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BR boxes and dependants

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trc666

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Islington
Is it just me or are more and more dependants trying to abuse their boxes by 'forgetting' to fill them in, altering dates and then getting stroppy or abusive when challenged?

I've had them claim that they 'don't have to fill them in' if they're making short journeys and I even had one accuse me of being 'discriminative' because I wouldn't let him in as I could see the last box had been tippex-ed out and he had attempted to write over it.

Only just yesterday I had a woman with a dependant of retired pass tailgate through a wide aisle gate behind someone and upon quickly flashing the pass I could see it had been altered, was quite obvious that a 5 was changed to a 7 but before I could get a chance to call revenue over she had gone! Unfortunately as a gateline attendant I can't withdraw these passes, that can only be done by revenue or guards.

Now, I'm not one of those nasty jobsworth types or jealous of any of these people with passes but it annoys me that they get this element of free travel without having earned it and yet they still try to abuse it. In my two years on the gateline at SWT I have never seen active staff doing this and have only once had to challenge a retired staff member for refusing to fill in a box and generally being down right rude to myself and a colleague after we quite rightly refused to let him through until he did.

Would be interesting to hear of experiences from other gateline staff (from any TOC, not just SWT) who are on here or perhaps those of you who are guards / revenue staff.
 
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156441

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I'm one of those members of staff that NEVER makes people date boxes or buy PRIV.

They might 'only' be someone's family member and may never have earnt the privilege themselves but they're clearly related to a railwayman/woman and your saving their family that little bit of money!

We don't get many universal privileges on the railway anymore so a little free trip here and there does no one any harm!

On a side note I respect other members of staff views and would never criticise for doing things right nor would I ever 'sneak on/through' I'd always have a quiet word with the gateline/guard etc. (I'm non safeguarded so my blagging skills come in very handy!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also seems to be a much more southern thing this as well. I carry many many members of other TOCs staff esp - TPE, XC and Virgin and in turn we never bat an eyelid at each other on our respective services.

However I've had a member of SWT (driver) and a FGW TM almost beg me to sell them a PRIV on the train as they 'don't want to get in trouble'

I walked both of them out of the station and welcomed them to the North!!!
 

ANorthernGuard

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8 Oct 2010
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2,662
I'm one of those members of staff that NEVER makes people date boxes or buy PRIV.

They might 'only' be someone's family member and may never have earnt the privilege themselves but they're clearly related to a railwayman/woman and your saving their family that little bit of money!

We don't get many universal privileges on the railway anymore so a little free trip here and there does no one any harm!

On a side note I respect other members of staff views and would never criticise for doing things right nor would I ever 'sneak on/through' I'd always have a quiet word with the gateline/guard etc. (I'm non safeguarded so my blagging skills come in very handy!)
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
Also seems to be a much more southern thing this as well. I carry many many members of other TOCs staff esp - TPE, XC and Virgin and in turn we never bat an eyelid at each other on our respective services.

However I've had a member of SWT (driver) and a FGW TM almost beg me to sell them a PRIV on the train as they 'don't want to get in trouble'

I walked both of them out of the station and welcomed them to the North!!!

Very well said m8 :D
 

CyrusWuff

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London
Also seems to be a much more southern thing this as well.

That'd probably be down to most of the former NSE area being Penalty Fares territory, so staff are "conditioned" into making sure they have valid tickets/passes before travelling.

Of course, it doesn't help that Revenue staff at certain TOCs have a reputation for trying to penalise people who do have a valid ticket (or combination thereof) for the journey they're making...
 

Signal Head

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26 May 2013
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458
Is it just me or are more and more dependants trying to abuse their boxes by 'forgetting' to fill them in, altering dates and then getting stroppy or abusive when challenged?

I've had them claim that they 'don't have to fill them in' if they're making short journeys...

They're right, they don't have to fill them in :) - they can buy a Priv instead, no point wasting a box on a short trip, unless you're near the end of the validity, with plenty left.

Can't believe anyone would be dozy enough to try and Tippex a date out, that's asking for trouble. If you have these things withdrawn you're highly unlikely to get them back.
 

trc666

Member
Joined
6 Jul 2005
Messages
232
Location
Islington
They can buy a ticket but they just choose not to, they simply don't want to pay when challenged - I'm not really strict towards active staff but they almost always have a box filled in or have a ticket anyway and 9 out of 10 times they are polite and respectful towards us.

I am not safeguarded but I will always attempt to buy a ticket at the start of my journey from the ticket office or guard.
 
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455driver

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10 May 2010
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11,329
I travelled on Southern yesterday (Monday) with a priv ticket and the guard (not RPI) insisted on seeing the priv card as well as the ticket, I always buy a priv as it isnt worth the (possible) aggro just to save a few quid.
 

trentside

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Messroom
I travelled on Southern yesterday (Monday) with a priv ticket and the guard (not RPI) insisted on seeing the priv card as well as the ticket, I always buy a priv as it isnt worth the (possible) aggro just to save a few quid.

I always take the same approach. I must admit I always show the guard my PRIV card as well - conditioned from having a railcard for a few years. I must admit, I've only ever had one take more than a passing glance at the pass.

The only time I'll take a free ride is where I've boarded at an un-staffed station and the guard takes 156441s approach and doesn't charge me. I never ask for a free ride, as I'd rather avoid any aggravation - unless of course it's a guard I know or one who hasn't charged me before!
 
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RJ

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25 Jun 2005
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Back office
I'm active, but I always date my boxes. I've had too many ticket inspection staff take steps to have me prosecuted, sacked and my facilities withdrawn without giving them any valid ammunition.

The way I see it, any number of boxes is a very generous benefit to have bestowed upon you - so anyone who abuses the privilege fully deserves what they get, if only for being too foolhardy to properly risk assess their actions. My view of dependents is that they should always pay up/date their box and not even bother trying to abuse their facilities.

With several rest days a week and no uni to keep me busy, I've been gallivanting around the country (did Kings Cross to Edinburgh to Glasgow to Euston the other day) but buy Priv rate tickets to save my boxes for when I'd get more significant value from them.

As for staff friendliness, I have found that I've had most issues in the South East (SE and SWT in particular) and on the EMT network, where a I asked the TM if I could buy a Priv ticket to London on the platform at Leicester and was met with a response that I could get on but would have to pay a £140 Penalty Fare if I did so. One EMT member of staff withdrew a Priv I had which I wasn't using and others have threatened withdrawal. Staff up north, in Wales and on many IC services have almost always been more relaxed and offered a free trip if I ask for a ticket prior to boarding.
 
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nedchester

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28 May 2008
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So let's get this right some staff let other staff travel free when they're not entitled but then berate those non staff/public who avoid paying the fare. Anyone see the irony?!
 

rdwarr

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2 Feb 2012
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401
Location
Stevenage
Most of us don't have jobs where we can have benefits like that in the first place. For example my son works in a pub. He wouldn't have lasted ten minutes if they'd caught him stealing bottles of beer. That would do no harm other than deprive his employers of revenue.
Is the notion that
a little free trip here and there does no one any harm
condoning similar behaviour?
 

Bodiddly

Member
Joined
7 Feb 2013
Messages
648
Our PRIVs and passes are a perk of the job, and a bloody good one as well. We are lucky to have free and reduced rate travel, so if it's abused, it should be removed. I always date my boxes, simply because I probably won't use 10 boxes a year. But if I did do a lot of journeys, I would be a bit nervous waiting to see if the TM was an OK dude or a tyrant. The warnings are clear, abuse it and you could be dismissed from your job. Is it worth it? I work for Scotrail and my staff smartcard has already saved me hundreds of pounds. Add to this my unlimited access to the Cale Sleeper and I would be an idiot to abuse it.
On another note about staff travel, does anyone know if the Luton Airport to the Parkway bus drivers accept the First Staff pass? (With a dated box of course)!
 

34D

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Yorkshire
Most of us don't have jobs where we can have benefits like that in the first place. For example my son works in a pub. He wouldn't have lasted ten minutes if they'd caught him stealing bottles of beer. That would do no harm other than deprive his employers of revenue.
Is the notion that condoning similar behaviour?

Erm I worked in a pub 10 years ago. We all had a free pint at the end of the night.
 

reb0118

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28 Jan 2010
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3,577
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Bo'ness, West Lothian
On another note about staff travel, does anyone know if the Luton Airport to the Parkway bus drivers accept the First Staff pass? (With a dated box of course)!

I've never had any issues on the bus with the First Group Pass. I think it is also possible to get a priv fare if you don't want to waste a box.

"off topic ~ but I do like your dog's wee coatie :lol:"
 

Bodiddly

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7 Feb 2013
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648
I've never had any issues on the bus with the First Group Pass. I think it is also possible to get a priv fare if you don't want to waste a box.

"off topic ~ but I do like your dog's wee coatie :lol:"

Thanks Reb,
I'll be signing a box anyway as I will be heading for Gatwick on FCC.
I'll let the dog know you like his vest when he comes in. He's works at Barking station. :D
 
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