Southeastern say you must seek out conductor on board train

[district]

From the OP it is not clear whether it was given to someone who they incorrectly charged a Penalty Fare to. The OP merely says that he noticed it whilst successfully defending an issued notice. Where he noticed it, how it noticed it or why he noticed is not mentioned. From what the OP said I don't believe you could make such a definitive statement. I would suspect you may be right but the OP does not make it that clear at all.

My collegue was issued the penalty fare at her destination station. She had no oppurtunity to buy a ticket at her origin station, and no conductor came round on board.

 

[Chrisgr31]

Its actually a common local custom on most of the ex Southern Region for passengers in rural areas to seek out the guard if they need a ticket.
On the coastway services in to Portsmouth in the morning many passengers look to see at which door the guard is so they can buy a ticket, its not uncommon for him to have a queue on the short distances between stops on the stoppers. Same on Marshlink

On the Uckfield Line people frequently buy tickets from the guard and on most services the guard will walk through the train and will either ask who wants to buy a ticket, or check tickets and selling tickets where necessary. Its a bit more complex on the rush hour services that are 4+2 or 4+4 as the guard as to be in the rearmost unit. However I have noticed that there have been 2 guards (well you know what I mean as I assume you can actually only have one per train) on these rush hour units one in the front and one in the rear. Having typed all that it has occured to me that whilst ticket cjhecks are common in the morning rush hour, I cant recall the last time my ticket was checked in the evening (it will now be done this evening!).

Also there is regularly an announcement on arrival at London Bridge that if you have not been able to buy a ticket the guard is at x position on the train and will sell you one.

With barriers at the main destination stations it seems sensible to encourage people to buy a ticket without a penalty fare particularly as those in the know could use a PAYG Oyster card to tap out at the London end. They will pay the full fare on the PAYG Oyster but it will be less than the train ticket plus penalty would have been!

 

[sheff1]

Also there is regularly an announcement on arrival at London Bridge that if you have not been able to buy a ticket the guard is at x position on the train and will sell you one.

What an excellent idea. One that could easily be adopted by Northern at Manchester (and elsewhere) - not necessarily telling people to purchase tickets from the guard, as many trains are not terminators, but directing them to the correct location. Despite what some would have you believe, it is not immediately obvious where to purchase at various Northern served stations.

 

[Monkey Magic]

A few months back a particularly nasty SWT guard made a point of threatening a heavily pregnant woman with various things because she had not been (on a crowded train) to find him and buy a ticket.

He was 'the rules say you have to come and find me because you didn't I am going to...'

That said there was also a member of the platform staff at Oxford the other day who was threatening a 12 year old with refusal of the right to travel because he'd been stood inside the yellow line. Something of an over-reaction as there were about 50 other people standing inside the yellow line or next to it at the time.

 

[yorkie]

A few months back a particularly nasty SWT guard made a point of threatening a heavily pregnant woman with various things because she had not been (on a crowded train) to find him and buy a ticket.

He was 'the rules say you have to come and find me because you didn't I am going to...'

I'd have asked for more information about that rule, and where it was documented.

That said there was also a member of the platform staff at Oxford the other day who was threatening a 12 year old with refusal of the right to travel because he'd been stood inside the yellow line. Something of an over-reaction as there were about 50 other people standing inside the yellow line or next to it at the time.

Some people enjoy going for the easy targets. It's also a nonsense as they have a duty of care, and a refusal of travel to a vulnerable person could very easily result in significant negative publicity for FGW.

 

[Monkey Magic]

I think in both cases they were looking for people who weren't going to challenge their authority.

The guy on the platform was threatening to contact the child's parents and told him that because he'd been inside the yellow line the train had had to come in more slowly and was no delayed and that he was responsible. (Ignoring the fact that there were a lot of adult commuters stood inside the yellow line).

With the SWT guard, he did actually quote some number at her 'its in the rule book'. One of those ones where he was working on the assumption that if you sound authoritative then no one will challenge you. Thankfully he relented because the other 5 passengers surrounding the lady kicked up a fuss (including myself) about his behaviour and manner.

 

[Flamingo]

Of course, a child could be more likely to make some unpredictable action, and not have an understanding of the danger than an adult. I would be much more concerned about a 12 year old on a platform than adults, and after the case of that guard in Liverpool, we're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

 

[MichaelAMW]

Of course, a child could be more likely to make some unpredictable action, and not have an understanding of the danger than an adult. I would be much more concerned about a 12 year old on a platform than adults, and after the case of that guard in Liverpool, we're damned if we do and damned if we don't.

That's true and shows good professional concern, but the appropriate response is to warn the youngster and ask him to stand back, not make some childish threat that has no basis in any of the rules and regs. As bullies were told when I was at school: "Pick on someone your own size!"