

[Flamingo]

I do have a friend who is a little worried about her son taking the train because of this.
He is very tall for his age, but is also shy and will likely get very nervous if he starts getting questioned.
(I dare say some people would take this as a sign of guilt, but anyway...)

Is there something he can do to prove his age? He certainly won't be trusted to carry his passport around with him!

Try here http://www.citizencard.com/

 

[tony_mac]

Thanks for that; although I doubt that the mandatory junk mail will be acceptable in this case (as well as the £15 fee and hassle finding a 'verifier').

 

[Flamingo]

You gotta speculate to accumulate!

 

[Stigy]

The OP doesn't actually say whether the girl had actually travelled. Is there an offence of attempted unticketed travel?

The initial post indicates an intended journey. And yes, under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889 it is an offence to attempt to travel with the intention to defraud the railway. Note that only RRA make this an offence, and not Strict Liasbility Byelaws, where no intent needs to be proved!

 

[richw]

Is there something he can do to prove his age? He certainly won't be trusted to carry his passport around with him!

Flamingo, would a good clear photocopy be acceptable?

 

[jon0844]

Child discount, I would question about 20-30% if I had to pick a figure off the top of my head.

Don't forget, 67% of statistics are made up!

But 42% of the made up stats turn out to be right about 50% of the time.

 

[tony_mac]

Are there any thoughts on just getting a 7 day season for something like Lichfield City to Trent Valley? Then the photocard will be valid until he is 16, I assume that should be acceptable.
and would it be possible to get this issued without him being there? As in, can I take in photos application and passport to a ticket office?
(This is mainly to avoid wasting time at a busy ticket office as I can go when it is quiet)

 

[WillPS]

I had a guy yesterday produce a passport, now the picture did not look like him, but I felt I had to accept it (although I think it was his kid brothers. The rest of his story had more holes than a piece of cheese, but short of ringing up the passport office I didn't have much option but accept it. He was all attitude as well, but I couldn't take the chance of kicking him off in case it was genuine.

I had a passport done when I was 13, and I outgrew it almost instantly (growing my hair, hitting puberty etc. etc.). The picture looked a lot more like one of my brothers than me.

The only person who ever refused it though was a bloody jobsworth Tesco employee. A document which I was using to cross international boundaries legitimately, without question! Funny where society's priorities are nowadays.

 

[Roylang]

At the other end of the spectrum I've had a ticket office refuse to sell me a Child Off Peak Day Return (the type I asked for) as the seller assumed I was 16 and refused to sell me one. I had to take my passport between then and my 16th Birthday.

I had a similar problem when I left school. My birthday is towards the end of the accademic year and I finished my exams mid-June. Between leaving schoolf after exams and the end of the school term I was refused child tickets many times with a quick snipe of "why aren't you at school then?". Even if sold a ticket I was challenged on the train several times. I didn't even have a passport back then :cry:

Roy

 

[northwichcat]

I've just remembered something. When I first went to buy a Young Persons Railcard I was 17 and a man working in the ticket office told me they were for over 18s as under 18s could buy child tickets despite the form for a railcard reading '16' where he said '18.'

 

[SWT_USER]

I feel a bit sorry for 16 year olds, still forced to be at school/ college for another two years, not allowed to drive yet forced to pay full price.

 

[jon0844]

Buy the YPRC then - which has photo ID and will stop any problems.

 

[SWT_USER]

Indeed, my point was more that they are unlikely to have any additional income just because they turn 16 if they are still in education or training. I'm not having a go at the railway specifically because it's the same for most other child rate tickets.

 

[island]

Thanks for that; although I doubt that the mandatory junk mail will be acceptable in this case (as well as the £15 fee and hassle finding a 'verifier').

You can opt out of the junk mail and there are plenty of verifiers at your local post office, nick, or bank if you have other ID, or school/college if you don't.

 

[richw]

if there of school age, i'd imagine if the pupil is on good terms with a teacher one of them would verify on the form. I still see one of my old school teachers around at my local sports club, I left school 6-7 years ago. This teacher recently signed a passport form for my daughter without a second thought, as my daughter is under 5, the verifier had to of known me or my wife for 4 years so not a problem there!

 

[Roylang]

I feel a bit sorry for 16 year olds, still forced to be at school/ college for another two years, not allowed to drive yet forced to pay full price.

You can leave school at 16 in the UK. In fact, given when my birthday is, I was still 15 when I finished school. You are required to stay at school until the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16. In most cases, once your last exam has been undertaken you are no longer required to attend.

Roy

 

[Yew]

Marstons pubs don't accept passports as proofof age..

 

[transportphoto]

Marstons pubs don't accept passports as proofof age..

Wow, how can they deny a perfectly valid national / international proof of age

 

[SWT_USER]

You can leave school at 16 in the UK. In fact, given when my birthday is, I was still 15 when I finished school. You are required to stay at school until the last Friday in June in the school year they turn 16. In most cases, once your last exam has been undertaken you are no longer required to attend.

Roy

Not anymore, you have to be in some sort of education or training until you are 18.