Penalty Fare due to phone issues

[thegh0ul]

hi, as stated in the above title I have been charged a penalty fare .

Earlier today, I acquired my 16-17 savers card, but due to circumstances, I was unable to display it digitally through the designated mobile app. Unfortunately, my iPhone SE from 2016 has been experiencing technical issues, causing the app to malfunction.
As required I have an ios newer than ios 10 and have upgraded the app. I am not blaming the railcard app for being buggy but my own phone. I have checked and my phone does have the minimum software requirements as stated in the terms of conditions. I had even ensured my phone was fully charged in order to avoid running into difficulty. I had charged it on both the train to Bath and the waiting room in Bath. I was fortunately able to access my digital 16-17 saver card from BTM to Bath and also on the train journey back. Unfortunately, it was at the Bath Spa train station when issues occurred.

Would this be good grounds to set an appeal? As I done everything in my power to prevent something occurring like this yet a problem still arose. Would it just be best to pay the fare but bear in my mind I am a college student.
In my drafted appeal letter I had also stated "Although I do not have the means to pay the penalty fare, I am willing to pay the administrator's fee. " as recommended in other threads, is this still suitable?

 

[thegh0ul]

Hi,
After being caught without having a railcard, I was charged a penalty fare. Subsequently, I purchased a rail card. Would I still be able to make a claim? Or will they be able to check against the time of purchase of railcard and the time of penalty fare.

 

[AlbertBeale]

What do you mean, "make a claim"? Are you referring to the situation where someone with a railcard, who's bought a ticket priced on the basis of their possession of a railcard, forgets to carry it with them and is checked, but can then sort it out retrospectively by producing their railcard to show their ticket was OK? (I think you can do this only very occasionally!) As for your question - if you bought a railcard electronically, then the time of purchase is clear. If you bought it in a station, then even if it's then less obvious, presumably if they wanted to they could check the transaction record at the station. So you probably wouldn't get away with it.

 

[AlterEgo]

Hi,
After being caught without having a railcard, I was charged a penalty fare. Subsequently, I purchased a rail card. Would I still be able to make a claim? Or will they be able to check against the time of purchase of railcard and the time of penalty fare.

This would not be valid grounds for appeal and the penalty fare was correctly issued. Yes, they will be able to see when the railcard was purchased and trying to pass it off as one purchased earlier wouldn’t be a clever move.

 

[Segedunum]

I've noticed you have two threads going. One in which you state you didn't have a Railcard at all, and this in which you state you did have one.

Other, more knowledgeable members will be along to advise, but if you held a valid Railcard when you travelled and can demonstrate this, usually you get one opportunity (a year, I believe?) to appeal on these grounds.

If you actually didn't have one at the time, you can't successfully appeal on these grounds. If these are two separate incidents, I'd be extremely careful in future.

 

[Hadders]

You have to be in possession of the railcard at the time you travelled on the train. They will be able to tell exactly what tie the railcard was purchased. In the circumstances I would pay the Penalty Fare and chalk it up to experience.

 

[fandroid]

In post #1 the OP makes it clear that their 16-17 Saver Card was displaying correctly both on their outward journey and on their return. The problem came at Bath station. That suggests possession of a valid card, but with an intermittent inability to get it to display on their phone.

 

[Haywain]

In post #1 the OP makes it clear that their 16-17 Saver Card was displaying correctly both on their outward journey and on their return. The problem came at Bath station. That suggests possession of a valid card, but with an intermittent inability to get it to display on their phone.

I think you should read post #2 as well, which rather throws doubt on the version of events that you refer to.

 

[fandroid]

I know about post #2. But it would help if the OP actually clarified exactly when they bought the Railcard (before or after starting the journey). As it is we're all in the dark, but with suspicions

 

[AlterEgo]

I know about post #2. But it would help if the OP actually clarified exactly when they bought the Railcard (before or after starting the journey). As it is we're all in the dark, but with suspicions

It’s very clear, they mention that subsequently they purchased a railcard. They then deleted their posts having realised they’d outed themselves as dishonest, but a moderated has reinstated them.

 

[fandroid]

It’s very clear, they mention that subsequently they purchased a railcard. They then deleted their posts having realised they’d outed themselves as dishonest, but a moderated has reinstated them.

Perhaps I just don't understand the mentality - making up a detailed and elaborate story to convince third parties who are only neutral advisors. Bizarre

 

[SuspectUsual]

Perhaps I just don't understand the mentality - making up a detailed and elaborate story to convince third parties who are only neutral advisors. Bizarre

That was my first thought when I see stuff like this, but then I wondered if the OP was road testing his excuses

 

[AlterEgo]

Perhaps I just don't understand the mentality - making up a detailed and elaborate story to convince third parties who are only neutral advisors. Bizarre

They were testing a defence they thought of after they posted their first thread (the first two posts were originally in separate threads). And the first thread, and the first post here, is not honest, as they claim the reason they didn't have a railcard to show was the "phone being buggy". Unfortunately any advice we give can only be as helpful as the posts are accurate.

 

[GadgetMan]

Perhaps I just don't understand the mentality - making up a detailed and elaborate story to convince third parties who are only neutral advisors. Bizarre

Happens here more often than you'd think. I know from personal experience (a few years ago now) having reported atleast 3 separate passengers who have come here and told a very different story/conversation to what actually happened onboard. I think it's partly to come across as being more honest than they are and partly to test their defence that they're intending to try on with the TOC.