Appeal advice needed

[CurlyWhirly]

I recently boarded a train with a flexi ticket (valid for 7 days where you write the date at the top on the day of use) I I tried to write the date on but it didn't mark it properly. I meant to write over it later on but forgot and so when asked to produce my ticket on the way home as there was no date on it, I was issued a penalty notice.

This is the first time I've been issued one, as I typically buy day return tickets and always record the dates on a flexi tickets on the day I use them however unfortunately on this occasion the pen failed to imprint properly and I did not manage to find a spare pen at home and forgot to update it later on. Is it worth appealing? I'd already bought a ticket so it was never my intention to evade the fare, I just failed to add the date on this occasion.
Thank you for reading and any advice offered

 

[John R]

It's hard to see on what grounds an appeal would be accepted, particularly as you had an opportunity during the day to address the issue, and failed to do so or purchase another ticket for the journey. Assuming it was a penalty fare notice, an appeal does stop the clock in terms of the 21 days payment period to get the reduced fee.

If you let us know what journey you were making, and upload the penalty fare notice, with the reference redacted for privacy, then experts here will be able to check whether there are any procedural errors in the way the notice was written, which is probably your only chance of success.

 

[Titfield]

I do not think you have good grounds for appeal as it is your responsibility to date the ticket prior to travel.

A failure to date the ticket has the appearance of an intentional act so that if unchallenged the unmarked ticket could be (re)used at a later date and thereby gaining a days " free travel".