Hypothetical: corrected date in a Rover

[Geronimo]

Hello,
A few weeks ago, while filling a date box in a Rover (the 5th in a 8 -in-15), I wrote 28, while it was the 29. Realising it as I wrote, I instinctively corrected the 8 to a 9, which looked obvious and messy. Unsure what to do, I checked with the RPIs at my starting station. They were quite uncertain, but told me there shouldn't be any problems. They didn't seem to think there were specific procedures for this.
In any case, the Rover was hardly checked at all, and nothing happened, but I am still wondering whether I could have had some grief, and whether I should just have used another date box to be on the safe side?

 

[Greenback]

It all depends on what the date looks like. It's something that users need to eb very careful of, as if it looks like there has been a deliberate attempt to change the date so as to gain additional validity, the ticket may be taken away for investigation and possible prosecution. I was told this in 1993 after my pen slipped when I was filling in a box ont he train and tried to tidy the resulting mess! Although that was in Europe, come to think of it, not the UK.

It's less of a problem sometimes, though, such as when there are no gaps in usage and you may have the 28th already in a box. That makes it a bit more obvious that you made a mistake. The last rover I had was a Freedom of South West 3/7 and I used it on three consecutive days, so there was no way I could have been accused of altering any box for gain!

 

[tony6499]

What one RPI says is ok another may say it isn't and book you, in any situation like you describe it is better to be safe than sorry

 

[Greenback]

Yes, it can also depend on the individual. It's good advice to try and avoid getting into such a situation, and the main thing I learned 20 years ago was not to complete the boxes on the train!

 

[bb21]

If you incorrectly fill in a date box, you void it, so it is imperative that extra care must be taken when filling in those boxes. Altering a date can see you prosecuted under the RoRA.

Of course, exceptions do apply. For example, if you incorrectly put down a down which is clearly not valid, it may be possible to have the ticket exchanged or non-issued (especially if you only just bought it).

 

[Greenback]

I agree. While prosecution is a worst case scenario it is a possibility. Being extremely careful has to be the order of the day, especially as writing directly on to ticket stock can be tricky enough in the first place.

 

[Geronimo]

If you incorrectly fill in a date box, you void it, so it is imperative that extra care must be taken when filling in those boxes. Altering a date can see you prosecuted under the RoRA.

OK, thanks, that's clear.

I thought there was something like that, which is why I asked at the gate before entering the station.