Priv card used for family memeber

[Sadie-rose-x@h]

Hi

I haven't worked in the industry long, i got a family member a ticket using my priv leisure card and i wasn't aware this was wrong to do so (i now am!) i contacted the card provider as my family member received a letter, so i thought id explain. they've now contacted my HR and are in touch with the TOC the ticket was used on. i thought i was helping but seem to have gotten myself into trouble. I've been told that i could get all travel privileges taken away permanently. Does this mean my TOC card also that use to get to work? im really worried, such a silly mistake will cause me a huge consequence. its the first time ive ever used the card

 

[Jackofspades]

Unfortunately terms of use do come with the priv and it is likely you will lose travel facilities. Speak to your manager and I hope you’re in a union

 

[Haywain]

Hi

I haven't worked in the industry long, i got a family member a ticket using my priv leisure card and i wasn't aware this was wrong to do so (i now am!) i contacted the card provider as my family member received a letter, so i thought id explain. they've now contacted my HR and are in touch with the TOC the ticket was used on. i thought i was helping but seem to have gotten myself into trouble. I've been told that i could get all travel privileges taken away permanently. Does this mean my TOC card also that use to get to work? im really worried, such a silly mistake will cause me a huge consequence. its the first time ive ever used the card

Are you a member of one of the trade unions? If so, I would strongly advise talking to your union rep as there is a very strong possibility you will find yourself facing disciplinary action.

 

[High Dyke]

As others have mentioned, speak to your TU rep.

Also T&C's in Rail Staff Travel: https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/rst/conditions-of-issue-and-use.html

 

[Horizon22]

Can't really add that much more than what has been mentioned, but there have sadly been cases with people losing their jobs over misuse of rail staff travel privileges (one example is here). Hopefully it doesn't get that far as a one-off, genuine misunderstanding but you could face disciplinary action as a result. It is being taken relatively seriously by RST and TOCs recently.

 

[Sadie-rose-x@h]

Hi. Thanks for your replies.
I spoke to my employer and they have told me my job is safe as it is up to them, but my travel privileges are down to the RST. Not sure if that means my work pass or just the priv Card in question

 

[Horizon22]

Hi. Thanks for your replies.
I spoke to my employer and they have told me my job is safe as it is up to them, but my travel privileges are down to the RST. Not sure if that means my work pass or just the priv Card in question

Likely to be your PRIV pass, as your employer generally will be in charge of your staff work pass (although it may well be administered by RST on their behalf). Also you presumably require that for work duties, so wouldn't really be worth their hassle.

 

[Sadie-rose-x@h]

Can't really add that much more than what has been mentioned, but there have sadly been cases with people losing their jobs over misuse of rail staff travel privileges (one example is here). Hopefully it doesn't get that far as a one-off, genuine misunderstanding but you could face disciplinary action as a result. It is being taken relatively seriously by RST and TOCs recently.

Reading the thread you linked in your message here, it looks like the author's Employer wasn't very reassuring from the start? (as to where his job was concerned)

 

[Sadie-rose-x@h]

Likely to be your PRIV pass, as your employer generally will be in charge of your staff work pass (although it may well be administered by RST on their behalf). Also you presumably require that for work duties, so wouldn't really be worth their hassle.

Thank you. I guess its just a waiting game now until RST get back to my HR

 

[Ralph Ayres]

As well as all the above, it would be good to check that you really didn't have the conditions of use drawn to your attention. If you definitely didn't sign anything to say you accepted the conditions (which include such things as not allowing anyone else to use it) then you will have a much stronger case.

 

[Haywain]

you will have a much stronger case.

In the sense of the defence being very weak rather than extremely weak.

 

[Titfield]

As well as all the above, it would be good to check that you really didn't have the conditions of use drawn to your attention. If you definitely didn't sign anything to say you accepted the conditions (which include such things as not allowing anyone else to use it) then you will have a much stronger case.

IIRC the PRIV Card is contained within a letter. The card has to be "punched out" of the letter, thus receipt of the card is proof of the receipt of the letter.

 

[skyhigh]

As well as all the above, it would be good to check that you really didn't have the conditions of use drawn to your attention. If you definitely didn't sign anything to say you accepted the conditions (which include such things as not allowing anyone else to use it) then you will have a much stronger case.

On the back of the PRIV letter (which the pass is a part of, and needs to be pushed out from) it states right at the very top:

Leisure travel

The card is for
- the named cardholder only
- to purchase privilege rate tickets for themselves only
- for leisure journeys only.

The card and any tickets purchased with it cannot be transferred to any other person.

The letter also clearly states what is considered a travel irregularity (of which buying privilege rate tickets for others is an example) and the potential penalties of this. Using the excuse 'I didn't know I couldn't' won't help in the slightest here. Using the pass is accepting the conditions clearly detailed on the letter.

 

[Islineclear3_1]

As well as all the above, it would be good to check that you really didn't have the conditions of use drawn to your attention. If you definitely didn't sign anything to say you accepted the conditions (which include such things as not allowing anyone else to use it) then you will have a much stronger case.

I would have thought that ignorance is not an excuse. I find this poor advice

 

[tiptoptaff]

I would have thought that ignorance is not an excuse. I find this poor advice

It is not an excuse, and as others have said, it is clearly spelled out on the letter you receive with the passes.

It's similar to ticking the "I have read the Ts and Cs" box when buying something online. Just because you haven't actually read them, doesn't mean that they don't apply to you.

It is terrible advice. The contrition shown by the OP is far better than the "I didn't know I couldn't AND no one ever told me I couldn't" defence.

Misuse of travel facilities is taken seriously and the OP is, in my opinion, relatively lucky that it is likely to only be a written warning and withdrawal of facilities, rather than a RORA prosecution and loss of job.

 

[Sadie-rose-x@h]

Thanks everyone! I know i'm lucky to be safe in my job, i'm lucky enough to have colleagues that want to help me in this situation, however little that may be possible. i'm hoping that the fact that i confessed before anything had come out of the situation may help, although i do understand that i have done something that is very serious

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2021 ==

Hi everyone just an update for anyone that’s looking at this and is in the same situation as me!
The RST got back to my HR and they’ve taken away my staff leisure travel card and another leisure card they provide. I still have my work pass thank god! I’m feeling very lucky at the min! And so thankful it got resolved quickly, this is the best possible out come

 

[High Dyke]

Thanks everyone! I know i'm lucky to be safe in my job, i'm lucky enough to have colleagues that want to help me in this situation, however little that may be possible. i'm hoping that the fact that i confessed before anything had come out of the situation may help, although i do understand that i have done something that is very serious

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 18 Sep 2021 ==

Hi everyone just an update for anyone that’s looking at this and is in the same situation as me!
The RST got back to my HR and they’ve taken away my staff leisure travel card and another leisure card they provide. I still have my work pass thank god! I’m feeling very lucky at the min! And so thankful it got resolved quickly, this is the best possible out come

Sadly, you've learnt the lesson the hard way. I knew there was another document appertaining to travel irregularities: https://www.raildeliverygroup.com/files/Publications/services/rst/RST_TI_Guidelines.pdf