Appeal help

[rosehatch1]

Hi, my second appeal has just been rejected and I want some advice on whether or not it's worth me appealing for a third time.
I'm going to pay the fine today so that I don't get charged the extra amount.

I travelled from Preston to Manchester Piccadilly and once reaching there, I found out that my friend didn't have my ticket. This might sound unbelievable, but normally when we go to Manchester one of us buys the tickets for both people. She had messaged me earlier in the day and said that she was booking a certain one, and I took this as her buying me one stupidly. After arriving at Piccadilly, I got stopped and given a penalty notice by a Northern Rail employee. They wouldn't allow me to ask questions and kept shushing me and my friends when we tried to speak.

I appealed for the first time as it was a genuine mistake which I know isn't grounds for appealing but I thought I may as well have a go. They came back to me saying that because Preston had places to buy tickets, this is what I should have done. However, Preston train station has no barriers to go through or people checking your ticket at any point, so there was no reason for me to even think to ask my friend about my ticket. This was the basis of my second appeal.

They responded with "Although the mitigation mentioned on appeal has been taken into consideration, there is no evidence to support the discretion guidelines having been breached by the authorised collector at the time of issue". Honestly, I was trying to pay for my ticket when I got to the station and realised I didn't have one, and that's all that I want to do now as I wasn't trying to avoid the fare.

If anyone has any advice it would be greatly appreciated.

 

[AlterEgo]

You have no grounds for appeal unless the notice was improperly filled out. It is up to you to have a ticket and you need to ensure you have one. "My mate was supposed to buy it" isn't going to lead to a successful appeal.

Please upload the full notice given to you with your personal details obscured so it can be scrutinised for a technical error.

 

[rosehatch1]

You have no grounds for appeal unless the notice was improperly filled out. It is up to you to have a ticket and you need to ensure you have one. "My mate was supposed to buy it" isn't going to lead to a successful appeal.

Please upload the full notice given to you with your personal details obscured so it can be scrutinised for a technical error.

Okay the notice was given to me on a long receipt so I'll attach photos. They did also fill out some personal details wrong after I repeatedly said that it was wrong.

 

[MotCO]

The ticket seems to have been correctly completed - the fare is correct, the reason seems ok, and the locations quoted seem to be correct. Incorrect / misspelt names are not sufficient reasons to cancel the PF. The only technicality maybe if there was insufficient signage at Preston (I assume that Preston is in a Penalty Fare area).

 

[rosehatch1]

Yes it is a penalty fare area. As there are multiple platforms and therefore multiple entrances, would I just have to check the entrance and route I took to the train for the signs? Or if there is a sign anywhere in the station does that mean I can't use insufficient signage for my appeal?

 

[John R]

Yes it is a penalty fare area. As there are multiple platforms and therefore multiple entrances, would I just have to check the entrance and route I took to the train for the signs? Or if there is a sign anywhere in the station does that mean I can't use insufficient signage for my appeal?

I'm not sure we've ever seen an appeal accepted on the grounds of insufficient signage. And from what you say, it would not have made any difference, as you were under the impression that you had a ticket because your friend had it.

 

[furlong]

Last time I was at Preston, the notices didn't comply in multiple respects. Not enough of them in the right places and incorrect wording.
Look at this post for an example of one way of writing this type of appeal.

Stansted Airport fines

Went through today. Certainly is another huge poster on the right hand side above the ramp with a few different languages. It's all over the gates too. I wish the OP well with the appeal but I would be very surprised for GA to overturn it given how clear the signage is. Thanks - a few people...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@rosehatch1. Which way into the station, and which platform did you board the train, from Preston to Manchester Piccadilly, on Friday 26SEP2025? Was it one of the main platforms in the centre of the station at Preston (most likely platform 4), or maybe one of the other adjacent platforms, such as platform 2 or 6? Preston is a medium sized station, so this will help determine which signage you may, or may not, have passed, on your to boarding the train.

 

[rosehatch1]

@rosehatch1. Which way into the station, and which platform did you board the train, from Preston to Manchester Piccadilly, on Friday 26SEP2025? Was it one of the main platforms in the centre of the station at Preston (most likely platform 4), or maybe one of the other adjacent platforms, such as platform 2 or 6? Preston is a medium sized station, so this will help determine which signage you may, or may not, have passed, on your to boarding the train.

I went through the main entrance where the taxi bays are and it was platform 4

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 7 Oct 2025 ==

Last time I was at Preston, the notices didn't comply in multiple respects. Not enough of them in the right places and incorrect wording.
Look at this post for an example of one way of writing this type of appeal.

Stansted Airport fines

Went through today. Certainly is another huge poster on the right hand side above the ramp with a few different languages. It's all over the gates too. I wish the OP well with the appeal but I would be very surprised for GA to overturn it given how clear the signage is. Thanks - a few people...

www.railforums.co.uk

Thank you, I'll have a look

 

[AlterEgo]

Last time I was at Preston, the notices didn't comply in multiple respects. Not enough of them in the right places and incorrect wording.
Look at this post for an example of one way of writing this type of appeal.

Stansted Airport fines

Went through today. Certainly is another huge poster on the right hand side above the ramp with a few different languages. It's all over the gates too. I wish the OP well with the appeal but I would be very surprised for GA to overturn it given how clear the signage is. Thanks - a few people...

www.railforums.co.uk

This thread also has some details about signage at Preston which may help.

Cancelled ticket, then fined

Hi All, I would just like to hear peoples opinions and guidance on the following issue. I booked train tickets from (11:36am) Glasgow Central station to Preston (Lancs)(13:57pm) with Avanti WC. Then from from Preston (Lancs) (14:10pm) to Manchester Piccadilly (14:58) with Northern rail. I...

www.railforums.co.uk

 

[Mcr Warrior]

Another one from 2023, regarding Preston station, linked below...

Advice needed: Northern trains penalty issued

Hi there Hoping someone can give me some advice. Travelled down from Scotland to Preston last Friday with my daughter for a little break. We dropped our bags at the hotel and made our way back to Preston train station and onto the platform to catch a train to Blackpool for a nice day out...

share.google

 

[Hadders]

I'm not sure we've ever seen an appeal accepted on the grounds of insufficient signage.

There was one at Tottenham Hale, iirc.

 

[Kite159]

There was one at Tottenham Hale, iirc.

Solely based on signage and not including other factors?

 

[Watershed]

Solely based on signage and not including other factors?

The appeals bodies often don't make clear the grounds on which they've accepted an appeal. I think that's partially deliberate, to discourage people from knowing that signage-based appeals can be successful.