Fared for Phone Dying!

[RebornCreator]

I had just finished a work experience, but my phone was at a low percentage. I took my chances and tapped at Waterloo East, then, when getting to Gravesend, i explained my phone had died, but they still fined me but said that I can appeal the fine if I explain what happened. This is my first time appealing, and I just wanted to know the general process/things i would say in the email?

 

[jfollows]

Welcome to the forum, but please read https://www.railforums.co.uk/threads/please-read-before-posting-in-disputes-prosecutions.77759/ and give us a bit more to go on.
Did you get a Penalty Fare? If so, it’s not a fine and probably the simplest way of handling your error - you were unable to show a ticket when required which is an offence. If you post whatever you got here it might be that it’s incorrect in some way, for example.

You can appeal, and the clock for the reduced payment stops when you do, but if it was a simple case of no ticket to show and a correct Penalty Fare was issued I think you’ll be unlikely to succeed.

 

[island]

Contactless tap in/out isn't valid at Gravesend (which you surely know if you live there as your profile suggests?) so even if your phone hadn't died you'd still be in the same position.

 

[AlterEgo]

Were you using contactless pay as you go for this journey?

 

[RebornCreator]

Were you using contactless pay as you go for this journey?

Yes, I was.

 

[AlterEgo]

Yes, I was.

Then regardless you did not have a valid ticket anyway. You can't use contactless PAYG to Gravesend.

 

[Greyman1]

As others have said, you are outside of the PAYG zone anyway so would have been eligible for a PFN.

Also, section 18,2 of the Railway Bylaws say:

"a person shall hand over his ticket for inspection and verification of validity when asked to do so by an authorised person"

Therefore if you are using a phone or other device, it must be able to display your ticket for inspection, so when using contactless you must be able to "tap" your phone on the Revenue Inspection Device the staff have.