An excess where there's no difference in fare

[CarterUSM]

Only just noticed your question. Because Avantix takes longer to come off shift. Our book off time is a total of 7 minutes, and that's including 5 min for platform transfer. As they wouldn't give us more time, they more than doubled the lobby staff to cash up and do paper work. Makes it interesting when they ask us about a loss, cos we know nothing about it!

That is very interesting! We were reduced from 15 minutes book off, to 5 a few years ago, we've been moaning about it for some time, usually results in an early cash up for me.

 

[northwichcat]

And your proof for this ridiculous statement is? or did you just add it for effect :roll:

That's the worst use of that word I've ever heard! The fact is that on last Friday about 20 people boarded at Altrincham and about 10 of them alighted at Hale, this is very common and had it been an earlier service it could have been 40 boarding at Altrincham and 20 alighting at Hale and last Friday the conductor only checked about 3 tickets between Altrincham and Hale due to his decision to argue with the girl, who didn't alight at Hale.

 

[yorkie]

There is no need for any argument. What should happen is a zero excess. This takes time to process. Yes it will mean that people are denied the opportunity to buy a ticket for a short journey, so will travel for free. But that's just the way it is!

Yes, the guard could use his discretion and not bother with the zero excess and concentrate on selling tickets to other people, but technically the guard should issue the excess and, if people travel for free because he spends time doing the excess, so be it.

Normally there would be an excess payable, but this is an unusual case where the excess is zero. Many guards/RIPs would not bother with the excess in the case described here because it's not worth the hassle. That is their discretion and their choice to make. I wouldn't criticise a guard for doing either of these options. But if the guard did act as described in this topic, then that is unacceptable.

 

[455driver]

Well as you seem obsessed with drip feeding us the relevent information what do you expect, how do I know how many, if any people got on at the intermediate stops, you didnt tell us but hey carry on moaning about things we say when we only have half the relevant facts to go on!

 

[transportphoto]

There is no need for any argument. What should happen is a zero excess. This takes time to process. Yes it will mean that people are denied the opportunity to buy a ticket for a short journey, so will travel for free. But that's just the way it is!

Yes, the guard could use his discretion and not bother with the zero excess and concentrate on selling tickets to other people, but technically the guard should issue the excess and, if people travel for free because he spends time doing the excess, so be it.

Normally there would be an excess payable, but this is an unusual case where the excess is zero. Many guards/RIPs would not bother with the excess in the case described here because it's not worth the hassle. That is their discretion and their choice to make.

Exactly - Worded Very Well there fine Yorkie.

Another Point to Make is that if you have asked for an excess (£0) the ticket seller (not R.A.T.A.) should sell it you if they have the ability to do so - if they say NO then you should have the right to 'demand' it.
But in reality this is not what happens - when onboard it is at the Guards discretion whether to issue it or not usually if they know the price difference is zero and that there won't be any station ticket checks they say there is no need.
However if there are station checks they should sell it when requested.
By R.A.T.A i mean Rail Appointed Travel Agent

 

[northwichcat]

Well as you seem obsessed with drip feeding us the relevent information what do you expect, how do I know how many, if any people got on at the intermediate stops, you didnt tell us but hey carry on moaning about things we say when we only have half the relevant facts to go on!

Your use of the word 'ridicuolous' made it sound like you know that many people don't travel between Hale and Altrincham. I can't possibly state everything about journeys made on the line. I did mention that the ticket office was closed and I said that there would be no difference in fare should have suggested the stations are very close together.
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Another Point to Make is that if you have asked for an excess (£0) the ticket seller (not R.A.T.A.) should sell it you if they have the ability to do so - if they say NO then you should have the right to 'demand' it.

If they can't sell a ticket that they should be able to issue for whatever reason should they be issuing permits to travel or anything instead?

 

[CarterUSM]

Exactly - Worded Very Well there fine Yorkie.

Another Point to Make is that if you have asked for an excess (£0) the ticket seller (not R.A.T.A.) should sell it you if they have the ability to do so - if they say NO then you should have the right to 'demand' it.

There is no need to issue a zero excess if the passenger will not encounter another member of staff who will require to see their travel documentation.

 

[yorkie]

There is no need to issue a zero excess if the passenger will not encounter another member of staff who will require to see their travel documentation.

I agree, that's a common sense approach.

 

[northwichcat]

Change of route or overdistance is half the difference if doing one portion. The system asks if you are excessing outward, return or both portions.

So is there a huge loophole then? For example, if you're doing Wolverhampton to Penzance single then is there any reason you couldn't buy a Birmingham to Wolverhampton return then at Birmingham excess the Wolverhampton to Birmingham return part to Penzance for half the price of a Birmingham to Penzance return?