Is it worth appealling?

[sigla81]

I travel by train from Hazel Grove or Stockport to Manchester Piccadilly 4 days a week. I've been doing it for over a year and I'm well aware that there is a ticket check at Piccadilly.

On 27th March, for the first time ever, I forgot to buy a ticket. At Piccadilly, I explained that this was an accident and I had electronic records of all of the tickets I had bought previously but they handed me a £55 penalty fine anyway (if paid within 21 days). They said they tell everyone to appeal the fines. I feel the fine was harsh but I suppose I didn't have a ticket.

My question is: should I bother appealling? Do I have any chance of being successful?

Thanks in advance!

Simon

 

[Hadders]

Welcome to the forum!

This sounds like an unfortunate incident but it is one that Penalty Fares are designed for. Think of it like a parking ticket - frustrating, a but expensive etc but it's one of those things.

There's nothing wrong in appealing, in fact there are advantages of doing so, but I wouldn't expect it to succeed. An appeal stops the clock on the 21-days so it is a way of delaying payment if money is tight.

 

[Mcr Warrior]

@sigla81. Welcome to the forum. Might be worth uploading a pic of the PF, on here, so that the forum's PF experts can check if there are any technical reasons for appealing same. Please be sure to obscure or cover up any name, address or ID number showing. By the way, when you were stopped on 27th March, were you travelling to Manchester Piccadilly starting from Hazel Grove, or from Stockport, or from somewhere else. This will impact the unpaid fare amount due. The £50 penalty amount will be on top.

 

[sigla81]

Thanks both. I can't believe how quickly you both responded!!

To be honest, I'm annoyed about it but it would be better for me to draw a line under it, if the appeal is unlikely to succeed.

Thanks. What a great forum. I might hang round and peruse the other areas!!

Simon

 

[ikcdab]

From what you said, you have no grounds for appeal, so you might as well pay up and learn the lesson.